List of Washington ballot measures

Background information

Initiatives

Referendums

Legislatively referred constitutional amendments

1800s

1898

1900–1949

1900

1904

1906

1908

1910

1912

1914

1916

1918

1920

1922

1924

1926

1928

1930

1932

1934

1936

1938

1940

1942

1944

1946

1948

1950–1999

1950

1952

1954

1956

1958

• 202, restricting labor agreements
• 23*, regarding civil service for sheriff's employees. Submitted to the voters and approved.

  1960

• 205, authorizing liquor in taverns
• 207, regarding civil service for state employees
• 208, authorizing joint tenancy in real property
• 210, establishing the statewide observance of daylight saving time
• 25*, regarding dam construction and water diversion. Submitted to the voters in 1960 and approved.

  1962

• 211, regarding legislative redistricting

  1964

• 215, the Marine Recreation Land Act

  1966

• 226, allowing cities to share sales and use taxes
• 229, repealing the Sunday Activities Blue Law
• 233, repealing the Freight Train Crew Law

  1968

• 242, establishing drivers' implied consent to intoxication tests
• 245, reducing maximum retail service charges
• 32*, regarding the local processing of state timber. Submitted to the voters in 1968 and rejected.

  1970

• 251, regulating the imposition of taxes
• 256, prohibiting certain nonrefundable beverage receptacles

  1972

• 258, allowing greyhound racing in certain cities
• 261, regarding liquor sales by retailers
• 276, mandating disclosure of campaign finance information and lobbying activity
• 40*, regarding litter control. Alternative measure, 40B, passed by the legislature in 1971. Per state constitution, both measures submitted to the voters in 1972. 40B prevailed.
• 43*, regarding shoreline use and development. Alternative measure, 43B, passed by the legislature in 1971. Per state constitution, both measures submitted to the voters in 1972. 43B prevailed.
• 44*, regarding statutory tax limitation. Submitted to the voters in 1972 and approved.

  1973

• 282, limiting state elected officials' and judges' salary increases to 5.5% over 1965 and 1972 levels, respectively

  1975

• 314, establishing a 12% corporate excise tax on income to reduce or eliminate special school levies
• 316, mandating the death penalty in the case of aggravated first-degree murder

  1976

• 322, outlawing fluoridation of public water supplies
• 325, restricting the future construction of nuclear power facilities

  1977

• 335, outlawing businesses engaged in regular public display of pornographic films or sale of pornographic publications
• 345, exempting most food products from sales tax
• 348, repealing the new variable motor vehicle fuel tax and reinstating the old one
• 59*, regarding irrigation. Submitted to the voters in 1977 and approved.

  1978

• 350, prohibiting forced school busing, with limited exceptions

  1979

• 61*, regarding a minimum 5-cent bottle and can deposits on beer, malt, and carbonated beverages. Submitted to the voters in 1979 and rejected.
• 62*, regarding limiting state taxes to the growth rate of personal income. Submitted to the voters in 1979 and approved.

  1980

• 383, banning non-medical radioactive wastes generated outside Washington. Later declared unconstitutional.

  1981

• 394, requiring voter approval before issuance of bonds for major public utility energy projects
• 402, abolishing inheritance and gift taxes and limiting state estate taxes to the federal estate tax credit allowed

  1982

• 412, setting the maximum interest rate on retail sales at the higher of 12% or 1% over the federal funds rate
• 414, requiring a minimum five-cent refund on sales of beer, malt, and carbonated beverage containers
• 435, replacing sales taxes on food and business and occupation taxes with corporate franchise taxes on net income

  1984

• 456, petitioning Congress to decommercialize steelhead and enacting state policies respecting Indian rights and management of natural resources
• 464, exempting the value of trade-ins from selling price on which sales tax is calculated
• 471, outlawing public funding of abortions except to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or her unborn child

  1986

• 90*, regarding a sales tax increase to fund fish and wildlife conservation and recreation programs. Submitted to the voters in 1986 and rejected.

  1987

• 92*, regarding Medicare charges. Submitted to the voters in 1987 and rejected.

  1988

• 518, increasing the state minimum wage from $2.30 to $3.85 and then to $4.25
• 97*, regarding hazardous waste cleanup. Alternative measure, 97B, passed by the legislature in 1988. Per state constitution, both measures submitted to the voters in 1988. 97 prevailed.

  1989

• 99*, regarding primary elections for U.S. president. Passed by the legislature in 1989.
• 102*, regarding a tax increase for children and family services. Submitted to the voters in 1989 and rejected.

  1990

• 547, implementing state growth and environmental protection goals by local comprehensive land use planning and development fees

  1991

• 553, setting term limits on the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, on state legislators, and on members of the United States Congress
• 559, setting property values for tax purposes at the January 1, 1985, value or subsequent sales price, adjusted for cost of living changes
• 119*, regarding physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill. Submitted to the voters in 1991 and rejected.
• 120*, regarding the revision of state abortion laws, including the right to abortion before fetus viability. Submitted to the voters in 1991 and approved.

  1992

• 573, setting term limits for certain offices
• 134*, regarding campaign finance, including the prohibition of public funding of state and local campaigns. Submitted to the voters in 1992 and approved.

  1993

• 593, establishing the three-strikes law, mandating that criminals who are convicted of "most serious offenses" on three occasions be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole
• 601, limiting state spending by inflation rates and population growth, and subjecting taxes exceeding the limit to referendum
• 602, limiting state spending and tax collection by a factor based on personal income, and repealing certain taxes

  1994

• 607, licensing denturists to make and sell dentures to the public

  1995

• 640, establishing state fishing regulations in order to ensure certain survival rates for non-targeted catch, and prioritizing commercial and recreational fisheries
• 651, allowing unrestricted gambling on Indian lands
• 159*, regarding crimes involving firearms. Passed by the legislature in 1995.
• 164*, regarding the restriction of land use regulation. Passed by the legislature in 1995 but repealed by referendum the same year.

  1996

• 655, outlawing the taking, hunting, or attracting of black bears with bait and the hunting of bears, cougars, bobcat, and lynx with dogs
• 670, requiring the placement of a ballot notice next to the names of certain candidates who do not support Congressional term limits
• 671, allowing limited electronic gambling on Indian lands for tribal government purposes
• 173*, regarding school vouchers. Submitted to the voters in 1996 and rejected.
• 177*, regarding charter schools. Submitted to the voters in 1996 and rejected.

  1997

• 673, regarding the regulation of health insurance plans
• 676, requiring trigger locks on handguns and handgun safety licenses
• 677, prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation
• 678, licensing dental hygienists to perform certain services without the supervision of a dentist
• 685, allowing the medical use of certain illegal drugs

  1998

• 688, increasing the state minimum wage from $4.90 to $5.70 and then to $6.50, and afterwards annually adjusting it for inflation
• 692, allowing the medical use of marijuana
• 694, outlawing partial-birth abortion except when necessary to prevent the pregnant woman's death
• 200*, prohibiting government from discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, education, and contracting. Submitted to the voters in 1998 and approved.

  1999

• 695, lowering motor vehicle excise tax to $30 per year, requiring voter approval be required for any tax increase, and repealing existing vehicle taxes Later declared unconstitutional, but version of same bill approved by legislature.
• 696, outlawing commercial net, troll, and trawl fishing, except for tribal fisheries

  2000–2020

2000

• 713, outlawing certain body-gripping animal traps and the poisoning of animals with sodium fluoroacetate or sodium cyanide
• 722, repealing certain 1999 taxes, exempting vehicles from property taxes, and limiting annual property tax increases to 2%
• 728, reducing class sizes, extending learning programs, expanding teacher training, and constructing school facilities
• 729, authorizing charter schools
• 732, establishing annual cost-of-living salary raises for public school teachers
• 745, earmarking 90% of transportation funds, including transit taxes, for roads, requiring transportation agency performance audits, and exempting road construction and maintenance from sales tax

  2001

• 747, limiting annual property tax increases to 1% unless approved by the voters
• 773, imposing additional taxes on cigarettes and wholesale tobacco products, to be spent on expanded health care services for low-income persons
• 775, creating a "home care quality authority" to regulate home care of the elderly and disabled

  2002

• 776, setting license tab fees at $30 per year for motor vehicles, and repealing certain other vehicle excise taxes and transportation fees
• 790, placing management of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system, plan 2, in a board of trustees

  2003

• 841, repealing existing state ergonomics regulations and prohibiting the adoption of new regulations until a uniform federal standard is required

  2004

• 872, enacting a qualifying primary election system whereby the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election regardless of party
• 884, increasing the sales tax by 1% to create an education trust fund
• 892, authorizing "electronic scratch ticket machines" in non-tribal establishments, part of the revenue generated being used to reduce property tax
• 297*, regarding "mixed" radioactive and nonradioactive hazardous waste. Submitted to the voters in 2004 and passed.

  2005

• 900, expanding the power of the state auditor to do more performance audits and drawing money from the general fund to pay for another layer of audits.
• 901, prohibiting smoking in buildings and vehicles open to the public and places of employment, including areas within 25 feet of doorways and ventilation openings.
• 912, rolling back a key component of the 2005 transportation funding package, which the Legislature passed to improve road safety and relieve congestion.
• 330*, regarding medical malpractice claims and insurance. Submitted to the voters in 2005 and rejected.
• 336*, regarding medical malpractice lawsuits and insurance and healthcare provider licensing. Submitted to the voters in 2005 and rejected.

  2006

• 920, repealing Washington State estate taxes.
• 933, concerning government regulation of private property, would have compensated property owners when regulations damage the use or value of private property. It would have forbidden further legal restrictions of private property use, and provided exceptions or payments.
• 937, concerning energy use by electrical utilities, required large electric utilities to increase energy conservation and renewable energy use.

  2007

• 960, requiring a supermajority in the Legislature to raise taxes and fees.

  2008

• 985, would open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic during specified hours, require traffic light synchronization, increase roadside assistance funding, and dedicate certain taxes, fines, tolls and other revenues to traffic-flow purposes.
• 1000, Washington Death with Dignity Act concerns allowing certain terminally ill competent adults to obtain lethal prescriptions.
• 1029, concerns long-term care services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

  2009

• 1033, concerns property taxes.

  2010

• 1053 to require super-majority for tax increases.
• 1082 to amend workers' compensation insurance in the state.
• 1093 to create state income tax to reduce other taxes.
• 1100 to close state liquor stores and allow private-party distribution.
• 1105 to close state liquor stores and allow private-party distribution.
• 1107 to repeal taxes on candy, bottled water and soft drinks.

  2011

• 1183 to allow private liquor sales and close down Washington State Liquor Control Board distribution system.
• 1163 to require background checks for long-term care workers.
• 1125 to restrict toll rate tax uses and increases.

  2012

• 1185 to require two-thirds legislative support for tax increases
• 1240 to establish a public charter school system
• 502*, to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana. Submitted to the voters in 2012 and approved.

  2013

• 517*, regarding initiative and referendum measures. Submitted to the voters in 2013 and rejected.
• 522*, regarding labeling of genetically-engineered foods. Submitted to the voters in 2013 and rejected.

  2014

• 1351 to reduce class size in public schools
• 591*, to restrict background checks for purchasing firearms. Rejected.
• 594*, to require background checks for purchasing firearms. Approved.

  2015

• 1366 to reduce the sales tax rate 1% unless an amendment requiring two-thirds legislative support for tax increased is proposed
• 1401 to increase penalties for trafficking in certain endangered animal species

  2016

• 1433 to increase the minimum wage to $13.50
• 1464 to implement campaign finance regulations
• 1491 to allow for risk protection orders for access to firearms
• 1501 to increase penalties for identity theft
• 732*, to implement a carbon tax. Rejected.
• 735*, to urge a federal constitutional amendment restricting campaign spending by corporations. Approved.

  2018

• 1631 to implement a carbon fee to fund greenhouse gas reduction initiatives
• 1634 to restrict local governments from enacting soda taxes
• 1639 to implement restrictions on firearm purchase and ownership
• 940* to require police training and allow criminal liability for use of force. Approved

  2019

• 976, to reduce motor vehicle registration fees and cut transportation funding. Approved
• 1000 to allow affirmative action, repealing I-200. Passed by the legislature but repealed by referendum the same year