Last week, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee issued an oral ruling on the Referendum 71 lawsuit filed by Washington Families Standing Together. WFST sought an injunction against the Secretary of State that would have prevented R-71 from being placed on the statewide General Election ballot. 

The lawsuit addressed 1) whether a person who signs a referendum or initiative petition must be registered to vote before signing the petition, and 2) whether a signature gatherer must sign a declaration on the back of the petition sheet. Judge McPhee rejected both arguments. The plaintiffs chose not to appeal, removing the last potential roadblock to R-71 going on the ballot this fall.

Judge McPhee oral ruling was very long, so it took several days for the transcript to be finished. Our office’s Elections Division received that transcript late yesterday. It is posted on our Elections Division’s webpage .