Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Washington’s initiative process is one of the clearest ways citizens make their voices heard. It’s a right that belongs to every Washingtonian — regardless of politics — and it’s one I take seriously.

Recently, we’ve seen troubling incidents involving harassment and even violence toward people collecting initiative signatures. While these actions are already illegal, it’s clear that our laws may not be clear or consistent enough to enforce effectively.

That’s why I’m preparing legislation for the next session to strengthen and clarify protections for signature gatherers. As part of that effort, I’ve reached out to law enforcement agencies across Washington to ask for their input. Officers on the ground see firsthand where the law succeeds and where it falls short — and their perspective will be essential to getting this right.

Protecting the people’s voice isn’t a partisan issue — it’s a Washington value. Working together, we can make sure every citizen can participate safely and confidently in our democracy.

More to come as this develops. Thanks for reading!

Sen. Jeff Wilson
19th Legislative District