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Charter panel narrows referendum signature threshold to 14% of county executive vote
Summary
Whatcom County Charter Review Commission voted to send a proposal to voters that would set the petition signature requirement for county referendums at 14% of votes cast in the most recent county executive election, after debate over whether the change would be substantive or merely procedural.
The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission voted to advance a proposed change that would require petitioners seeking a county referendum to collect signatures equal to 14% of votes cast in the most recent county executive election.
Commissioners debated whether moving the reference point from a gubernatorial to a county-executive turnout figure would meaningfully change the number of signatures required. Opponents called the change largely “performative,” saying it would produce little practical difference; supporters said it would make the charter’s signature thresholds consistent across local measures and better align petition requirements with local turnout.
The commission first considered a motion to set the threshold at 15% of the executive race, which prompted an amendment to lower the rate to 11%; the 11% amendment failed. Commissioners then proposed and approved a substitute of 14% and subsequently voted to send the 14% proposal forward. The final recorded result on the motion as amended was 14 in favor and 1 opposed.
The measure will be placed on the ballot for voters to decide; if approved, petitions for referendums would use the county executive race turnout to compute the signature requirement going forward. The commission’s change does not itself alter any existing ordinance or statute; it would, if adopted by voters, modify the county charter’s formula for signature counts.
Commissioners who opposed the higher threshold said raising the signature requirement could make it harder for citizen-led referendums to qualify for the ballot; supporters said uniformity and local alignment justified the modest change.
The commission’s roll call and the recorded votes are part of the official minutes and transcript.
Looking ahead, if voters approve the amendment the county auditor and clerk’s offices will need to publish updated signature counts and instructions for petitions that use the new executive-race baseline.
