Clallam County Proposed Amendment No. 3

Committee: Ron Richards

Despite a state law that requires the Local Voters’ Pamphlet to include the text of each measure that is on the ballot, Clallam County’s Local Voters’ Pamphlet has not always included the full text of proposed charter amendments. As everyone knows, in legal documents the devil is in the details. To better understand the effect of a proposed charter amendment It is important for a voter to know its precise wording. This proposed charter amendment would make sure that the full text of a proposed charter amendment is included in the Local Voters’ Pamphlet. Indicative of the reasonableness of this proposed charter amendment is the fact that the Charter Review Commission approved placing it on the ballot by a vote of 14 to 0. Vote for this amendment if you think the voters of Clallam County should be informed of the full text of a proposed charter amendment before they are asked to vote on the amendment.

Committee: Jim Stoffer

Voters deserve complete information about every proposed Charter amendment. This amendment is not necessary to provide it. Washington law already requires the local voters’ pamphlet to include the text of each measure together with a neutral explanatory statement. Clallam County also makes the underlying amendment language available to voters. Anyone who wants to examine the complete legal text should have convenient access to it. This proposal goes further by permanently requiring the full legal text of every proposed Charter amendment to be printed in every voters’ pamphlet. That printing requirement would become part of the County Charter itself. The stated concern that an amendment could be invalidated unless its complete text appears in the pamphlet is precautionary, not established Washington law. No Washington appellate decision has been identified holding that a county Charter amendment approved by voters is invalid because its complete legal text was not reproduced in the local voters’ pamphlet. Voters need both transparency and clarity. Neutral explanatory statements help voters understand what an amendment actually changes, while the complete legal language can remain readily available for anyone wishing to examine it. The Charter should establish the framework of county government, not dictate how election officials print the voters’ pamphlet. Vote NO on an unnecessary Charter mandate.