Current Ballot
The League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County has endorsed several of the measures on the ballot for the General Election on November 3, 2020. See the measures listed below. The League has not taken a position on any of the remaining local ballot measures in King County.
Click here to go to the LWVWA website to see positions taken on statewide ballot measures.
King County Charter Amendments
Click here for details behind the endorsements
Amendment 1
Inquests
Shall King County Charter Section 895 concerning mandatory inquests be amended to: (1) clarify that an inquest is required when a member of a law enforcement agency's action, decision, or possible failure to offer appropriate care might have contributed to an individual's death; and (2) to provide an attorney at the county's expense to represent the decedent's family in the inquest proceeding?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Amendment 3
References to Citizens
Shall the Preamble and Sections 260 and 800 of the King County charter be amended to replace the word “citizen” with “public,” “member of the public” or “resident,” as applicable?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Amendment 4
Office of Law Enforcement Oversight – Subpoena Authority
Shall Section 265 of the King County charter be amended to authorize the office of law enforcement oversight to subpoena witnesses, documents and other evidence related to its investigations and reviews of county law enforcement officers?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Amendment 5
Making the King County Sheriff an Appointed Position
Shall the King County charter be amended to return the position of King County sheriff to an appointed position with a requirement for consideration of community stakeholder input during the selection process and to make the county executive responsible for bargaining working conditions with the department of public safety's represented employees?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Amendment 6
Structure and Duties of the Department of Public Safety
Shall the King County charter be amended so that the duties of the county sheriff and the structure and duties of the department of public safety are established by county ordinance and the county executive is responsible for bargaining working conditions with the department of public safety's represented employees?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Seattle Proposition 1
Funding for Transit and Related Transportation Needs
The City of Seattle’s Proposition 1 concerns funding for transit and related transportation needs in Seattle.
If approved, this proposition authorizes up to 0.15% sales and use tax expiring April 1, 2027, and as proposed in Ordinance 126115, to replace the current voter-approved 0.1% sales tax, expiring December 31, 2020.
Revenues are dedicated to: transit services benefitting Seattle residents, including frequent transit network maintenance and associated capital improvements; low-income fare programs for Seattle seniors, students, workers, and residents; and transportation needs related to COVID-19 recovery and the West Seattle Bridge closure.
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Click here for details behind the endorsement
Click here to go to the LWVWA website to see positions taken on statewide ballot measures.
King County Charter Amendments
Click here for details behind the endorsements
Amendment 1
Inquests
Shall King County Charter Section 895 concerning mandatory inquests be amended to: (1) clarify that an inquest is required when a member of a law enforcement agency's action, decision, or possible failure to offer appropriate care might have contributed to an individual's death; and (2) to provide an attorney at the county's expense to represent the decedent's family in the inquest proceeding?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Amendment 3
References to Citizens
Shall the Preamble and Sections 260 and 800 of the King County charter be amended to replace the word “citizen” with “public,” “member of the public” or “resident,” as applicable?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Amendment 4
Office of Law Enforcement Oversight – Subpoena Authority
Shall Section 265 of the King County charter be amended to authorize the office of law enforcement oversight to subpoena witnesses, documents and other evidence related to its investigations and reviews of county law enforcement officers?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Amendment 5
Making the King County Sheriff an Appointed Position
Shall the King County charter be amended to return the position of King County sheriff to an appointed position with a requirement for consideration of community stakeholder input during the selection process and to make the county executive responsible for bargaining working conditions with the department of public safety's represented employees?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Amendment 6
Structure and Duties of the Department of Public Safety
Shall the King County charter be amended so that the duties of the county sheriff and the structure and duties of the department of public safety are established by county ordinance and the county executive is responsible for bargaining working conditions with the department of public safety's represented employees?
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Seattle Proposition 1
Funding for Transit and Related Transportation Needs
The City of Seattle’s Proposition 1 concerns funding for transit and related transportation needs in Seattle.
If approved, this proposition authorizes up to 0.15% sales and use tax expiring April 1, 2027, and as proposed in Ordinance 126115, to replace the current voter-approved 0.1% sales tax, expiring December 31, 2020.
Revenues are dedicated to: transit services benefitting Seattle residents, including frequent transit network maintenance and associated capital improvements; low-income fare programs for Seattle seniors, students, workers, and residents; and transportation needs related to COVID-19 recovery and the West Seattle Bridge closure.
LWVSKC Recommends: YES
Click here for details behind the endorsement