Municipal League of King County Ballot Issues Great communities are built by people who care about the quality of local government.

The full text of the King County Charter and its history can be found on line at www.metrokc.gov/exec/charter/. King County Charter Section 320 contains provisions related to both Executive and Council authorities related to ordinances. It also contains provisions related to the citizen’s right of intiative and referendum. For convience, the full text of those two provisions are listed here.

230.40. Referendum. Except as provided herein, an enacted ordinance may be subjected to a referendum by the voters of the county by filing with the county council prior to the effective date of the ordinance petitions bearing signatures of registered voters of the county equal in number to not less than eight percent of the votes cast in the county for the office of county executive at the last preceding election for county executive. In addition, except as provided herein, an enacted ordinance which pursuant to state law is effective only in unincorporated areas of the county may be subjected to a referendum by the voters of the unincorporated areas of the county by filing with the county council prior to the effective date of the ordinance petitions bearing signatures of registered voters residing in unincorporated areas of the county equal in number to not less than eight percent of the votes cast at the last preceding election for county executive, provided however that the number of required signatures shall be calculated based only upon votes cast within areas which on the date such petitions are required to be filed are unincorporated areas of the county. Each petition shall contain the full text of the ordinance to be referred. The ordinance to be referred shall be placed on the ballot at the special or general election occurring more than forty-five days after the petitions are filed, provided that in the case of an ordinance effective only in unincorporated areas of the county, the proposed ordinance shall be voted upon only by the registered voters residing in unincorporated areas of the county. An appropriation ordinance; an ordinance necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety or for the support of county government and its existing public institutions; an ordinance proposing amendments to this charter; an ordinance providing for collective bargaining; an ordinance approving a collective bargaining agreement; an ordinance providing for the compensation or working conditions of county employees; or an ordinance which has been approved by the voters by referendum or initiative shall not be subject to a referendum. (Ord. 10530, 8/24/92)

230.50. Initiative. Ordinances except ordinances providing for the compensation or working conditions of county employees may be proposed by filing with the county council petitions bearing signatures of registered voters of the county equal in number to not less than ten percent of the votes cast in the county for the office of county executive at the last preceding election for county executive. In addition, an ordinance which pursuant to state law is effective only in unincorporated areas of the county, except an ordinance providing for the compensation or working conditions of county employees, may be proposed by filing with the county council petitions bearing signatures of registered voters residing in unincorporated areas of the county equal in number to not less than ten percent of the votes cast at the last preceding election for county executive, provided, however that the number of required signatures shall be calculated based only upon votes cast within areas which on the date such petitions are required to be filed are unincorporated areas of the county. Each petition shall contain the full text of the proposed ordinance. The county council shall consider the proposed ordinance. If the proposed ordinance is not enacted within ninety days after the petitions are presented, it shall be placed on the ballot at the next regular or special election occurring more than one hundred thirty-five days after the petitions are filed or at an earlier election designated by the county council. However, if the proposed ordinance is enacted at any time prior to the election, it shall not be placed on the ballot or be voted on unless it is subjected to referendum. If the county council rejects the proposed ordinance and adopts a substitute ordinance concerning the same subject matter, the substitute ordinance shall be placed on the same ballot with the proposed ordinance; and the voters shall first be given the choice of accepting either or rejecting both and shall then be given the choice of accepting one and rejecting the other, provided that in the case of an ordinance effective only in unincorporated areas of the county, the proposed ordinance shall be voted upon only by the registered voters residing in unincorporated areas of the county. If a majority of the voters voting on the first issue is for either, then the ordinance receiving the majority of the votes cast on the second issue shall be deemed approved. If a majority of those voting on the first issue is for rejecting both, then neither ordinance shall be approved regardless of the vote on the second issue. (Ord. 10530, 8/24/92)

The other provisions in Section 230 Ordinances includes:

230.10. Introduction and Adoption.
        230.10.10 Metropolitan Municipal Functions.
230.20. Executive Veto.
230.30. Emergency Ordinances.
230.40. Referendum.
230.50. Initiative.
        230.50.10. Institutional Initiative.
230.60. Referendum and Initiative Petitions.
230.70. Effective Date of Ordinances.
230.75. Amendment or Repeal of Ordinances Approved by the Voters.

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