OLYMPIA — State Reps. Kevin Van De Wege and Steve Tharinger, both Sequim Democrats, are co-sponsoring legislation that would lower the 60 percent majority required for passage of school bond measures to 50 percent plus one vote — a simple majority.
HJR 4210 would amend the state constitution to lower the bond-approval threshold in school bond elections that are held only during November general elections — not during special elections like those held Tuesday in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
As a constitutional amendment, it would require passage by a two-thirds supermajority of both the House and Senate and approval of a simple majority of voters statewide.
Van De Wege and Tharinger represent the 24th District, which includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and about half of Grays Harbor County.
Under the present system, “a minority of people are making [bond] decisions,” Van De Wege said Wednesday.
“I do think that as long as it happens in a general election that a majority of people should be able to decide if they want to spend money on infrastructure and schools.”
Van De Wege said he favors a simple majority for school bond measures only for general elections because general elections give voters the most opportunity to have their voices heard.
The likelihood of the legislation passing is probably not realistic this session, Van De Wege said.
The state Legislature changed the threshold for passage of school levies in special and general elections from a supermajority to a simple majority, but it took some work.
“When we changed the school levy vote from 60 to 50, it took 12 years of introducing it,” Van De Wege said.
Tharinger and state Sen. Jim Hargrove of the 24th District did not return calls for comment.