Each year, the Clark County Auditor’s Office publishes a voters’ pamphlet for the general election which is mailed to all households in Clark County. It includes candidate statements and photographs and local ballot measures with supporting and opposing statements written by citizen committees.

A legislative body placing a measure on the ballot shall appoint a committee to write a supporting statement and another committee to write an opposing statement.

At its July 20, 2021, public hearing, the Clark County Council voted to place two charter amendment proposals on the Nov. 2, 2021, general election ballot. The county council is seeking volunteers to serve on committees to write a statement for and a statement opposing the measures. Each proposal would have one “for” committee and one “against” committee.

Both measures relate to the charter’s language regarding initiative and referendum petitions.

One proposed amendment would clarify language regarding procedures for processing initiative, mini-initiative and referendum petitions. If approved by a majority of voters, this amendment would:

• Specify that the petition proposal must be filed with the Auditor;
• Clarify certain terms, such as “petition;”
• Specify when certain deadlines are triggered;
• Detail procedures for the Auditor to verify and canvass the names of the legal voters on the petition.

A second proposed amendment would change charter language regarding circumstances in which a proposed initiative or referendum applied exclusively to unincorporated Clark County. Specifically:

• The individual filing the initiative or referendum must be a registered voter residing in unincorporated Clark County.
• Signatures gathered in support of the initiative or referendum must be from registered voters residing in Clark County.
• Only those registered voters residing in unincorporated Clark County would be eligible to vote on the initiative or referendum.

To see the ordinances relating to the proposals, visit https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/clark-county-council-meetings and follow the links to the July 20 hearing.

Clark County residents who wish to be appointed to any of the statement for or statement against committees is asked to contact Kristin Davidson, County Manager’s Office, at Kristin.davidson@clark.wa.gov or by phone at (564) 397-4167. Please contact the county soon; the deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 27.

CONTACT:
Joni McAnally, communications specialist, County Manager’s Office
564.397.4306, joni.mcanally@clark.wa.gov