Protect Washington wants more transparency in the initiative process

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Protect Washington members,

As ballot measures are likely to have an impact on revenue once again this year, the Ballot Initiative Network (BIN) is keeping an eye on filings with the Secretary of State. Last Monday kicked off the start of the 2011 ballot measure season with the filing of 9 initiatives, 5 of them from Tim Eyman. See below for a summary.

Additionally, last year was an example of how our ballot initiative system can be easily abused. Our system is so lacking in basic transparency and accountability measures that we have been labeled by the national Ballot Initiative Strategy Center as having one of the worst in the country! Keep reading to see BIN's legislative response to this problem.

We will not be using the Protect Washington email list to update you on ballot measure filings. If you would like to receive updates on ballot measure filings and reform legislation, please send an email to [e-mail].

Eyman Update:

Last Monday was the first day to file ballot measures for 2011. Eyman filed 5 as reported by the Secretary of State's blog:

• Repeat of 1053 in the case that the legislature suspends it again this year.

• "Vehicle Owner's Bill of Rights" including no motor vehicle charges taking effect without approval of voters & limiting traffic camera-imposed fines at $30.

• "Protecting" the 18th Amendment & prohibiting gas taxes from being diverted to the State General Fund.

• "Protecting" the initiative process by not allowing interference with signature gatherers.

• Allowing stores with at least 9,000 square feet to sell liquor.



From past years, we know that Eyman usually files his "chosen" initiative early so there's a good chance one of these will be what he ends up pursuing for the ballot.

Ten other measures have been filed though the content of the measures has not been posted on the Secretary of State's website. We do know from the Seattle PI that one of the initiatives was filed by NW Progressive Institute requiring a supermajority vote to create new tax exemptions.

Increasing Transparency & Accountability of Ballot Measure Process:

Washingtonians greatly value the right of the people to make our own laws. That's why the Ballot Initiative Network will be introducing legislation this session to make the initiative process more accountable to the people, so that it is used in the way our constitutional founders intended. We welcome organizations to our coalition who want greater integrity of the initiative process by:

Requiring Signature Gatherers Confirm they are Following the Law:

All signature gatherers should be required to sign a declaration on every petition sheet assuring signatures were gathered in accordance with state law.

Providing Protection Against Fraud Merchants:

Paid signature gatherers and firms convicted of a crime involved fraud, forgery, or ID theft within the past five years should be prohibited from gathering signatures. A registry system run by the Secretary of State should be created to monitor and allow only paid signature gatherers and firms meeting correct criteria to lawfully and legally collect signatures.

Preventing Frivolous Filing:

Initiative sponsors often abuse the initiative process and resources of the state by filing frivolous ballot measures. The fee for ballot measures should be increased to $500 with measures qualifying for the ballot receiving a $450 refund. Citizens unable to pay the filing fee have the option of submitting 1,000 valid signatures in lieu of the fee. This mirrors candidate filing requirements.

Many organizations have spent significant resources playing defense on initiatives that have made it to the ballot due to our lax system. Contact Kristina Logsdon to join the coalition supporting this legislation and show legislators wide support for greater transparency and accountability of the ballot measure process. See attached fact sheet for more information.



Kristina Logsdon
Ballot Initiative Network Project Director
Win/Win Network
1402 3rd Avenue Suite 201
Seattle, WA 98101
w: 206-420-0139
m: 206-898-4362

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1. Cosponsors

BILL TO PREVENT FRAUD IN PAID SIGNATURE GATHERING

New legislation to bring accountability and transparency to the paid signature gathering process.

Introduced today by State Senator Sharon Nelson (D-West Seattle), the proposed legislation recognizes the need for more accountability in paid signature gathering for ballot initiatives. It is intended to prevent fraud and ensure that all paid signature gatherers are following the law.

"We know that paid signature gatherers have been involved in misleading and deceiving voters,” said Kristina Logsdon of the Ballot Initiative Network, the coalition helping to build support for the bill. “This bill moves us to a cleaner, more accountable, more transparent ballot initiative system."

According to the national, nonpartisan Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, fraud and forgery by paid signature gatherers is rising. In Oregon, paid signature gatherers had regular meetings so that they could all forge signatures together. In Missouri, a paid signature gatherer was arrested when it was discovered that he was wanted in three states for signature fraud. Many signature gatherers only stay in one state long enough to collect their payout before moving on to the next one.

"I believe in the initiative process, but the fact is that we haven't kept up with national standards or best practices,” said Sen. Nelson. “The democratic process should be transparent and accountable to the people. That's why I'm proud to sponsor this bill to bring more transparency and accountability to initiatives and paid signature gathering."

Linnea Hirst, President of the League of Women Voters of Washington agreed, saying, “Because the initiative process is so important to Washingtonians, we want to make sure that it remains accountable, so that it is used in the way our constitutional founders intended.”

Washington’s ballot measure system was labeled as one of the worst in the nation by the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center because our outdated initiative process has not kept up with standards of transparency, accountability, oversight and enforcement.

The bill prohibits anyone convicted of fraud, forgery or ID theft from gathering signatures in Washington for five years. All signature gatherers would be required to sign a declaration on the back of each petition sheet confirming that the signatures are gathered in accordance with state law. It also updates filing fees to mirror candidate filing requirements.

Nineteen of the 24 initiative states have similar declaration laws.

Co-sponsors include Senators Steve Conway (D-Lakewood), Nick Harper (D-Everett), Maralyn Chase (D-Shoreline), Scott White (D-Seattle), Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle), Adam Kline (D-South Seattle), Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) and Margarita Prentice (D-Renton).