Signatures for Initiative 1433, the minimum wage measure, were submitted to the Elections Division office on Wednesday in Olympia, the first of five initiative campaigns that scheduled turn-in appointments this week. Friday is the deadline.
I-1433 sponsors said they turned in about 360,000 signatures, according to the Secretary of State website blog. That’s far more than the 246,372 valid signatures necessary to qualify for the statewide General Election ballot this fall. The Elections Division always recommends submitting at least 325,000, to allow for duplicate or invalid signatures.
I-1433 would raise the state’s minimum wage for adult employees to $11 in 2017 and eventually reach $13.50 by 2020. The current minimum wage, which is adjusted annually under an earlier initiative, is now $9.47. I-1433 also deals with paid sick leave.
The Elections Division recommends that initiative sponsors submit at least 325,000 signatures to provide a cushion to cover duplicate or invalid signatures. The average rejection rate is 18 percent.
Because such a large number of signatures were turned in, Elections Division officials said I-1433 will undergo a 3 percent random sample check instead of a review of all submitted signatures. If history is a guide, the measure will earn a place on the ballot.
The signature check for I-1433 is expected to begin July 18 and take about three or four working days to complete.
On Thursday, sponsors planned to turn in signatures for I-1491, which would allow police, family, or household members to obtain court orders temporarily preventing firearms access by persons exhibiting mental illness, violent or other behavior indicating they may harm themselves or others.
On Friday, three campaigns have scheduled turn-in appointments: I-1515 (gender-segregated bathrooms and locker rooms), I-1501 (increasing penalties for criminal identity theft and consumer fraud targeting seniors and vulnerable individuals) and I-1464 (creating a state-funded campaign finance program).
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