Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Initiative or Referendum?

What’s the difference between an initiative and a referendum?

Both are forms of law-making power, given to the people by the Washington State Constitution. (Const.art. II, sec. 1).

“The initiative process is the direct power of the voters to enact new laws or change existing laws. It allows the electorate to petition to place proposed legislation on the ballot.”

A referendum, on the other hand, gives “voters an opportunity to approve or reject laws either proposed or enacted by the Legislature.”

Interested in the process and rules for filing petitions and gathering signatures? See Filing Initiatives and Referenda in Washington State, last updated 1/2012.

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