Washington Voters Will Decide Three Ballot Initiatives On School Sports, Parents’ Rights And A Tax On Million Dollar Incomes

Washington voters will decide three statewide ballot initiatives on November 3, covering girls’ school sports, parents’ rights in public schools and a tax on very high incomes. A ballot initiative is a proposal that goes straight to voters, who can approve or reject it without the legislature having the final word.

According to Ballotpedia, the first measure, Initiative 1, would reenact a 2024 law known as Initiative 2081. That law gives parents the right to review school materials, receive certain notifications and opt their children out of sexual health education. Ballotpedia reports the legislature partly repealed and amended the law in May 2025, removing parents’ right to prior notice of most medical services offered to their child. A yes vote on the new measure would put the original rights back in place.

Initiative 638 would bar students who are biologically male from sports designated for female students. It would also require a health care provider to verify a student’s biological sex. Initiative 645 would repeal a 9.9% tax on household income over $1 million that is set to take effect in 2028 under Senate Bill 6346, and it would prohibit taxes on income in general by defining income broadly.

Ballotpedia lists Let’s Go Washington, a political action committee founded by Brian Heywood, as the supporter of all three Washington ballot initiatives. The committee had raised about $7.7 million as of August 31, Ballotpedia reported. The Tacoma Daily Index reported in June that repealing the income tax would remove the revenue while leaving some added costs in place.

The results will decide whether each proposal becomes state law. Washington holds its elections largely by mail, so ballots arrive in households ahead of Election Day and counting continues after the polls close. Voters can confirm ballot return rules and drop box locations with the Washington secretary of state’s office or their county elections office.

Dee Dee Henderson

Dee Dee Henderson is a Poli Alert journalist covering national politics, elections and the policies that hit closest to home for Black communities, from voting rights and the economy to the courts. She reports the facts first and isn't afraid to say what they mean, and her commentary pieces are clearly labeled as opinion. Her midterm coverage breaks down deadlines, ballot measures and the races that will decide who holds power in Washington.

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