The signature submission deadline for Initiatives to the People (ITP)—which is the name of direct ballot initiatives in Washington—passed on July 7, 2023. No campaigns submitted signatures. To qualify for the ballot, proponents would have needed to submit 324,516 valid signatures. A total of 70 ITPs were filed by five sponsors. The filed initiatives concerned a range of topics, including taxes, firearms, and schools.
Washington citizens may initiate legislation as either a direct state statute—called an Initiative to the People (ITP)—or an indirect state statute—called an Initiative to the Legislature (ITL). In Washington, citizens also have the power to repeal legislation through veto referendums. Citizens may not initiate constitutional amendments.
This year will be the fourth consecutive year that no ITPs appeared on the statewide ballot in Washington. The 2020 election was the first presidential election year since 1928 in which the Washington ballot did not feature an Initiative to the People (ITP). The last ITPs on the ballot were decided in the 2018 general election.
