Washington signature requirements

From Ballotpedia

Washington's signature requirements are based on the number of votes cast for the office of Governor of Washington State in the state's most recent gubernatorial election.

The State of Washington last held a gubernatorial election in 2008. 3,002,862 ballots were cast in that race. The next time the state will hold a gubernatorial election is in 2012. Signature requirements for the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 ballots will therefore be the same, and can be expected to change after that, based on the number of those who cast votes in the 2012 election.

The filing deadline for the November 2009 ballot for an Initiative to the People is July 3, 2009. The filing deadline for the November 2010 ballot for an Initiative to the Legislature is December 31, 2009.

Year	Initiative to the People	Initiative to the Legislature	Veto referendum
2010	241,153	241,153	120,577
2009	241,153	241,153	120,577
2008	224,880		112,440

Basis for calculation

• Initiatives to the People require signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast for the office of governor in the last election.

• Initiatives to the Legislature also require signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast for the office of governor in the last election.

• Veto referendum petitions require signatures equal to 4% of the votes cast for the office of governor.

Recall

• To force a recall election, a number of signatures equalling 35% of the number of votes cast in the most recent election for the office held by the official facing recall must be collected.
• However, for statewide officers, only 25% is needed to force a recall election.

See also

• List of Washington ballot measures
• Ballot access laws challenged in Washington
• Laws governing the initiative process in Washington

External links

• Filing Initiatives and Referenda in Washington State 2005 through 2008 from the Secretary of State
• NCSL signature chart for 2008
• Washington signature requirements collated by the Citizens in Charge Foundation

	v • d • e Signature requirements
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Terms	Approved for circulation • Circulation period • Circulator • Circulator affidavit • Forged signature • Fraudulent signature • Invalid signature • Paid circulator • Petition • Random sampling • Registered voter • Signature certification • Signer • Signer intent • Valid signature • Volunteer circulator
Petition drive deadlines	2008 deadlines • 2009 deadlines • 2010 deadlines
Signature law	States where signature requirements are based on votes cast for governor