Two advisory votes set for fall election

Secretary of State Kim Wyman and the Elections Division have received notice from the Attorney General’s Office

that two advisory votes will appear on the 2014 General Election ballot this fall.

According to a news release from the Secretary of State's office, advisory votes are nonbinding measures that let voters say whether they think the Legislature should repeal or maintain revenue generating bills that the Legislature passed.

Lawmakers used revenue generated from two bills to help balance the state operating budget this year.

The first of this year’s measures is Advisory Vote No. 8, which resulted from Senate Bill 6505 and which deals with the elimination of agricultural tax preferences for various aspects of the marijuana industry.

The second is Advisory Vote No. 9 which resulted from Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1287. That measure imposes the leasehold excise tax on certain leasehold interests in tribal property.

This is the third straight year that advisory votes have been on Washington’s General Election ballot. The first two Advisory Votes were placed on the 2012 ballot and Nos. 3 through 7 appeared last year.

Because advisory votes are nonbinding, the result is not a repeal of the bill, as would be the case with a referendum measure.

The Legislature is not required to take action based on the results of advisory votes.