An initiative is basically a proposal for a new law. Initiatives are put on the ballot by petition. A valid petition to force an initiative to a vote needs to have valid signatures of legal voters equal to at least 8% 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 initiatives: Initiatives to the People and Initiatives to the Legislature. Initiatives to the People are submitted for a vote in the next general election, if certified to have sufficient signatures. As stated in the code, these measures must be submitted to the Secretary of State at least 10 months before the election to which they are being submitted; the signatures must be submitted to the Secretary of State at least 4 month prior.

Initiatives to the Legislature are submitted to the legislature in the next regular session, if certified. The legislators can either adopt the initiative as proposed; reject or refuse the initiative (which means it must be places on ballot at the next state general election); or propose an alternate initiative (which means the old and the new initiative must be submitted to the people in the next state general election). According to the code of Washington, these measures must be submitted to the Secretary of State at least 10 months before the next regular session of the legislature to which they are being submitted; the signatures must be submitted to the Secretary of State not less than 10 days prior.

Once the petition is certified, the initiative requires a majority vote to become law. The Initiative goes into effect after thirty days.

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.