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passing a tax levy or bond measure
Please refer to the Department of Revenue for specific information regarding property tax levies.
The Washington State Constitution Article 7 Section 2 establishes the requirements for passing an excess levy. ..."the number of persons voting ‘yes’ on the proposition shall constitute three-fifths of a number equal to 40% of the total votes cast in such taxing district at the last preceding general election…"
To validate, levies must pass with a 60% favorable majority. They must win a minimum number of ‘yes’ votes based on the number of people within the taxing district who voted in the previous November General Election. That minimum number of ‘yes’ votes is determined by calculating 60% of 40% of the people who voted in the most recent General Election.
validation formula:
10,000 number of people voting in the jurisdiction at the last General Election
x 40%
4,000 minimum participation needed to validate
x 60%
2,400 minimum 'yes' vote required to pass
To pass the levy using the validation formula above, there must be at least 2,400 2,400 Yes votes 96%
'yes' votes even if only a total of 2,500 people vote on the levy. A levy can still 100 No votes 4%
pass even if the issue does not receive the 40% voter turnout, but still receives the 2,500 total votes 100%
minimum number of ‘yes’ votes.
example:
1,800 Yes votes 60% Using the validation formula above, this levy fails -- even though the ‘yes’ vote is 60%,
1,200 No votes 40% because the participation did not validate with a minimum of 4,000 people voting, the
3,000 total votes 100% minimum ‘yes’ vote of 2,400 needed to be achieved.
example:
4,050 Yes votes 57.86% Using the validation formula above, this levy fails – the participation validated with over
2,950 No votes 42.14% 4,000 total votes cast, but the proposition must have at least a 60% favorable majority
7,000 total votes 100% to pass.
In November 2007, Washington State voters passed Engrossed House Joint Resolution 4204 (50.61%) and changed the constitutional requirement as it relates to school district tax levy elections. A school district levy requires a simple majority to pass. (50%+1 favorable vote)
Bond propositions must receive a turnout equal to 40% of the total ballots cast in the district at the previous General Election and receive a 60% favorable majority calculated upon the turnout figure stated above.
validation formula:
10,000 number of people voting in the jurisdiction at the last General Election
x 40%
4,000 minimum participation needed to validate
x 60%
2,400 minimum 'yes' vote required to pass
To pass the bond using the validation formula above, the district must have at least 4,000 voters participating in the election and
at least 2,400 ‘yes’ votes.
example:
2,730 Yes votes 70% Using the validation formula above, this bond fails - regardless of the percentage of 'yes'
1,170 No votes 30% votes, the minimum participation was not met.
3,900 total votes 100%
example:
3,000 Yes votes 60% Using the validation formula above, this bond passes - both the participation and
2,000 No votes 40% supermajority requirements were met.
5,000 total votes 100%
Passing an excess tax levy
The Washington State Constitution Article 7 Section 2 establishes the requirements for passing an excess levy. ..."the number of persons voting ‘yes’ on the proposition shall constitute three-fifths of a number equal to 40% of the total votes cast in such taxing district at the last preceding general election…"
To validate, levies must pass with a 60% favorable majority. They must win a minimum number of ‘yes’ votes based on the number of people within the taxing district who voted in the previous November General Election. That minimum number of ‘yes’ votes is determined by calculating 60% of 40% of the people who voted in the most recent General Election.
validation formula:
10,000 number of people voting in the jurisdiction at the last General Election
x 40%
4,000 minimum participation needed to validate
x 60%
2,400 minimum 'yes' vote required to pass
To pass the levy using the validation formula above, there must be at least 2,400 2,400 Yes votes 96%
'yes' votes even if only a total of 2,500 people vote on the levy. A levy can still 100 No votes 4%
pass even if the issue does not receive the 40% voter turnout, but still receives the 2,500 total votes 100%
minimum number of ‘yes’ votes.
example:
1,800 Yes votes 60% Using the validation formula above, this levy fails -- even though the ‘yes’ vote is 60%,
1,200 No votes 40% because the participation did not validate with a minimum of 4,000 people voting, the
3,000 total votes 100% minimum ‘yes’ vote of 2,400 needed to be achieved.
example:
4,050 Yes votes 57.86% Using the validation formula above, this levy fails – the participation validated with over
2,950 No votes 42.14% 4,000 total votes cast, but the proposition must have at least a 60% favorable majority
7,000 total votes 100% to pass.
Passing a school district levy
In November 2007, Washington State voters passed Engrossed House Joint Resolution 4204 (50.61%) and changed the constitutional requirement as it relates to school district tax levy elections. A school district levy requires a simple majority to pass. (50%+1 favorable vote)
Passing a bond
Bond propositions must receive a turnout equal to 40% of the total ballots cast in the district at the previous General Election and receive a 60% favorable majority calculated upon the turnout figure stated above.
validation formula:
10,000 number of people voting in the jurisdiction at the last General Election
x 40%
4,000 minimum participation needed to validate
x 60%
2,400 minimum 'yes' vote required to pass
To pass the bond using the validation formula above, the district must have at least 4,000 voters participating in the election and
at least 2,400 ‘yes’ votes.
example:
2,730 Yes votes 70% Using the validation formula above, this bond fails - regardless of the percentage of 'yes'
1,170 No votes 30% votes, the minimum participation was not met.
3,900 total votes 100%
example:
3,000 Yes votes 60% Using the validation formula above, this bond passes - both the participation and
2,000 No votes 40% supermajority requirements were met.
5,000 total votes 100%