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Wash. Voters Will Weigh in on Initiative on Initiatives

Elaine Thompson
/
Associated Press
A voter drops off his ballot at a King County Elections drop box outside of a north Seattle public library Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010.

Washington state residents have plenty of experience voting on new law proposals, but next month they'll decide on an "initiative on initiatives" that would make it easier to get such measures on the ballot.

The proposal, Initiative 517, was sparked in part by legal battles over local measures seeking to block red light cameras, including one case last year that went to the state Supreme Court.

By requiring that voters be allowed to have their say on any proposal that qualifies for the ballot — even if a lawsuit has been filed against it — the initiative pushes back at cities that have sued to block local challenges to the cameras.

The initiative also would allow more time to collect signatures and make it a misdemeanor to interfere with signature-gathers.

 

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