Initiatives and election rundown

As Washington state residents, many issues have come to the foreground for this year's election that are not faced by the rest of the nation. Here is a basic rundown of important statewide issues for those readers who are last minute fact checking before heading off to the polls or signing and mailing absentee ballots. More details about all of these initiatives and local election information can be found in both Pierce County and Washington State voter's pamphlets.

I-985: This initiative is regarding traffic flow within Washington. If approved, Initiative 985 would allocate more funding from the state's currently collected taxes and tolls to deal with traffic congestion faced by drivers throughout Washington state. It would also open High-Occupancy Vehicle, or HOV lanes, to all traffic during specific hours.

I-1000: Commonly referred to as the "Death with Dignity Law", Initiative 1000 is one of the most debated initiatives of the Washington state election. Initiative 1000 proposes an allowance for terminally ill patients to receive and administer lethal prescription medication. Safeguards include a restriction on health (patients must have been determined to have six or less months to live), patients must have approval from two different doctors to receive the medication, and agree to a waiting period.

I-1029: If Initiative 1029 passes, home care workers would be required to pass examinations, undergo background checks, and adhere to disciplinary standards and more extensive training than is currently provided before being certified as an eligible care provider.

Gubernatorial race: On the heels of a highly contested 2004 race between Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi, both contenders for office are running again, representing the Democratic and Republican parties respectively. Issues regarding Washington state's economy (including taxes and job opportunities) and health care are some of the primary topics being addressed by both candidates.

New to the 2008 ballot for Piece County voters is the ranked-choice voting. In 2006, Pierce County residents approved this new voting format. In the election of county officials, voters may mark their choice in order of preference, and if there is any issue with a majority vote, a run off process involving second choice occurs to determine the winner.

For those curious in hearing more about any particular candidates, the new ranked-choice voting system, or who want more information than is provided by the voter's pamphlets, www.vote.wa.gov has multiple interactive resources. These include videos from those running for office, detailed information about how the electoral college works, maps of representative districts, and much more information that is valuable and informative for both first-time and seasoned voters.