One proposal that has been approved for the ballot has to do with the signatures required to bring a Charter Amendment to the Ballot for voter approval.

 

Proposed Amendment 13 One of two amendments that has been passed to the voters

Modify Signature Requirements for Charter Review Amendments from the Public
Proposed by Andrew Reding
Description: Change the required number of signatures for putting a charter amendment proposed by the public on the ballot from the existing percentage of votes cast at the last gubernatorial election to the existing percentage of votes cast at the last county executive election.

Discussion:

By the numbers what would this change bring to the Constitution of the County Government?

Currently; for the people of Whatcom County to submit a change to the Charter it takes filing a petition with Whatcom County registered Voters’ signatures.  The above Amendment(13)  uses the Current Percentage stated in the charter of (15) fifteen Percent to calculate the number of signatures based on the number of total votes cast in the race for governor which would be 136,451.  Currently that number of signatures required would be: 136,451 X 15 Percent or 20,468 valid signature.

In compliance with the above amendment the number of valid signatures required would be: 79,902 X 15 Percent or 11,985 valid signatures.

The actual result of the amendment will be to make it a lot easier to Amend the Charter and get it on the ballot; and this can be anything from the far left and the far right of the political spectrum.  Is this what voters want?  You Decide.

 

Other Amendments of interest::

Proposed Amendment 9

Eliminate At-Large County Council Districts, Reducing the Size of the Council from 7 Members to 5
Proposed by Joe Elenbaas
Description: Eliminates the two at-large County Council districts, reducing the size of the Council from seven members (five districts and two at-large) to five (five districts).

Proposed Amendment 19

Adjust the Required Number of Signatures to 25% of the Votes Cast at the Last County Executive Election to Place a Charter Amendment on the Ballot
Proposed by Hannah Ordos
Description: This is a substitute proposal to Proposed Amendment 13 which was approved to send to voters on February 27, 2025. This proposal (Proposed Amendment 19) would change the signature requirements to put a charter amendment on the ballot from 15% of the votes cast last County Executive election (Proposed Amendment 13) to 25% of the votes cast at the last County Executive election.

Proposed Amendment 20

Adjust the Required Number of Signatures to 15% of the Votes Cast at the Last County Executive Election to Place a Referendum on the Ballot
Proposed by Hannah Ordos
Description: Change the required number of signatures to put a referendum on the ballot from 8% of the votes cast at the last gubernatorial election to 15% of the votes cast at the last County Executive