Wash. Rev. Code » Title 29A · Chapter 29A.72
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.170 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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The secretary of state may refuse to file any initiative or referendum petition being submitted upon any of the following grounds:
(1) That the petition does not contain the information required by RCW 29A.72.110, 29A.72.120, or 29A.72.130.
(2) That the petition clearly bears insufficient signatures.
(3) That the time within which the petition may be filed has expired.
In case of such refusal, the secretary of state shall endorse on the petition the word "submitted" and the date, and retain the petition pending appeal.
If none of the grounds for refusal exists, the secretary of state must accept and file the petition.
[ 2003 c 111 s 1818; 1982 c 116 s 13; 1965 c 9 s 29.79.150. Prior: (i) 1913 c 138 s 11, part; RRS s 5407, part. (ii) 1913 c 138 s 12, part; RRS s 5408, part. Formerly RCW 29.79.150.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2005–2022 · leading case: Cmty. Care Coalition of Wash. v. Reed, 200 P.3d 701 (Wash. 2009).
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Cmty. Care Coalition of Wash. v. Reed, 200 P.3d 701 (Wash. 2009). · cites it 10× “See RCW 29A.72.170. These provisions, in turn, specify the following headings: "INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE LEGISLATURE" or "INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE PEOPLE.”
Cmty. Care Coalition v. Reed, 165 Wash. 2d 606 (Wash. 2009). · cites it 10× “See RCW 29A.72.170. These provisions, in turn, specify the following headings: “INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE LEGISLATURE” or “INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE PEOPLE.”
Washington State Farm Bureau Fed'n v. Reed, 115 P.3d 301 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 2× “10 ¶41 The only statute referring to the secretary of state’s refusal to file a petition for referendum or initiative is RCW 29A.72.170. That statute allows refusal to file only upon the grounds the petition is defective in form, 11 bears too few signatures, or that “the time…”
Washington State Farm Bureau v. Reed, 115 P.3d 301 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 2× “[3] ¶ 41 The only statute referring to the secretary of state's refusal to file a petition for referendum or initiative is RCW 29A.72.170. *311 That statute allows refusal to file only upon the grounds the petition is defective in form, [4] bears too few signatures, or that "the…”
Kerry Slone, V. State Of Washington (Wash. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 3× “The Commissioner explained that under RCW 29A.72.170, the Secretary “‘may refuse to file any initiative or referendum petition being submitted’ if it is deficient in one or more enumerated ways.”
Robin Ball v. Kim Wyman, 435 P.3d 842 (Wash. 2018). · cites it 2× “RCW 29A.72.170. Accordingly, the secretary exercised her discretion to certify the I-1639 petition for presentation to the voters.”
Kim Wyman, V. Gerald Hankerson (Wash. Ct. App. 2022). “Under RCW 29A.72.170, the Secretary must accept and file a petition that meets the requirements in article II, section 1(a).”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.170(1) — 2 cases
Cmty. Care Coalition of Wash. v. Reed, 200 P.3d 701 (Wash. 2009). “See RCW 29A.72.170. These provisions, in turn, specify the following headings: "INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE LEGISLATURE" or "INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE PEOPLE.”
Cmty. Care Coalition v. Reed, 165 Wash. 2d 606 (Wash. 2009). “See RCW 29A.72.170. These provisions, in turn, specify the following headings: “INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE LEGISLATURE” or “INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE PEOPLE.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.170(3) — 2 cases
Washington State Farm Bureau Fed'n v. Reed, 115 P.3d 301 (Wash. 2005). “10 ¶41 The only statute referring to the secretary of state’s refusal to file a petition for referendum or initiative is RCW 29A.72.170. That statute allows refusal to file only upon the grounds the petition is defective in form, 11 bears too few signatures, or that “the time…”
Washington State Farm Bureau v. Reed, 115 P.3d 301 (Wash. 2005). “[3] ¶ 41 The only statute referring to the secretary of state's refusal to file a petition for referendum or initiative is RCW 29A.72.170. *311 That statute allows refusal to file only upon the grounds the petition is defective in form, [4] bears too few signatures, or that "the…”
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