July 2024 Election Update
Washington State’s August Primary is nearly here, and campaigns are heating up. With primary ballots dropping July 19, candidates are attempting to meet and persuade as many voters as possible at summer picnics, parades, and festivals. As a refresher, the Washington Top 2 Primary allows voters to choose among all candidates running for each office. Voters do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote in the Washington primary. Candidates for partisan office may state a preference for a political party, which is listed on the ballot. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the Primary Election qualify for the General Election. Candidates must also receive at least 1% of the votes cast in that race to advance to the General Election.
Initiative 2066
Initiative 2066, concerning regulating energy services, including natural gas and electrification, is now in the process of qualifying to appear on the November ballot, joining the three remaining Let’s Go Washington Initiatives the legislature chose to refer to the people for a vote. According to the ballot measure summary, I-2066 would require utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers; prevent state approval of rate plans requiring or incentivizing gas service termination, restricting access to gas service, or making it cost-prohibitive; prohibit the state energy code, localities, and air pollution control agencies from penalizing gas use. It would repeal sections of chapter 351, Laws of 2024, including planning requirements for cost-effective electrification and prohibitions on gas rebates and incentives.
I-2066 is a direct reaction to new legislation signed into law in March, HB 1589 (Doglio, D-22) after narrowly passing the legislature. The law has been touted as a natural gas ban by opponents, but proponents of the law say it lays out a framework for clean energy transition. It requires large utility companies to consolidate their gas and electric services into one account by 2027. And beginning in 2025, utility companies such as Puget Sound Energy, may no longer offer customers rebates for purchasing natural gas equipment. By 2031, a utility may not include electric air source heat pumps with gas backups as part of its electrification programs.
The top sponsor of the I-2066 campaign is the Building Industry Association of Washington, which claims the law passed by the legislature will make it more expensive to build homes and run businesses, make the energy grid unreliable, and will force people living in homes that are served by Puget Sound Energy natural gas to convert their homes. The initiative is also supported by Let’s Go Washington, the Washington Hospitality Association, Washington Realtors, Northwest Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association, and the Northwest Pulp & Paper Association who all together collaborated on a massive signature drive to qualify the measure for the ballot in just 50 days. The initiative needs approximately 324,500 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, but the campaign claims to have turned in over 546,000 signatures. Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington, spoke to the media last week, saying “We’ve formed a partnership that is the model of how the citizens push back with the Legislature overreaches.”
It remains to be seen how this and the other initiatives will play out on the November ballot and whether the vast number of signers and supporters will also vote for the Republicans who back these initiatives in a state where Democrats have historically prevailed.
Primary
- July 19 – Start of an 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out and Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available at voting centers.
- July 29 – Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day. Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- August 6 – Deadline for Washington State voter registration or updates (in person only).
- August 6 – Primary – Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8pm on Election Day.
General
- October 18 – Start of an 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out and Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available at voting centers.
- October 28 – Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day. Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- November 5 – Deadline for Washington State voter registration or updates (in person only).
- November 5 – General Election – Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Brynn Brady | Ceiba Consulting, Inc.