What is Referendum 71?
In 2007, the Washington Legislature established a domestic partnership registry and granted registered couples rights to make health care decisions for a sick partner, to visit a partner in the hospital, the right to consent to an autopsy, and some property rights. In 2008, the Legislature extended these rights to include community property rights, probate rights, joint responsibility for debts, and other protections. This session, the Legislature passed this third law–The Domestic Partnership Expansion Billof 2009– to add the legal protections and obligations listed above. Referendum 71 would ask voters whether SB 5688 should be retained as the law or repealed. A vote to “APPROVE” keeps the law.
