Constitutional Amendment Ballot Measures

Below you will find a list of all constitutional amendments that have appeared on the ballot since 1892 in the State of Washington. Vote totals can be found in the last two columns of the table. You can view county by county results starting with 1898 in the Election Results section of our website.

Year Amendment Title Description Yes No
1892   A constitutional amendment increasing the limit of state indebtedness 13,635 35,207
1894 Article XVI, Sec. 5 Investment of school fund: None of the permanent school fund of this state shall ever be loaned to private persons or corporations, but it may be invested in national, state, municipal or school district bonds. 18,884 5,598
1896 Article VI, Sec. 1 Amendment regarding qualifications of eligible electors. 28,019 11,983
1898 Article VI Proposed Amendment to Art. 6 of Constitution conferring Elective Franchise on Women. 20,658 30,540
1898 Article VII, Sec. 2 Proposed Amendment to Sec. 2, Art. 7 of Constitution relating to Taxation. 15,986 33,850
1900 Article VII, Sec. 2 Proposed amendment to Section 2 of Article 7 of the Constitution in relation to taxation. 35,398 8,975
1904 Article I, Sec. 11 Proposed amendment to Section Eleven (11) of Article One (1) of the Constitution, giving the Legislature of the State of Washington the power of employing chaplains for state penal and reformatory institutions. 17,058 11,371
1906 Article I, Sec. 16 Proposed amendment to section 16 of Article 1 of the Constitution, relating to the exercise of the power of eminent domain. 15,257 20,984
1906 Article XXI, Sec. 1 Proposed amendment to Article XXI, Section one (1), of the constitution, which reads: Sec. 1. The use of the waters of this state for irrigation, mining, manufacturing purposes, and for the removal of timber products, shall be deemed a public use. 18,462 20,258
1908 Article I, Sec. 16 Proposed amendment to section 16 of Article 1 of the Constitution, relating to the exercise of the power of eminent domain. 26,849 52,721
1908 Article VII Proposed amendment to Article VII of the Constitution relating to the assessment and taxation of property within the state. 28,371 60,244
1910 Article III, Sec. 10 Proposed amendment to section 10 of Article III of the Constitution, relating to the succession to the office of Governor 51,257 14,186
1910 Article VI Proposed amendment to Article VI of the Constitution relating to the qualifications of voters within this state 52,299 29,676
1912 Article I, Sec. 33-34 Proposed amendment to article one (1) of the Constitution, by adding thereto at the end of said article one (1) two new sections to be numbered sections 33 and 34 of said article one (1) authorizing and providing for the recall and discharge of any elective public officer and election of his successor. 112,321 46,372
1912 Article II, Sec. 1 Proposed amendment of section 1 of article II of the Constitution of the State of Washington, relating to legislative powers and providing for the initiative and referendum. 110,110 43,905
1912 Article II, Sec. 31 Proposed amendment of article II of the Constitution of the State of Washington, by striking section 31 there from, which relates to the time when laws take effect. 79,940 47,978
1912 Article XI, Sec. 7 Proposed amendment to section seven (7) of article eleven (XI) of the Constitution, removing the prohibition against county officers, except county treasurer, holding office for more than two terms. 67,717 83,138
1914 Article II, Sec. 33 An amendment of Section 33, Article 2 of the State Constitution, enabling alien residents of this state to acquire by purchase and hold lands lying within municipal corporations, and providing for the escheat of such lands to the common school fund in case the owner thereof becomes a non-resident of the state for the term of five year. 55,080 212,542
1916 Article VI, Sec. 1 An Act providing for the amendment of section 1 of article VI of the Constitution of the State of Washington, relating to the qualification of voters. 88,963 180,179
1920 Article I, Sec. 16 An Act providing for the amendment of section 16, article 1 of the state constitution relating to eminent domain by declaring that the taking of private property by the state for land reclamation and settlement is a public use. 121,022 113,287
1920 Article III An Act for the amendment of sections 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21 and 22, article 3, of the state constitution by fixing the annual salaries of certain state officers as follows: Governor, ten thousand dollars; lieutenant governor, two thousand five hundred dollars; secretary of state, five thousand dollars; treasurer, five thousand dollars; auditor, five thousand dollars; attorney general, six thousand dollars; superintendent of public instruction, five thousand dollars. 71,284 170,242
1922 Article I, Sec. 22 An Act amending section 22 of article I of the State Constitution by providing that the trial of a person accused of a public offense committed on any railway car, coach, train, boat or other public conveyance may be had in any county through which such conveyance may pass. 122,972 81,457
1922 Article II, Sec. 23 An Act amending section 23 of article II of the State Constitution relating to compensation to be paid members of the legislature by increasing the compensation of such members from $5.00 to $10.00 a day for each day's attendance during the session. 52,621 161,677
1922 Article VIII, Sec. 4 An Act amending section 4 of article VIII of the State Constitution by providing that payments from state appropriations should be made within one calendar month after the end of the next ensuing fiscal biennium. 94,746 86,746
1924 Article XI, Sec. 5 An Amendment of section 5, article XI of the State Constitution relating to county officers, by providing that the legislature may classify counties by population and provide for the election of officers in certain classes of counties who shall perform the duties of two or more county officers. 137,093 129,003
1924 Article XV, Sec. 1 An Amendment of section 1 of article XV of the State Constitution relating to harbor lines and areas, by providing that harbor lines may be relocated or reestablished and that none of the area lying between any harbor line and the line of ordinary high water and within not more than two thousand (2,000) feet of any harbor line shall be sold or the right to the control thereof relinquished by the state. 99,694 152,911
1926 Add Article XXVIII An Act relating to forestation and reforestation and the assessment and taxation of lands devoted to that purpose and the assessment and taxation of the products of such lands, and providing for an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Washington. 87,158 107,524
1926 Article II, Sec. 23 An Act providing for the amendment of Section 23 of Article II, of the Constitution of the State of Washington, relating to the compensation of members of the Legislature. 75,329 120,158
1928 Article VII, Sec. 1-4 An amendment of Article VII of the state constitution relating to revenue and taxation, by striking sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 and inserting in lieu thereof a single section reenacting certain provisions of the sections stricken and providing that property may be classified for the purpose of taxation. 131,126 140,887
1930 Senate Joint Resolution 10 Shall section 23 of article 2 of the Constitution be amended so that it shall provide that the members of the legislature shall receive an annual salary of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). 107,947 132,750
1930 House Joint Resolution 13 An Amendment of section 15, Article II of the state constitution relating to vacancies in the legislature, by providing that such vacancies shall be filled by appointment by boards of county commissioners, and prescribing the tenure of office of persons so appointed. 133,255 87,633
1930 Article VII, Sec. 1-4 An amendment of Article VII of the state constitution relating to revenue and taxation by striking sections 1, 2, 3, and 4, and inserting in lieu thereof a single section re-enacting certain provisions of the sections stricken; providing that property may be classified for the purpose of taxation; requiring the taxation of intangible property subject to ownership; constituting real property a single class for taxing purposes; authorizing the taxation of mines, mineral resources, and reforested lands by a yield or ad valorem tax or both, and exempting credits secured by property actually taxed in this state. 138,231 88,784
1932 Senate Joint Resolution 11 An Amendment of section 4, Article IV of the constitution, relating to the jurisdiction of the supreme court, by providing that the legislature may from time to time increase the original amount in controversy or the value of the property which shall be requisite to confer appellate jurisdiction in civil actions for the recovery of money or personal property except in certain cases. 153,079 175,130
1932 Senate Joint Resolution 16 Shall section 23 of Article 2 of the constitution be amended so that it shall provide that the members of the legislature shall receive an annual salary of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). 117,665 254,345
1932 House Joint Resolution 5 AN AMENDMENT of sections 2, 3 and 6, Article II and sections 1 and 2, Article XXII of the constitution, relating to the legislature, by fixing the number of members thereof and reapportioning the same until and including the regular session of 1941, providing that thereafter the legislature shall reapportion its members upon the basis of each federal census and that if the legislature fails to act such reapportionment shall be performed by the governor and providing for the election and terms of office of senators. 162,895 180,417
1932 Article XV, Sec. 1 AN AMENDMENT of section 1, Article XV of the constitution, relating to harbors and harbor areas, by authorizing the relocation or reestablishment of harbor lines pursuant to such provision as may be made therefore by the legislature and extending the permissible maximum width of harbor areas from 600 to 2,000 feet. 170,101 148,201
1934 House Joint Resolution 12 A resolution amending section 1 of Article VII of the constitution by providing that all taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of subjects within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax and shall be levied and collected for public purposes only; providing that there shall be such exemptions from taxation as the legislature may by general law provide; and providing that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent the enactment of a graduated net income tax law. 134,908 176,154
1934 House Joint Resolution 14 A resolution amending section 12 of Article XI of the constitution by providing that the legislature shall have no power to impose taxes upon counties, cities, towns or other municipal corporations, or upon the inhabitants or property thereof, for county, city, town or other municipal purposes, but by general law may limit such taxes and may supervise and control the valuing of property for local taxation and the administration of laws relating to such taxation, and may apportion state funds among counties, cities, towns and other municipal corporations. 129,310 189,002
1936 Senate Joint Resolution 7 A Proposal to repeal section 12, article XI and amend sections 1 and 9, article VII of the constitution by providing: uniform taxation upon the same class of subjects; that the legislature may provide exemptions and graduated net income tax, may vest municipalities with power to make local improvements by special assessment or taxation; cannot require counties or municipalities to tax for county or municipal purposes but may under legislative restriction, vest them with such authority. 93,598 328,675
1936 Senate Joint Resolution 20 A proposal to amend section 23, article II of the constitution by providing that each member of the legislature shall receive five dollars per day for expenses in addition to five dollars per day for services, and mileage, now provided. 124,639 313,660
1936 House Joint Resolution 10 A Proposal authorizing the state of Washington to engage in the production and wholesale distribution, only, of electric energy; to assist the development of hydro-electric generating plants; to incur indebtedness by the issuance of bonds; providing for a commission and power districts, but not denying to any municipality, power district or political subdivision of the state the right to control its own utilities nor preventing the state from furnishing electric energy to its institutions and departments. 173,930 278,543
1938 Senate Joint Resolution 5 A Proposal to amend Section 1, Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Washington relating to taxation by providing that nothing contained in said section shall be construed to prevent the enactment of a graduated net income tax law. 141,375 285,946
1940 Senate Joint Resolution 1 A Resolution amending the Constitution of the State of Washington by repealing section 7 of Article XI which section limits the tenure of county officers to two successive terms. 208,407 267,938
1940 Senate Joint Resolution 8 A resolution amending Section 11, Article XII of State Constitution authorizing legislature to provide that stockholders of banks organized under laws of this state which shall provide and furnish, through membership in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other instrumentality of the United States Government, insurance or security for payment of debts equivalent to requirements furnished by national banks be relieved from personal liability to same extent as stockholders in national banks, under federal law. 255,047 188,929
1940 House Joint Resolution 13 A RESOLUTION amending Article III of the State Constitution by adding a new section, to be known as Section 26, providing that the people, by initiative, or the legislature by appropriate enactment, may fix, change, raise or lower the salary of any constitutional officer of the state, including members of the legislature, but limiting the salary of legislators to fifty dollars per month, and repealing all constitutional salary limitations. 183,478 259,842
1942 Article VII, Sec. 2 A Proposal to amend Article VII of the Constitution by adding a new section, section 2, providing that income shall not be construed as property for the purpose of taxation, and empowering the legislature to enact graduated net income taxes, and to provide exemptions, offsets and deductions. 89,453 176,332
1944 House Joint Resolution 1 Proposed amendment to Article VII of Constitution, adding section limiting aggregate annual levy of taxes on real and personal property to forty mills; exempting port and public utility districts; defining taxing districts; authorizing exceeding of limitation in certain cases by vote of electors; authorizing refunding of certain bonds by certain taxing districts outside of limitation by vote of governing body; subjecting amendment to Article VIII, Section 6, of Constitution; and making other exceptions. 357,488 179,273
1944 House Joint Resolution 4 Proposed amendment to Article II of the Constitution, by adding a new section to be known as Section 40, limiting exclusively to highway purposes the use of motor vehicle license fees, excise taxes on motor fuels and other revenue intended for highway purposes only; providing for their payment into a special fund of the State Treasury; defining highway purposes; and excepting from its provisions certain other designated fees and taxes. 358,581 160,898
1946 House Joint Resolution 9 A proposed amendment to the state constitution to permit the state to tax the United States and its instrumentalities to the extent that the laws of the United States will allow.

253,819

198,786

1948 Senate Joint Resolution 4 Proposed amendment to the Constitution to permit the legislature to fix the salaries of the elected state officials. 318,319 310,516
1948 Senate Joint Resolution 5 Proposed amendment to Constitution to permit counties to adopt "Home Rule" charters. 296,624 269,018
1948 House Joint Resolution 4 Proposed Amendment to the Constitution repealing Section 7, Article XI, which existing section renders any county officer ineligible to hold his office more than two terms in succession. 337,554 282,324
1948 House Joint Resolution 13 Proposed amendment to the Constitution permitting the formation, under a charter, of combined city and county municipal corporations having a population of 300,000 or more. 291,699 287,813
1950 Senate Joint Resolution 9 Shall Article II, Section 33 of the Constitution be amended to permit ownership of land by Canadians who are citizens of provinces wherein citizens of this state may own land? 292,857 290,005
1950 House Joint Resolution 10 Shall Section 6, Article VIII of the Constitution be amended to permit school districts to become indebted when authorized by popular vote up to an additional 5% of assessed valuation for capital outlays? 286,189 314,014
1952 House Joint Resolution 6 Shall Article IV of the Constitution be amended by adding a new section to provide that judges of the supreme court and superior courts shall retire at the age of seventy-five but permitting the legislature to prescribe a lesser age or other causes for retirement? 618,141 215,958
1952 Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 7 Shall Article II of the Constitution be amended by adding a new section to provide that no act approved by the people shall be amended or repealed by the legislature within two years following such approval except by a vote of two-thirds of all members of the legislature or by a direct vote of the people at any general or special election thereon? 468,782 310,797
1952 House Joint Resolution 8 Shall Article VIII, section 6 of the Constitution be amended to permit school districts to become indebted when authorized by popular vote up to an additional five per cent of assessed valuation for capital outlays? 409,985 386,324
1952 Substitute House Joint Resolution 13 Shall Article IV, section 6 of the Constitution be amended to permit superior courts to have original jurisdiction in all eases where the controversy amounts to one thousand dollars or a lesser sum in excess of the jurisdiction granted inferior courts; and shall Article IV, section 10 of the Constitution be amended to permit justices of the peace to have original jurisdiction where the controversy amounts to less than three hundred dollars or such greater sum not to exceed one thousand dollars? 389,626 323,133
1954 House Joint Resolution 16 Alien land ownership; corporation amendment. Shall Article II, section 33 as amended by Amendment 24 of the Constitution of the State of Washington, be amended by redefining "alien", thereby permitting the legislature to determine the policy of the state respecting the ownership of land by corporations having alien shareholders? 364,382 296,362
1956 Senate Joint Resolution 3 Regulating pensions of public officers: Shall Article II, Section 25, of the Constitution be amended to provide that pensions paid by the state or any political subdivision thereof, to a public official, may be increased during his term in office? 261,419 548,184
1956 Senate Joint Resolution 4 Increasing signatures: Initiative and Referendum: Shall a new section be added to Article II of the Constitution which will supersede requirements specified in Section 1 thereof by providing that the valid signatures of eight per centum of the number of registered voters voting for Governor in the last election shall be necessary to certify an initiative and that four per centum shall be necessary to certify a referendum of an act of the Legislature? 413,107 351,518
1956 Senate Joint Resolution 6 Successive terms for State Treasurer Shall Article III, Section 25, of the Constitution be amended to remove the present restriction prohibiting the state treasurer from being elected for more than one successive term? 411,453 374,905
1956 Senate Joint Resolution 14 Filling vacancies in State Legislature Shall the 13th Amendment of the Constitution be amended to provide that vacancies in the Legislature shall be filled by the county commissioners from an approved list submitted by the county central committee of the political party of the preceding legislator; and in the event it be a joint district, from lists submitted by the state central committee for joint action by county commissioners involved; providing for failure to appoint within sixty days, the Governor shall fill vacancy from said list? 454,199 293,159
1956 House Joint Resolution 22 Immediate possession upon court deposit Shall Article I, Section 16, of the Constitution as amended by Amendment 9, be further amended to permit the state, in an eminent domain proceeding, upon filing the action to take immediate possession of the property after payment into court before trial of such amount as provided by law? 292,750 466,193
1958 Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 9 Part I Compensation of elected officials. Shall the state constitution be amended to provide that the legislature may increase or decrease the compensation of all elected officials of the state and all elected officials of the counties and that any such change in compensation shall be effective immediately; subject to the people's power of referendum? 199,361 539,483
1958 Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 9 Part II State Legislators: compensation and eligibility. Shall the state constitution be amended so as to allow a member of the legislature to be appointed or elected to a civil office created, or the emoluments of which have been increased, during the term for which he was elected? 140,142 570,630
1958 Senate Joint Resolution 10 State boundaries: Modification by compact: Shall Article XXIV, Section 1 of the state constitution be amended to authorize the modification of the boundaries of the state of Washington by appropriate interstate compacts duly approved by the Congress of the United States? 395,969 309,922
1958 Senate Joint Resolution 12 Requiring Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment: Shall the state constitution be amended to provide that, upon the legislature's failure to reapportion its members and to revise legislative and congressional district boundaries after each federal census, or to revise congressional district boundaries after each congressional reapportionment, such redistricting and/or reapportionment shall be undertaken by a seven-member commission, including one each from labor, industry and agriculture appointed by the governor, the secretary of state, a supreme court judge, and two state legislators, one from each major party? 320,597 365,018
1958 Senate Joint Resolution 14 Shall Article I, Section 11 of the state constitution as amended by Amendment 4 be further amended to provide that the legislature may authorize the employment by the state of a chaplain for such of the state custodial, correctional and mental institutions as seems justified to the legislature? 492,047 279,700
1958 Senate Joint Resolution 18 Pensions and employees' extra compensation. Shall Article II, Section 25 of the state constitution be amended to prohibit the legislature from granting any extra compensation to any public employee after the services have been rendered or the contract entered into and to provide that Article II, Section 25 shall not be deemed to prevent increases in pensions after such pensions have been granted? 388,797 371,652
1958 Substitute House Joint Resolution 4 School districts: increasing school levy periods. Shall the state constitution be amended to permit school district electors to authorize excess tax levies at a specified maximum rate for up to two years for operation and/or up to six years for capital outlay, if the proposition or propositions therefore shall be approved by a three-fifths majority, and the number of electors voting thereon constitutes not less than forty percentum of the votes cast at the last preceding general election in such district? 293,386 483,165
1960 Senate Joint Resolution 4 Shall the constitutional restriction upon the ownership of land in the State of Washington by aliens be removed by repealing Section 33, Article II as amended by Amendments 24 and 29 of the State Constitution? 466,705 564,250
1962 Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 1 Shall the State Constitution be amended to permit school district voters to authorize tax levies in excess of the 40-mill limit at a specified maximum rate for up to four years for operations and/or capital outlay, if the proposition or propositions be approved by a three-fifths majority, and the number of voters voting thereon constitutes not less than forty percent of the votes cast at the last preceding general election in such district? 249,489 597,928
1962 Senate Joint Resolution 9 Shall Article II of the State Constitution be amended by adding a section empowering and directing the legislature to provide a method of temporary succession to elected and appointive offices when because of an emergency resulting from enemy attack the incumbents are unavailable to act and further empowering the legislature to depart from certain constitutional provisions if, in discharging this duty, the emergency renders compliance impracticable? 496,956 279,175
1962 Senate Joint Resolution 21 Shall the constitutional restriction upon the ownership of land in the State of Washington by certain non-citizens be removed by repealing Section 33, Article 11, as amended by Amendments 24 and 29 of the State Constitution? 400,839 428,276
1962 Senate Joint Resolution 25 Shall Section 1, Article XXIII, of the State Constitution requiring publication of the text of each proposed constitutional amendment in a weekly newspaper in each county for three months prior to the election, be amended so as to require only that notice of the proposed constitutional amendment be published at least four times during the four weeks preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state? 417,451 353,448
1962 Substitute House Joint Resolution 1 Shall the State Constitution be amended to permit city and town voters to authorize tax levies in excess of the 40-mill limit at a specified maximum rate for up to four years for capital outlay, if the proposition or propositions be approved by a three-fifths majority and the number of voters voting thereon constitutes not less than forty percent of the votes cast at the last preceding general election in such city or town? 189,125 620,973
1962 House Joint Resolution 6 Shall Article IV of the State Constitution be amended by adding a new section providing that when necessary for the prompt and orderly administration of justice a majority of the supreme court is empowered to authorize judges of courts of record in this state to perform, temporarily, judicial duties in the supreme court, and to authorize any superior court judge to perform judicial duties in any superior court of this state? 539,800 236,805
1962 House Joint Resolution 9 Shall Article II of the State Constitution be amended by adding a sectionempowering and directing the legislature to provide a method of temporary succession to elected and appointive offices when because of an emergency resulting from enemy attack the incumbents are unavailable to act and further empowering the legislature to depart fromcertain constitutional provisions if, in discharging this duty, the emergency renders compliance impracticable? 496,956 279,175
1962 House Joint Resolution 19 Shall Article VI, Section 1 of the State Constitution relating to qualifications of voters be amended to reduce the periods of state and county residence required for voting at all elections; eliminate disqualification from voting by Indians not taxed, and allow citizens intending to make this state their permanent residence to vote for presidential electors or President and Vice-President of the United States, after sixty days' residence? 392,172 400,630
1964 Senate Joint Resolution 1 Shall Article XI, section 10, of the State Constitution, which provides for the incorporation, organization and classification of cities, and allows certain cities to frame charters for their own government consistent with general state laws, be amended in the following respects: (1) Changing from 20,000 to 10,000 the minimum population of cities which may frame such charters; (2) Changing newspaper publication requirements for proposed charters; (3) Providing that notices of elections be given as required by law? 687,016 263,101
1966 Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 6 Shall Article IV of the state constitution be amended to provide that where only one candidate has filed for a superior court judge position in a county of 100,000 or more inhabitants, or where after a contested primary in any county only one such candidate is entitled to appear on the general election ballot, certification of election shall issue to such candidate without a further election, unless a write-in campaign is to be conducted? 635,318 158,291
1966 Senate Joint Resolution 20 Shall the limitation on the ownership of land in the State of Washington by certain non-citizens be removed by repealing section 33, Article II, as amended by Amendments 24 and 29 of the state constitution? 430,984 415,082
1966 Senate Joint Resolution 22, Part 1 Shall Article IX, section 3, of the state constitution be amended to establish a common school construction fund to be used to finance common school construction, with funds to be derived from (1) certain proceeds from timber and other crops from school and state lands, (2) certain interest, rentals and revenues from the permanent common school fund and from lands devoted to the permanent common school fund, and (3) such other sources as the legislature may provide? 602,360 220,395
1966 Senate Joint Resolution 22, Part 2 Shall Article XVI, section 5, (Amendment 1) of the state constitution, restricting investment of the state's permanent school fund to national, state, county, municipal or school district bonds, be amended by removing this restriction and thereby permitting the permanent school fund to be invested in such manner as may be authorized by act of the legislature? 581,245 222,401
1966 Senate Joint Resolution 25 Shall Article VIII of the state constitution be amended to declare that the use of public funds by port districts, in such manner as may be prescribed by the legislature, for industrial development or trade promotion and promotional hosting shall be deemed a public use for a public purpose and shall not be deemed an unconstitutional gift of public funds? 415,064 359,714
1966 Substitute House Joint Resolution 4 Shall Article VI of the state constitution be amended to allow United States citizens meeting all constitutional qualifications for voting in the state, except for length of residence, to vote at a United States presidential election solely for presidential electors or for the office of president and vice president if they (1) Intend to make this state their permanent residence; and (2) Have resided in the state at least sixty days immediately preceding the particular presidential election? 645,966 155,808
1966 House Joint Resolution 7 Shall Article VII of the state constitution be amended to authorize the legislature to grant relief from property taxes on real property owned and occupied as a residence by retired persons, subject to such restrictions and conditions as the legislature may establish, including but not limited to level of income and length of residence? 661,497 210,553
1966 House Joint Resolution 39 Shall Article VIII, section 3 of state constitution, requiring the publication, in a newspaper in each county for three months prior to the election, of the text of any law to be voted upon by the people authorizing state debts, be amended so as to require only that notice of the law be published at least four times during the four weeks preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state? 569,889 193,299
1968 Senate Joint Resolution 5 Shall the Constitution of the state of Washington be amended by adding a new article and section permitting the moneys of any public pension or retirement fund to be invested in such manner as may be authorized by law? 770,325 298,788
1968 Senate Joint Resolution 6 Shall the State Constitution be amended to provide for establishment by the legislature of a state court of appeals with such jurisdiction as may be granted by statute or rules as authorized thereby; providing that the number, manner of election, compensation, term of office, removal and retirement of judges of such court shall be prescribed by statute; and providing that the administration and procedures of the court shall be prescribed by supreme court rules? 650,025 370,059
1968 Senate Joint Resolution 17 Shall Article VIII of the State Constitution be amended by adding a new section authorizing creation by the legislature of a state building authority to construct buildings and improvements for lease to state agencies or departments for up to seventy-five years, and to finance such construction through issuance of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be paid from the authority's revenues which would not be subject to the constitutional debt limitation? 521,162 499,344
1968 Senate Joint Resolution 23 Shall the State constitution be amended to permit taxing districts, if authorized by the legislature, to submit propositions for property tax levies exceeding the forty-mill limit to their voters up to 24 months before the levy date, thereby permitting two consecutive annual excess levies to be approved at one election; and authorizing submission of a second proposition in any twelve-month period only if it is substituted for the excess levy previously approved for that year? 407,248 625,016
1968 Senate Joint Resolution 24 Shall the State Constitution be amended to provide for filling vacancies in legislative or partisan county elective offices as follows: (1) the county commissioners of the county affected shall appoint a person from the same legislative, county or county commissioner district and political party as the officer whose office has been vacated; (2) On failure of the county commissioners to so appoint within sixty days, the governor shall within thirty days appoint a person similarly qualified? 744,656 257,168
1968 House Joint Resolution 1 Shall Article VII of the State Constitution be amended by adding a section authorizing the legislature to provide that farms, agricultural lands, standing timber and timberlands, and other open space lands used for recreation or enjoyment of their scenic or natural beauty, shall be valued for purposes of taxation on the basis of the use to which such property currently is being applied, rather than on the highest and best use? 705,978 335,496
1968 House Joint Resolution 13 Shall the State Constitution be amended by adding a new article permitting the compensation of all elected and appointed state, county and municipal officers who do not fix their own compensation (including judges of courts of record and justice courts), to be increased during their terms of office to the end that such officials shall receive compensation for their services as provided by the law in effect at the time the services are being rendered? 541,002 478,119
1970 House Joint Resolution 42 Shall the state constitution be amended to reduce the maximum allowable rate of taxation against property to 1 percent of true and fair value in the absence of authorized excess levies, and to permit the legislature to tax income at a single rate without regard to this limitation or, after 1975, at a graduated rate if the voters in that year or thereafter approve the removal of the single rate limitation? 309,882 672,446
1970 House Joint Resolution 6 Shall Article VI, Section 1 of the state Constitution be amended to reduce from 21 years to 19 years the age at which an otherwise qualified person shall be entitled to vote and to remove currently inoperative language pertaining to the voting qualifications of certain citizens? 473,029 570,438
1972 Senate Joint Resolution 1 Property taxation - one percent limitation: Shall the state constitution be amended to replace the present forty mill limit upon those property taxes which are imposed without voter approval (in effect a limitation of two percent of the true and fair value of the taxable property) with a new provision under which the maximum allowable rate for such property taxes would be one percent of the true and fair value of the property? 1,030,832 214,834
1972 Senate Joint Resolution 5 Shall Article II, section 24 of the state constitution be amended to repeal the present total prohibition against any lottery of any sort to be conducted after there has been specific authorization by (1) an act of the legislature approved by sixty percent of the members of both houses or (2) an initiative or referendum approved by sixty percent of the electors voting thereon? 787,251 489,282
1972 Senate Joint Resolution 38 Setting of county officers' salaries: Shall the state constitution be amended to allow the legislature to authorize boards of county commissioners and other county legislative authorities to set their own salaries and those of all other county officers, subject to the existing prohibition against mid-term pay increases for those officers who fix their own compensation? 658,095 561,607
1972 House Joint Resolution 1 Tax exemptions - Periodic Review - Repeal. Shall the state constitution be amended to require periodic legislative review of all exemptions, deductions, exclusions from, or credits against any state or local taxes (except those concerning property held by religious organizations solely for religious or educational purposes) and to repeal automatically the statutory or constitutional provisions granting them unless such provisions are amended or reenacted by the legislature or (where necessary) reapproved by the people before March 1, 1977, and every tenth year thereafter? 544,868 668,505
1972 Senate Joint Resolution 5 Shall Article II, section 24 of the state constitution be amended to repeal the present total prohibition against any lottery of any sort to be conducted after there has been specific authorization by (1) an act of the legislature approved by sixty percent of the members of both houses or (2) an initiative or referendum approved by sixty percent of the electors voting thereon? 787,251 489,282
1972 House Joint Resolution 21 Allowing combined county-city governments: Shall the state constitution be amended to permit the people in any country by majority vote to create a combined "city-county" government through the adoption of a home rule charter under which other municipal corporations having such powers and duties as are prescribed in the charter could also be retained or established, if desired, and to set separate constitutional debt limitations for the "city-county" as thus created and for any new or retained municipal corporations? 603,471 598,557
1972 House Joint Resolution 47 Changing excess levy election formula: Shall the formula governing certain excess property tax levies approved by sixty percent of the voters be changed so the election authorizing the levy will be valid either--(1) if (as now) the total of all votes cast on the proposition is at least forty percent of the number cast at the taxing district's last general election; or (2) if the total of "yes" votes is at least three-fifths of forty percent of that number of voters? 686,320 491,703
1972 House Joint Resolution 52 Changing constitutional debt limit formula: Shall the present $400,000 limitation upon certain state debts incurred without voter approval be replaced with a limitation allowing those debts covered by the amendment only if--(1) their aggregate amount will not require annual principal and interest payments to exceed 9% of the average amount of general state revenues for the three immediately preceding fiscal years; and (2) the laws authorizing such debts are approved by a three-fifths majority of both houses of the legislature? 673,376 477,144
1972 House Joint Resolution 61 Sex equality - rights and responsibilities: Shall a new article be added to the state constitution to provide that equality of rights and responsibilities under the law shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex, and to authorize the legislature to enforce this provision by the enactment of appropriate legislation? 645,115 641,746
1973 House Joint Resolution 22 May the legislature authorize urban development or redevelopment financing from property taxes attributable to increased valuations resulting from such projects? 246,055 655,125
1973 House Joint Resolution 37 Shall a graduated net income tax be authorized, excess levies for school operations be prohibited, and some excise taxes limited? 228,823 770,033
1973 House Joint Resolution 40 Shall the validation formula approved in 1972 for excess levy elections also be applied to bonds payable from such levies? 352,495 501,618
1974 Senate Joint Resolution 140 Shall the governor's item veto power be restricted and the legislature be permitted to reconvene itself to consider vetoed bills? 498,745 419,437
1974 Senate Joint Resolution 143 Shall a thirty-day durational residency requirement be established for voting by otherwise eligible citizens eighteen years of age or over? 626,827 291,178
1975 Senate Joint Resolution 101 Shall the existing constitutional provisions relating to the judiciary be replaced by a new and revised judicial article? 408,832 427,361
1975 Senate Joint Resolution 127 Shall a commission be created to fix all legislative salaries and legislators' eligibility for election to other offices be expanded? 355,399 539,289
1975 House Joint Resolution 19 Shall Washington's constitution be amended to permit government assistance for students of all educational institutions - limited by the federal constitution? 369,775 565,444
1976 Senate Joint Resolution 137 Shall the voters be permitted to approve excess levies for school support for two-year periods? 763,263 596,722
1976 Senate Joint Resolution 139 Shall any increase or decrease in the salaries of state legislators become effective for all legislators at the same time? 493,187 860,405
1976 House Joint Resolution 64 Shall a state agency be created to draft several alternative model county home-rule charters for possible adoption by any county? 963,309 892,419
1977 Senate Joint Resolution 113 Shall the legislature be authorized to grant district courts jurisdiction over cases involving more than $1,000? 654,082 203,936
1977 House Joint Resolution 55 Shall the legislature be authorized, but not required, to establish reasonable transportation rates for both passengers and freight? 461,975 385,348
1977 House Joint Resolution 56 Shall the constitutional provision that transportation charges to given destinations may never exceed charges to more distant destinations be repealed? 394,105 405,635
1977 House Joint Resolution 57 Shall the constitutional prohibition against the common carrier doing the carrying sharing earnings with another common carrier be repealed? 447,544 332,729
1979 Senate Joint Resolution 110 Shall the legislature meet in regular annual sessions, and shall special legislative sessions be authorized each with specific time limitations? 508,063 331,391
1979 Senate Joint Resolution 112 Shall legislators be allowed to assume other civil offices without receiving any increases in compensation passed during their legislative terms? 469,049 355,088
1979 Senate Joint Resolution 120 Shall municipal utilities be permitted by the constitution to assist owners of residences in financing energy conservation measures until 1990? 526,349 311,768
1980 Senate Joint Resolution 132 Shall the constitution be amended to provide that the state no longer disclaim all rights to unappropriated federal public lands? 579,060 864,850
1980 House Joint Resolution 37 Shall a judicial qualifications commission be created and the supreme court empowered to discipline or remove judges upon its recommendation? 1,043,490 464,941
1981 Senate Joint Resolution 107 Shall constitutional limitations on powers and numbers of superior court commissioners be removed, and limitations be established by legislation? 385,796 439,542
1981 Senate Joint Resolution 133 Shall certification of initiatives to the legislature be required within forty days of filing and legislatively ordered referenda thereon prohibited? 581,724 199,516
1981 House Joint Resolution 7 Shall industrial development bonds, repaid by such developments, not by public funds, be authorized for issuance by public governmental entities? 450,580 357,944
1982 Senate Joint Resolution 143 Shall financing of public improvements from taxes on increased property values as a result of such improvements be constitutionally authorized? 453,221 889,091
1983 Senate Joint Resolution 103 Shall a commission be appointed by legislative leaders to redistrict legislative and congressional districts each decade based on equal population? 639,981 407,916
1983 Senate Joint Resolution 105 Shall the state constitution be amended to increase from thirty to fifty-five years the maximum term for state harbor leases? 383,081 622,840
1983 Senate Joint Resolution 112 Shall local governments marketing energy be permitted to use funds or credit to finance energy conservation by individuals and corporations? 405,820 602,719
1985 House Joint Resolution 12 Shall the constitution be amended to permit State industrial insurance (Worker's Compensation) Funds to be invested as authorized by law? 582,471 233,628
1985 House Joint Resolution 22 Shall conditions to voter approval of public school excess property tax levies, except the 60% yes vote requirement, be eliminated? 369,852 463,391
1985 House Joint Resolution 23 Shall counties and cities be permitted to finance public improvements through tax revenues resulting from increased values of benefited properties? 337,015 476,600
1985 House Joint Resolution 42 Shall agricultural commodity commissions, funded by agricultural producer assessments, be permitted to engage in promotional hosting to develop agricultural trade? 536,528 250,936
1986 Senate Joint Resolution 136 Shall the Constitution be amended to increase authority and membership of the commission reviewing judicial conduct and require public proceedings? 696,932 486,490
1986 Senate Joint Resolution 138 Shall the Constitution be amended to modify the process, timing and eligibility to fill vacancies in legislative and county offices? 557,447 585,642
1986 House Joint Resolution 49 Shall the Constitution be amended to authorize an independent commission to set salaries of legislators, judges, and state elected officials? 630,736 575,213
1986 House Joint Resolution 55 Shall a constitutional amendment permit voters to approve school excess levies, not exceeding six years for construction, modernization or remodeling? 712,816 492,445
1987 Senate Joint Resolution 8207 Shall the constitution empower superior court judges, after retirement, to complete pending cases in which they had made discretionary rulings? 495,273 346,428
1987 Senate Joint Resolution 8212 Shall state constitutional restrictions, which prevent investment of some permanent public funds in stocks and private lending, be removed? 260,620 551,408
1987 House Joint Resolution 4212 Shall the State Constitution be amended so legislative representatives will be elected for four years and senators for six? 283,742 567,782
1987 House Joint Resolution 4220 Shall the constitution be amended to permit a 15 year state-wide special property tax levy exclusively for school construction purposes? 283,118 568,196
1988 House Joint Resolution 4222 Shall the legislature’s authority to exempt from tax $300 of a family head’s personal property value by increased to $3,000? 1,299,696 352,807
1988 House Joint Resolution 4223 Shall the constitutional authority for public utilities to assist residential energy conservation continue and extend to other structures and equipment? 1,248,183 379,153
1988 House Joint Resolution 4231 Shall references in the State Constitution to “idiots, insane, dumb, and defective youth” be removed and new language be added? 1,354,529 310,114
1989 Senate Joint Resolution 8200 Shall the State Constitution be amended to provide that victims of charged felony crimes shall have certain basic fundamental rights? 789,266 221,179
1989 Senate Joint Resolution 8202 Shall the State Constitution's provision creating the Judicial Conduct Commission be revised to more explicitly describe its process and authority? 804,199 162,135
1989 Senate Joint Resolution 8210 Shall the State constitution permit local governments to finance, from the revenues of water sales, private efforts to conserve water? 622,494 350,876
1990 House Joint Resolution 4203 Shall constitutional provisions governing the creation of new counties be amended to alter requirements for county formation, annexation, and consolidation? 403,377 810,098
1990 House Joint Resolution 4231 Shall a constitutional amendment permit voters at an election to approve excess property taxes for up to six-year periods? 407,423 848,026
1990 Senate Joint Resolution 8212 Shall a constitutional amendment permit basing the tax value of low-income housing of five or more units upon current use? 606,683 608,223
1991 Senate Joint Resolution 8203 Shall the Constitution be amended to permit an alternative method of drafting county home rule charters for submission to voters? 538,126 713,648
1991 House Joint Resolution 4218 Shall each county legislative body establish the number of Superior Court Commissioners and the constitutional limit of three be repealed? 583,318 706,807
1991 Substitute House Joint Resolution 4221 Shall the Constitution's description of the Superior Court's original jurisdiction be amended by deleting the reference to "cases in equity"? 584,815 613,040
1993 House Joint Resolution 4200 Shall counties and public hospital districts be permitted to employ chaplains for their hospitals, health care facilities, and hospices? 851,333 608,252
1993 House Joint Resolution 4201 Shall the constitutional provision which gives jurisdiction in cases in equity to superior courts be amended to include district courts? 857,094 427,702
1995 Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 8210 Shall the selection process for chief justice be changed, and a constitutional process for reducing the supreme court be adopted? 723,297 526,260
1997 House Joint Resolution 4208 Shall the Constitution be amended to permit voter-approved school district levies to run for an optional four-year period, rather than the current two-year maximum? 858,777 759,259
1997 House Joint Resolution 4209 Shall the Constitution be amended to permit local governments to make loans for the conservation or the more efficient use of storm water or sewer services? 1,002,382 573,083
1999 Senate Joint Resolution 8206 Shall the constitution be amended to permit the state to guarantee payment of voter-approved general obligation debt of school districts as authorized by law? 984,122 648,262
1999 Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 8208 Shall the state constitution be amended to permit the Emergency Reserve Fund to be invested as the legislature may authorize by law? 798,756 829,637
2000 Senate Joint Resolution 8214 Shall the state constitution be amended to permit state funds held in trust for persons with developmental disabilities to be invested as authorized by law? 1,450,749 786,185
2001 Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution 8208 The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on the use of temporary superior court judges (judges pro tempore). This amendment would allow superior courts to bring in elected Washington judges from other court levels to hear cases on a temporary basis, subject to certain restrictions, as implemented by supreme court rules. Should this constitutional amendment be Approved or Rejected? 976,417 395,324
2001 House Joint Resolution 4202 The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on the investment of state funds. This amendment would grant increased discretion to the Legislature in deciding how to invest state funds. Funds under the authority of the state investment board could be invested as determined by state statute. Should this constitutional amendment be Approved or Rejected? 573,878 761,768
2002 House Joint Resolution 4220 The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on fire protection property tax levies. This amendment would permit property tax levy propositions for fire protection districts to be submitted to voters for periods up to four years, or six years for fire facility construction, rather than annually. Should this constitutional amendment be Approved or Rejected? 1,173,499 498,145
2003 House Joint Resolution 4206 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on filling vacancies in legislative and partisan county elective offices. This amendment would permit newly-elected officers to take office early if the office falls vacant after the general election and the newly-elected officer is of the same political party as the former officer. 1,008,710 207,720
2005 Senate Joint Resolution 8207 The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on qualifications for service on the Commission on Judicial Conduct. This amendment would permit one member of the Commission on Judicial Conduct to be selected by and from the judges of all courts of limited jurisdiction. 1,102,192 529,586
2006 House Joint Resolution 4223 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on increasing an exemption from the personal property tax. This amendment would authorize the legislature to increase the personal property tax exemption for taxable personal property owned by each "head of a family" from three thousand ($3,000) to fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars. 1,581,373 399,684
2007 Engrossed Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 8206 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on establishment of a budget stabilization account. This amendment would require the legislature to transfer 1% of general state revenues to a budget stabilization account each year and prohibit expenditures from the account except as set forth in the amendment. 1,048,562 499,292
2007 Senate Joint Resolution 8212 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on inmate labor. This amendment would authorize state-operated inmate labor programs and programs in which inmate labor is used by private entities through state contracts, and prohibit privately operated programs from unfairly competing with Washington businesses. 937,557 606,863
2007 Substitute House Joint Resolution 4204 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on school district tax levies. This amendment would provide for approval of school district excess property tax levies by simple majority vote of participating voters, and would eliminate supermajority approval requirements based on voter turnout in previous elections. 811,507 792,010
2007 Substitute House Joint Resolution 4215 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on investment of higher education permanent funds. This amendment would authorize the investment of money in higher education permanent funds as permitted by law, and would permit investment in stocks or bonds issued by any company, if authorized by law. 831,669 695,663
2010 Senate Joint Resolution 8225 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on state debt. This amendment would require the state to reduce the interest accounted for in calculating the constitutional debt limit, by the amount of federal payments scheduled to be received to offset that interest. 1,180,552 1,089,100
2010 Engrossed Substitute House Joint Resolution 4220 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on denying bail for persons charged with certain criminal offenses. This amendment would authorize courts to deny bail for offenses punishable by the possibility of life in prison, on clear and convincing evidence of a propensity for violence that would likely endanger persons. 2,082,465 378,634
2011 Senate Joint Resolution 8205 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on repealing article VI, section 1A, of the Washington Constitution. This amendment would remove an inoperative provision from the state constitution regarding the length of time a voter must reside in Washington to vote for president and vice-president. 1,335,039 490,445
2011 Senate Joint Resolution 8206 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on the budget stabilization account maintained in the state treasury. This amendment would require the legislature to transfer additional moneys to the budget stabilization account in each fiscal biennium in which the state has received “extraordinary revenue growth,” as defined, with certain limitations. 1,186,069 594,687
2012 Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution No. 8221 The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on implementing the Commission on State Debt recommendations regarding Washington's debt limit. This amendment would, starting July 1, 2014, phase-down the debt limit percentage in three steps from nine to eight percent and modify the calculation date, calculation period, and the term general state revenues. 1,748,436 1,031,039
2012 Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223 The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on investments by the University of Washington and Washington State University. This amendment would create an exception to constitutional restrictions on investing public funds by allowing these universities to invest specified public funds as authorized by the legislature, including in private companies or stock. 1,258,969 1,602,785
2016 Senate Joint Resolution No. 8210 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on the deadline for completing state legislative and congressional redistricting. This amendment would require the state redistricting commission to complete redistricting for state legislative and congressional districts by November 15 of each year ending in a one, 46 days earlier than currently required. 2,246,030 658,927
2019 Senate Joint Resolution No. 8200 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment concerning legislative powers in times of emergency. This measure would add "catastrophic incidents" to the specified times of emergency that the legislature may take certain immediate actions to ensure continuity of state and local governmental operations. 1,247,265 670,086
2020 Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution No. 8212 The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on investment of public funds. This amendment would allow public money held in a fund for long-term care services and supports to be invested by governments as authorized by state law, including investments in private stocks. 1,738,080 2,069,809