Proposed Referendum Measures - 2012

Referendum petitions against a measure passed by the Legislature shall be filed with the Secretary of State not later than ninety days after final adjournment of the session in which the measure passed.

The following is a list of proposed referendum measures filed to date with the Office of the Secretary of State. To be certified, a petition must contain the signatures of at least 120,577 registered voters. The deadline for filing petition signatures for the following referenda is 5:00 p.m. on June 6, 2012. Questions regarding the content of referenda should be directed to the sponsor(s).

Assigned Number: 74 Filed: 02/13/2012 Sponsors Mr. Joseph Backholm Public Contact Information: 16108 Ash Way, Suite 111A Lynnwood, WA 98087 Phone: 425.608.0242 jbackholm@fpiw.org

Ballot Title The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony. Should this bill be: Approved [ ] Rejected [ ] Ballot Measure Summary This bill allows same-sex couples to marry, applies marriage laws without regard to gender, and specifies that laws using gender-specific terms like husband and wife include same-sex spouses. After 2014, existing domestic partnerships are converted to marriages, except for seniors. It preserves the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform or recognize any marriage or accommodate wedding ceremonies. The bill does not affect licensing of religious organizations providing adoption, foster-care, or child-placement. View Complete Text