A referendum is, essentially, a revision to an already passed law. Referenda are put on the ballot by petition. A valid petition to force a referendum on any portion of any act of the legislature needs to have valid signatures of legal voters equal to at least 4% of the number of voters registered and voting for the governor in the last regular gubernatorial election. RCW 29A.72.150

There are two types of referenda: Referendum Measures and Referendum Bills. Referendum Measures are laws recently passed by the Legislature that the people have petitioned to be placed on the ballot for a vote. Referendum Bills are proposed laws that the Legislature wants the people to vote on. As stated in the code, a referendum must be filed within 90 days of the adjournment of legislative session at which it was passed. “It may be submitted at the next general statewide election or at a special election ordered by the legislature.”

 Once the petition is certified, it takes a majority vote for a referendum to become law. As stated in the Washington constitution, a referendum goes into effect thirty days later.

For more information on the Initiative and Referendum process, please see Handbook for Filing Initiatives and Referenda in WA State,  Chapter 29A.72 of the RCW, and the Secretary of State website.