WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Bipartisan support to create Citizens’ Initiative Review board for 2016 elections

OLYMPIA – Next time an initiative appears on the ballot, Washington voters could count on an independent citizen review of both arguments under new bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Sam Hunt (D – Olympia).

House Bill 1364 would establish a pilot Citizens’ Initiative Review board to provide nonpartisan, independent summaries of ballot initiatives. The board — comprised of 20 Washington citizens randomly selected and demographically balanced to match the state’s electorate — would select up to two initiatives on the ballot in 2016 and conduct four consecutive days of public hearings from both sides of the initiative campaign.

Following the public hearings, the board would issue a Citizen’s Statement highlighting the board’s most important findings and summarizing arguments on both sides. The statement would be printed in the voters’ guide.

“As the initiative process continues to be a popular way for voters to enact large policy change, the Citizens’ Initiative Review board would provide valuable, nonpartisan information to help voters make a reasoned and informed choice,” Hunt said. “This bill is not a response to any particular initiative. Rather, it’s a possible solution to the need for voters to have access to independent information in highly partisan, well-funded initiative elections.”

The bill is the result of over two years’ work by Responsible Choices, chaired by former Representative Mary Lou Dickerson (D) of Seattle. Its board members include former Representatives Toby Nixon (R), Phyllis Kenney (D), Mike Armstrong (R), and Sandra Romero (D), who is also current Thurston County Commissioner. Former Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed (R) and former State Auditor Brian Sonntag are listed as official advisors.

Hunt’s bill is modeled after a similar program Oregon piloted in 2012. According to research funded by the National Science Foundation, half of Oregon voters read the CIR statement and two-thirds indicated they found it helpful in making voting decisions.