Washington Democrats want to silence voters and kill citizen-led initiatives
Because when democracy doesn’t work in their favor, they just change the rules.
Washington Democrats are taking direct aim at your right to bring initiatives and referendums to the ballot with their latest power grab: Senate Bill 5382 (SB 5382).
They’ve realized that when given the chance, voters tend to reject their reckless policies—so now they’re rigging the system to make sure citizen-led initiatives never make it to the ballot in the first place.
SB 5382 is a full-scale attack on Washington’s direct democracy process. If this bill passes, expect:
🚨 Fewer initiatives on the ballot.
🚨 More government control over what voters can even consider.
🚨 A complete gutting of Washington’s initiative and referendum process.
This isn’t about "election integrity"—it’s about stopping citizens from overruling the political class.
How SB 5382 silences voters
The initiative and referendum process is one of the last remaining tools citizens have to bypass corrupt politicians and pass laws the Legislature refuses to consider.
From $30 car tabs to limits on income taxes, police pursuit laws, and restrictions on state spending, Washington voters have routinely used initiatives to override the decisions made in Olympia.
Democrats hate this.
Instead of listening to the people, they want to make sure the people never get a voice in the first place.
Here’s what SB 5382 does to make direct democracy nearly impossible:
🚨 Forces Every Signature Gatherer to Register with the State.
If you want to collect signatures for an initiative, you have to sign up with the government first.
That means the state will have a list of everyone gathering petitions—opening the door for harassment, intimidation, and bureaucratic roadblocks.
🚨 Mandates Government Training for Signature Gatherers.
Before you can even talk to voters, the state wants you to go through a government-approved training course.
This isn’t about “education”—it’s about creating more barriers to citizen-led initiatives.
🚨 Requires Petitioners to Disclose if They’re Paid.
Signature gatherers will be forced to report whether they’re being compensated, adding unnecessary red tape to the process.
Meanwhile, the special interest groups fighting these initiatives face no such requirement.
🚨 Gives the Secretary of State More Power to Invalidate Signatures.
SB 5382 raises the standard for signature verification, making it easier for the state to throw out valid signatures on a technicality.
If your signature doesn’t perfectly match your voter registration record, it can be tossed out.
🚨 Creates Legal Risks for Petition Circulators.
Anyone collecting signatures could face felony charges if a court decides they made an “error” or failed to follow the new government-imposed rules.
This threatens grassroots activists with criminal penalties, discouraging people from participating in the initiative process altogether.
This isn’t about election security. It’s about shutting down citizen-led initiatives.
Why are they doing this?
Democrats in Olympia have lost control of the initiative process.
Over and over again, voters have used initiatives to reject their radical policies:
🚨 $30 Car Tabs: Passed by voters, but Democrats blocked enforcement.
🚨 Police Pursuits: Voters demanded common-sense pursuit laws, but Democrats restricted police anyway.
🚨 State Income Tax: Rejected by Washingtonians 10 times, yet Democrats still try to sneak it in.
They’re sick of voters telling them “NO.”
So instead of letting democracy work, they’re dismantling the initiative process altogether.
If SB 5382 passes, expect fewer initiatives to make it to the ballot—because the barriers will be too high for everyday citizens to overcome.
Who supports SB 5382?
🔹 Politicians who don’t trust voters.
🔹 Special interest groups that want to block citizen-led initiatives.
🔹 Bureaucrats who want more control over what the public is allowed to vote on.
And who opposes it?
🚨 Anyone who believes in direct democracy.
🚨 Voters who want a say in how their government is run.
🚨 Grassroots organizations that fight for lower taxes, better public safety, and government accountability.
This isn’t about stopping fraud—it’s about silencing you.
What happens next?
If SB 5382 becomes law, here’s what you can expect:
🔺 Fewer citizen-led initiatives on the ballot.
🔺 More power concentrated in Olympia.
🔺 A direct assault on Washington’s tradition of direct democracy.
They don’t want you to have a say.
And if they succeed in rigging the initiative process, they’ll be free to raise your taxes, defund the police, and push through radical policies without fear of voter backlash.
What can you do?
🚨 Call Your Legislators. Tell them NO to SB 5382 and NO to silencing voters.
🚨 Demand That Lawmakers Respect the Will of the People.
🚨 Stay Informed. Subscribe to The Steelhead Alliance and help fight back against this blatant attack on democracy.
Washington Democrats are destroying your right to put initiatives on the ballot.
Are you okay with that?