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Home My WebLink About2025 - Whatcom County Charter Amendment Prop No. 6 Adjusting the Calculation of Signatures Required for a Referendum - General and Special November 5, 2025Summary Report Page: 1 of 2 Whatcom County, Washington, GENERAL 2025, Nov 04, 2025 2025-11-24 All Precincts, All Districts, All Counter Groups, All ScanStations, WC Prop 1 Auth Councilmembers to 16:40:46 Hire Aides, WC Prop 10 Initial Rules Charter Review Comm Meetings, WC Prop 11 Adjust Sig Requirements for Charter Amend, WC Prop 12 Land Supply and Construction Cost Analysis, WC Prop 2 Establish Office Ombuds, WC Prop 3 Establishing Performance Audits, WC Prop 4 Power and Duties Elected Officials, WC Prop 5 Modifying Redistricting Process, WC Prop 6 Adjusting Signatures Required for Referendum, WC Prop 7 Prohibiting County Gov from Interfering, WC Prop 8 Modifying Budget Process, WC Prop 9 Add Accountability to Financial Reporting, All Boxes Total Ballots Cast: 76618, Re istered Voters: 169242, Overall Turnout: 45.27% Choice Votes Vote All Precincts WC Prop 1 Auth Councilmembers to Hire Aides (Vote for 1) 76618 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 5285 undervotes), Approved 26560 37.23% Reiected 44773 62.77% Total 71333 100.00% Overvotes 0 Undervotes 5285 169242 registered'voters, turnout 45.27% WC Prop 2 Establish Office Ombuds (Vote for 1) 3 3421 undervotes), 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% 76618 ballots (3 over voted ballots, overvotes, Approved 35918 49.07% Rejected 37276 50.93% Total 73194 100.00% Overvotes 3 Undervotes 3421 WC Prop 3 Establishing Performance Audits (Vote for 1) 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% 76618 ballots (1 over voted ballots. 1 overvotes, 3959 undervotes), Approved 62001 85.33% Rejected 10657 14.67% Total 72658 100.00% Overvotes 1 Undervotes 3959 WC Prop 4 Power and Duties Elected Officials (Vote for 1) 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% 76618 ballots (1 over voted ballots, 1 overvotes, 3848 undervotes). Approved 67059 92.15% Reiected 5710 7.85% Total 72769 100.00% Overvotes 1 Undervotes 3848 WC Prop 5 Modifying Redistricting Process (Vote for 1) 4 overvotes, 5073 undervotes), 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% 76618 ballots (4 over voted ballots, Approved 56628 79 15% Rejected 14913 20.85% Total 71541 100.00% Overvotes 4 Undervotes 5073 WC Prop 6 Adjusting Signatures Required for Referendum (Vote for 1) 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% 76618 ballots (1 over voted ballots, 1 overvotes, 3954 undervotes), Approves 33995 46.78% Reiected 38668 53.22% Total 72663 100.00% Overvotes 1 Undervotes 3954 WC Prop 7 Prohibiting County Gov from Interfering (Vote for 1) 76618 ballots (4 over voted ballots, 4 overvotes, 4582 undervotes), 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% Approved 43647 60.59% Rejected 28385 39.41 % Summary Report Page: 2 of 2 Whatcom County, Washington, GENERAL 2025, Nov 04, 2025 2025-11-24 All Precincts, All Districts, All Counter Groups, All ScanStations, WC Prop 1 Auth Councilmembers to 16:40:46 Hire Aides, WC Prop 10 Initial Rules Charter Review Comm Meetings, WC Prop 11 Adjust Sig Requirements for Charter Amend, WC Prop 12 Land Supply and Construction Cost Analysis, WC Prop 2 Establish Office Ombuds, WC Prop 3 Establishing Performance Audits, WC Prop 4 Power and Duties Elected Officials, WC Prop 5 Modifying Redistricting Process, WC Prop 6 Adjusting Signatures Required for Referendum, WC Prop 7 Prohibiting County Gov from Interfering, WC Prop 8 Modifying Budget Process, WC Prop 9 Add Accountability to Financial Reporting, All Boxes Total Ballots Cast: 76618. Registered Voters: 169242, Overall Turnout: 45.27% Choice Votes Vote % Total 72032 100.00% Overvotes 4 Undervotes 4582 WC Prop 8 Modifying Budget Process (Vote for 1) 76618 ballots (2 over voted ballots. 2 overvotes. 4117 undervotes), 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% Approved 677016 93 39 Reiected 793 " 6i Total 72499 100.00% Overvotes 2 Undervotes 4117 WC Prop 9 Add Accountability to Financial Reporting (Vote for 1) 76618 ballots (1 over voted ballots, 1 overvotes, 3830 undervotes), 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% Approved 67942 93.34% Reiected 4845 6.66% Total 72787 100.00% Overvotes 1 Undervotes 3830 WC Prop 10 Initial Rules Charter Review Comm Meetings (Vote for 1) 76618 ballots (3 over voted ballots, 3 overvotes, 6455 undervotes), 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% Approved 58991 84.08% Rejected 11169 15.92% Total 70160 100.00% Overvotes 3 Undervotes 6455 WC Prop 11 Adjust Sig Requirements for Charter Amend (Vote for 1) 76618 ballots (4 over voted ballots, 4 overvotes, 6701 undervotes), 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% Approved 28650 40.98% Rejected 41263 59.02% Total 69913 100.00% Overvotes 4 Undervotes 6701 WC Prop 12 Land Supply and Construction Cost Analysis (Vote for 1) 76618 ballots (2 over voted ballots. 2 overvotes, 6275 undervotes), 169242 registered voters, turnout 45.27% Approved 61 134 86 911% Reiected 920 / 13.09% Total 70341 100.00%° Overvotes 2 Undervotes 6275 STATE OF WASHINGTON ) ) ss COUNTY OF WHATCOM ) A canvass of the votes cast by qualified voters in Whatcom County for the district's submitted ballot measure for the November 4, 2025 Special Election is complete. The results of the election were duly canvassed by the Whatcom County Canvassing Board on November 25, 2025, and the results of said canvass are above. Dated this 2"d day of December, 2025, Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington. ,::S� ttl�_ Stacy Henthornv County Auditor Proposition No 6 Adjusting the Calculation of Signatures Required for a Referendum Ballot Title The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission has proposed an amendment to the Whatcom County Charter to adjust the number of signatures required for the public to place a referendum on the ballot. This measure would amend Charter Section 5.60 to require a proponent of a referendum to collect the signatures of registered voters in the county in an amount equal to fourteen percent of the most recent county executive election. The current requirement is eight percent of the last gubernatorial election. Currently, based on the 2024 gubernatorial election and the 2023 county executive election, this would increase the required number of signatures from 10,917 to 11,187. Should this proposal be: Approved Rejected Explanatory Statement Currently, the number of signatures of registered voters required to be gathered before a member of the public can place a referendum on the ballot is set at 8% of the votes cast in the county in the last gubernatorial election. If adopted, this Amendment would change that requirement to 14% of the most recent county executive election. This would make referendums consistent with citizen's initiatives in basing the number of signatures off of the county executive election rather than the gubernatorial election. Amending Language Article 5 - The Public Interest Section 5.60 Referendum - Procedures Any legal voter, or organization of legal voters of Whatcom County may file a referendum proposal, against any enacted ordinance or portion thereof, with the County Auditor. The proposal shall be presented to the Auditor within forty-five (45) days after the ordinance is passed by the County Council. Within five (5) days, excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, the Auditor shall confer with the petitioner to review the proposal as to form and style. The Auditor shall give the referendum proposal a number, which shall thereafter be the identifying number for the measure. The Auditor shall then transmit a copy of the proposal to the County Prosecuting Attorney, who within ten (10) days after receipt thereof, shall formulate the ballot title which shall consist of: (a) a statement of the subject of the measure; (b) a concise description of the measure; and (c) a question: "Shall this be enacted into law?" The statement of the subject of the measure must be proposed as a positive statement, be sufficiently broad to reflect the subject, and be 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. Such concise statement will be the ballot title. Page 11 District Name: District Address: Whatcom County Auditor's Office Ballot Measure Coversheet Whatcom County 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham WA 98225 Contact Person 1 Contact Person 2 Jenna Gernand, Legislative Coordinator Kirsten Smith, Deputy Clerk Name & Title Name & Title 360-778-5017, jgernand@co.whatcom.wa.us 360-778-5015, ksmith@co.whatcom.wa.us Phone & email Phone & email e Kellen Kooistra Name Has your attorney prepared this ballot measure? 360-778-5751, kkooistr@co.whatcom.wa.us s Yes `� No Phone & email Resolution with original signatures or a certified copy Yes 0 No Explanatory Statement prepared by your attorney, not to exceed 100 words Yes 0 No Committee Appointment Forms separate forms for each committee q) Yes No Completed Ballot Measure Coversheet Auditor's Office Use Peeeived In Pc i� su" AUG 0 5 2025 Whatcom coun`y Eiedoas Proppsi[lan/lnitiative iV m �Ier� Deputy Auditor's Signa[ q) Yes C No Missing document(s): I understand that the submittal deadline date for the missing documents is and the Auditor's Office will not begin processing this ballot measure until all documents have been submitted. Presenter's Signature Reviewed 12/12/2023 CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Cathy Halka, AICP, CIVIC COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Suite #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL July 29, 2025 MEMORANDUM To: County Auditor Stacy Henthorn From: Kaylee Galloway, Council Chair T4 RE: Submittal of 2025 Charter Review Commission Amendments COUNCILMEMBERS Barry Buchanan Tyler Byrd Todd Donovan Ben Elenbaas Kaylee Galloway Jon Scanlon Mark Stremler The County Council, at its July 22, 2025 meeting, voted 7-0 to receive the amendments put forward by the Charter Review Commission and submit them to the Auditor's office for the Nov. 4, 2025 General Election. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kellen Kooistra wrote ballot titles and explanatory statements for the amendments, with input from the Charter Review Commission. Cc: Cathy Halka, Clerk of the Council Attachment: 2025 Proposed Charter Amendments COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Suite #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL CLERK'S CERTIFICATE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Cathy Halka, AICP, CIVIC For AB2025-507: Receipt of the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission's proposed amendments to Whatcom County voters and submittal to the Auditor I, the undersigned, duly chosen, qualified, and acting Clerk of the County Council of Whatcom County, Washington, and keeper of the records of the County Council (hereinafter referred to as "Council"), DO HEREBY CERTIFY: 1. The attached record of the Whatcom County Council, AB2025-507, is a true and correct copy of the original file, consisting of 21 pages, as maintained and duly recorded in my office pursuant to RCW 36.22.010(6), 36.32.140; 2. Said file is maintained in all respects in accordance with law, and that the content of the file has not, to the best of my knowledge, been altered; 3. 1 am authorized as Clerk of the Whatcom County Council to execute this certificate. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the Whatcom County Council, this 28 day of July, 2025. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY WASHINGTON 'i�11111fiA[111�0j'I �4�,, "r-.0*Uf- Ca4yi:J�11Q- CO � v Clerk of the C until — ••,�HiNG°a fA COUNTY COURTHOUSE ro_CC� T. 1-k 311 Grand Avenue, Suite #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 0 �q 37Y! lVG4 WHATCOM COUNTY CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO: Whatcom County Council FROM: 2025 Whatcom County Charter Review Commission DATE: July 10, 2025 RE: Charter Review Commission Recommended Amendments to Voters Liz Darrow, Chair Jennifer Wright, Vice -Chair The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission recommends twelve (12) Charter amendments to the voters for the November 4, 2025 General Election. Please forward these amendments to the Whatcom County Auditor per Charter Section 8.20. The full text of the amendments and expanatory statements follow. Liz Darrow, Chair Approved via text 7.14.25/ks Jennifer Wright, Vice -Chair District 1: Liz Darrow, Joel Pitts -Jordan, Andrew Reding; District 2: Eamonn Collins, Colton Kaltenfeldt, Maya Morales; District 3: Doug Chadwick, Jessica Rienstra, Jennifer Wright; District 4: Joe Elenbaas, Brad Kelly Hannah Ordos; District 5: Lindsey Graham Elenbaas, Jon Mutchler, Rod Stump Proposition No. 6 - Adjusting the Calculation of Signatures Required for a Referendum Ballot Title The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission has proposed an amendment to the Whatcom County Charter to adjust the number of signatures required for the public to place a referendum on the ballot. This measure would amend Charter Section 5.60 to require a proponent of a referendum to collect the signatures of registered voters in the county in an amount equal to fourteen percent of the most recent county executive election. The current requirement is eight percent of the last gubernatorial election. Currently, based on the 2024 gubernatorial election and the 2023 county executive election, this would increase the required number of signatures from 10,917 to 11,187. Should this proposal be: Approved Rejected Explanatory Statement Currently, the number of signatures of registered voters required to be gathered before a member of the public can place a referendum on the ballot is set at 8% of the votes cast in the county in the last gubernatorial election. If adopted, this Amendment would change that requirement to 14% of the most recent county executive election. This would make referendums consistent with citizen's initiatives in basing the number of signatures off of the county executive election rather than the gubernatorial election. Amending Language Article 5 — The Public Interest Section 5.60 Referendum - Procedures Any legal voter, or organization of legal voters of Whatcom County may file a referendum proposal, against any enacted ordinance or portion thereof, with the County Auditor. The proposal shall be presented to the Auditor within forty-five (45) days after the ordinance is passed by the County Council. Within five (5) days, excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, the Auditor shall confer with the petitioner to review the proposal as to form and style. The Auditor shall give the referendum proposal a number, which shall thereafter be the identifying number for the measure. The Auditor shall then transmit a copy of the proposal to the County Prosecuting Attorney, who within ten (10) days after receipt thereof, shall formulate the ballot title which shall consist of: (a) a statement of the subject of the measure; (b) a concise description of the measure; and (c) a question: "Shall this be enacted into law?" The statement of the subject of the measure must be proposed as a positive statement, be sufficiently broad to reflect the subject, and be 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. Such concise statement will be the ballot title. Page 11 The petitioner then has one hundred and twenty (120) days to collect the signatures of registered voters of the county equal in number to not less than 8) Fourteen (14 percent of the vote cast in the county in the last regular gubeFnatoria4 county executive election. The one hundred and twenty (120) day period shall begin upon receipt of official notification to petitioner(s) by the Prosecuting Attorney's Office either by certified mail or messenger. If the last day for collecting signatures falls on a weekend or legal holiday, then the one hundred and twenty (120) day period shall extend to the end of the next business day. Each petition shall contain the full text of the measure being referred and the ballot title. The Auditor shall verify the sufficiency of the signatures on the petition and, if it is validated, submit the measure to the people at the next general election that is not less than one hundred and twenty (120) days after the registering of the petitions. Page 12