Nearly a week after the election, a measure that reinstates the use of affirmative action in state employment, contracting and admission to public colleges and universities was continuing to be narrowly rejected by Washington voters as counties move closer to finishing their vote counts.
As of Monday afternoon, Referendum 88 was being rejected by 50.4 percent of voters with a margin of just under 13,000 votes. More than a dozen counties were set to update their vote tallies on Tuesday afternoon.
R- 88 asked voters whether they want to approve or reject Initiative 1000, which was passed by the Legislature in April. I-1000 amends current statutes that prohibit state government from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment to individuals or groups based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, or public contracting.
The initiative would allow the consideration of being part of a minority group to be a contributing factor for a qualified applicant. Along with race, sex, and ethnicity, the measure allows consideration of age, disability and honorable discharge or military status. It would prohibit using factors such as race as the sole qualifier and bans mandatory quotas but would allow state agencies and public colleges and universities to establish diversity goals and timelines. A commission would be created to direct and oversee compliance.
The measure was losing in all but four of the state’s 39 counties, but strong support in King County — the state’s most populous — has kept the margin close. (AP)
