Initiative 25 has successfully gathered over 74,000 signatures; submitted the petition to the Clerk of King County and has qualified for the ballot. The County Council will force the voters to vote on I-25 TWICE…..once this November 6, 2007 and, if we win, again on the key question in November 2008. .

Our vote this November will be to confirm that King County voters want to vote on I-25’s key question: that we change the Charter and create a separate Elections Department and elect a non-partisan Director of Elections.

A poll of 401 King County registered voters in December 2006 found that 60% support changing the King County Charter to make the Election Administrator a separately elected official – including broad support from Democrats, Republicans and Independents – so we expect the change to be approved at the ballot box.

Upon taking office, the new Elections Director chosen by the people will then have the authority to reconstitute a new, standalone Department of Elections and staff this department with both new and legacy staff, at his or her discretion.

For a term of four years that new Elections Department and its Director would be solely responsible for: registration of voters in the county; conducting of all special and general elections held in the county; creating and printing the King County voter’s pamphlet; maintaining political boundary data and campaign financial disclosure forms; administering other public and non-public elections as required by state law and county code and administrative rules.

And, after the initial election, that Elections Director would have to place her or his name on the King County ballot for the voters to make a critical rehire or fire decision.

Initiative 25 provides accountability you can count on. Urge your friends and neighbors to vote YES this November so that we can vote for this necessary reform next November.