Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.050 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026

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(1) The ballot title for an initiative to the people, an initiative to the legislature, a referendum bill, or a referendum measure consists of: (a) A statement of the subject of the measure; (b) a concise description of the measure; and (c) a question in the form prescribed in this section for the ballot measure in question. The statement of the subject of a measure must be sufficiently broad to reflect the subject of the measure, sufficiently precise to give notice of the measure's subject matter, and not exceed ten words. The concise description must contain no more than thirty words, be a true and impartial description of the measure's essential contents, clearly identify the proposition to be voted on, and not, to the extent reasonably possible, create prejudice either for or against the measure.

(2) If a public investment impact disclosure is required under RCW 29A.72.027, the disclosure must appear in the middle of the ballot title, after the concise description and before the question. The disclosure is not, however, considered part of the ballot title and is not subject to any of the legal requirements for ballot titles under this chapter.

(3) For an initiative to the people, or for an initiative to the legislature for which the legislature has not proposed an alternative, the ballot title and public investment impact disclosure, if applicable, must be displayed on the ballot substantially as follows:

"Initiative Measure No. . . . concerns (statement of subject). This measure would (concise description). (Public investment impact disclosure, if applicable). Should this measure be enacted into law?

Yes . . . .□

No . . . .□"

(4) For an initiative to the legislature for which the legislature has proposed an alternative, the ballot title and public investment impact disclosure, if applicable, must be displayed on the ballot substantially as follows:

"Initiative Measure Nos. . . . and . . .B concern (statement of subject).

Initiative Measure No. . . . would (concise description). (Public investment impact disclosure, if applicable).

As an alternative, the legislature has proposed Initiative Measure No. . . .B, which would (concise description). (Public investment impact disclosure, if applicable).

1. Should either of these measures be enacted into law?

Yes . . . .□

No . . . .□

2. Regardless of whether you voted yes or no above, if one of these measures is enacted, which one should it be?

Measure No. . . . .□

Measure No. . . . .□"

(5) For a referendum bill submitted to the people by the legislature, the ballot issue and public investment impact disclosure, if applicable, must be displayed on the ballot substantially as follows:

"The legislature has passed . . . . Bill No. . . . concerning (statement of subject). This bill would (concise description). (Public investment impact disclosure, if applicable). Should this bill be:

Approved . . . .□

Rejected . . . .□"

(6) For a referendum measure by state voters on a bill the legislature has passed, the ballot issue and public investment impact disclosure, if applicable, must be displayed on the ballot substantially as follows:

"The legislature passed . . . Bill No. . . . concerning (statement of subject) and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would (concise description). (Public investment impact disclosure, if applicable). Should this bill be:

Approved . . . .□

Rejected . . . .□"

(7) The legislature may specify the statement of subject or concise description, or both, in a referendum bill that it refers to the people. The legislature may specify the concise description for an alternative it submits for an initiative to the legislature. If the legislature fails to specify these matters, the attorney general shall prepare the material that was not specified. The statement of subject and concise description as so provided must be included as part of the ballot title unless changed on appeal.

The attorney general shall specify the statement of subject and concise description for an initiative to the people, an initiative to the legislature, and a referendum measure. The statement of subject and concise description as so provided must be included as part of the ballot title unless changed on appeal.

[ 2022 c 114 s 3; 2003 c 111 s 1806. Prior: 2000 c 197 s 1. Formerly RCW 29.79.035.]

Notes:

Findings—2022 c 114: See note following RCW 29A.72.027.

Part headings not law—2000 c 197: "Part headings used in this act are not part of the law." [ 2000 c 197 s 17.]

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases, 2005–2020 · leading case: Mukilteo Citizens v. City of Mukilteo, 272 P.3d 227 (Wash. 2012).

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Mukilteo Citizens v. City of Mukilteo, 272 P.3d 227 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 7× “[3] Mukilteo Ordinance 1275. [4] Pursuant to RCW 29A.36.071(1), in a ballot title for a local measure, including referenda and any other question submitted to the voters, "[t]he ballot title must conform with the requirements and be displayed substantially as provided under RCW…”

Wash. Ass'n for Substance Abuse v. State, 278 P.3d 632 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 2× “RCW 29A.72.050. A title may be general or restrictive; "in other words, broad or narrow, since the legislature in each case has the right to determine for itself how comprehensive shall be the object of the statute.”

Coppernoll v. Reed, 119 P.3d 318 (Wash. 2005). “See RCW 29A.72.050. [7] Since 1914, approximately one half of certified initiatives have been approved by the voters.”

Coppernoll v. Reed, 155 Wash. 2d 290 (Wash. 2005). “See RCW 29A.72.050. Since 1914, approximately one half of certified initiatives have been approved by the voters.”

Washington Ass'n for Substance Abuse & Violence Prevention v. State, 174 Wash. 2d 642 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 2× “RCW 29A.72.050. A title may be general or restrictive, “in other words, broad or narrow, since the legislature in each case has the right to determine for itself how comprehensive shall be the object of the statute.”

End Prison Indus. Complex v. King Cnty., 431 P.3d 998 (Wash. 2018). · cites it 3× “071 ; RCW 29A.72.050. A ballot title for a levy lid lift must meet certain additional requirements.”

Yes For Early Success v. Seattle & King Cnty., Respondent's (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 19× “Yes For Early Success contends that it is "clear" that the legislature did not intend to change local initiative law when it "streamlined" the ballot title statutes by having the local ballot title statute refer to RCW 29A.72.050. The plain language of RCW 29A.”

Yes for Early Success v. City of Seattle, 334 P.3d 59 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 19× “¶12 Yes for Early Success contends that it is “clear” that the legislature did not intend to change local initiative law when it “streamlined” the ballot title statutes by having the local ballot title statute refer to RCW 29A.72.050. The plain language of RCW 29A.”

End Prison Indus. Complex v. King Cnty. (Wash. 2018). · cites it 3× “071; RCW 29A.72.050. A ballot title for a levy lid lift must meet certain additional requirements.”

End Prison Indus. Complex v. King Cnty. (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “Also, RCW 29A.72.050(1) requires that the statement of the proposition’s subject must be “sufficiently broad to reflect” the proposition’s subject and “sufficiently precise to give notice” of the proposition’s subject matter and that the description of the proposition be true…”

Garfield Cty. Transp. Auth. v. State (Wash. 2020). “Fed’n of State Emps., 127 Wn.2d at 555).”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.050(1) — 1 case

End Prison Indus. Complex v. King Cnty. (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “Also, RCW 29A.72.050(1) requires that the statement of the proposition’s subject must be “sufficiently broad to reflect” the proposition’s subject and “sufficiently precise to give notice” of the proposition’s subject matter and that the description of the proposition be true…”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.050(2) — 3 cases

Mukilteo Citizens v. City of Mukilteo, 272 P.3d 227 (Wash. 2012). “[3] Mukilteo Ordinance 1275. [4] Pursuant to RCW 29A.36.071(1), in a ballot title for a local measure, including referenda and any other question submitted to the voters, "[t]he ballot title must conform with the requirements and be displayed substantially as provided under RCW…”

Yes For Early Success v. Seattle & King Cnty., Respondent's (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “Yes For Early Success contends that it is "clear" that the legislature did not intend to change local initiative law when it "streamlined" the ballot title statutes by having the local ballot title statute refer to RCW 29A.72.050. The plain language of RCW 29A.”

Yes for Early Success v. City of Seattle, 334 P.3d 59 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “¶12 Yes for Early Success contends that it is “clear” that the legislature did not intend to change local initiative law when it “streamlined” the ballot title statutes by having the local ballot title statute refer to RCW 29A.72.050. The plain language of RCW 29A.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.050(3) — 2 cases

— Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.050(l) — 2 cases

End Prison Indus. Complex v. King Cnty., 431 P.3d 998 (Wash. 2018). “071 ; RCW 29A.72.050. A ballot title for a levy lid lift must meet certain additional requirements.”

End Prison Indus. Complex v. King Cnty. (Wash. 2018). “071; RCW 29A.72.050. A ballot title for a levy lid lift must meet certain additional requirements.”

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