Voters Largely Reject Ballot Initiatives in Washington State

Posted by Joe Adamack on November 6, 2024

While a series of six (and eventually seven) ballot initiatives dominated a lot of political conversations and added intrigue to political conversations this year as conservative groups attempted to repeal or amend recent Democratic priority legislation, the voters were clearly not interested in the three that made it to the ballot. Three earlier initiatives were passed directly into law by the Legislature earlier this year and the rest (below) saw voters weigh in and highlight the significant influence that newly created fiscal impact statements had on the voting process.

• • Capital gains repeal (I-2109): Voters are overwhelmingly rejecting an attempt to repeal the tax on certain investment returns.
  • Long-term care optional (I-2124): Voters don’t want to make the long-term care payroll deduction optional after initial polling and public outcry said differently.
  • Carbon emissions cap and trade elimination (I-2117): The Climate Commitment Act will remain in effect with initial returns lagging by 20+ points despite public questions about impact on gas taxes.
  • Maintaining natural gas access (I-2066): Voters so far are confirming interest in retaining access to natural gas into the future with the initiative up by a few points in early returns.  

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Washington Advocacy.