Brad Shannon:
The Politics Blog

Brad Shannon maintains this blog. He is political editor at The Olympian and can be reached at 360-753-1688 or bshannon@theolympian.com.

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Washington teens favor gay rights, oppose tax measure in mock election

• Published October 30, 2009

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Washington students voted in favor of Referendum 71's gay-rights expansion and against Initiative 1033's controls on government revenue growth in a mock election reported today by the Office of the Secretary of State.

Both measures are on the Nov. 3 ballot. R-71 grants all the remaining state rights of marriage to couples on the state's domestic partnership registry, including same-sex and some senior couples. It won support of nearly 59 percent of the 3,861 students in grades 6-12 that voted, while just over 41 percent opposed it.

I-1033 limits the growth of state, city and county general-fund revenues each year to a factor tied to inflation and population growth. Sponsor Tim Eyman wrote it so that excess revenues go into property tax relief. It won support from almost 44 percent of the 3,828 students who voted, but more than 56 percent opposed it.

Secretary of State Sam Reed's agency web site has breakdowns on youth voting by city, although it appears there is almost no data from Lacey and Tumwater. R-71 was passing among youths in Olympia with nearly 59 percent in favor and in Yelm with 60 percent in favor; I-1033 was losing in Olympia with 57 percent opposed and in Yelm with nearly 64 percent against it.

The youth results are quite a bit more pronounced � but show the same win-loss outcome � as the independent Washington Poll released Tuesday for registered voters. The UW showed R-71 with a 56-39 edge and I-1033 behind by 46-41.

Of course, turnout was dismal (even by parental standards) and the results might not reflect what a majority of students think � if one considers there are 1 million or more students in K-12 schools, and just over 5,000 kids in all those grades participated.

According to the elections agency:

Secretary of State Sam Reed will announce next week which of the schools had the highest Mock Election turnout, and will give them special recognition. "I am pleased to see so many students excited about having their voices heard," said Reed. "Washington State needs citizens to have good voting habits, and the Mock Election helps students form them." Schools with the highest percentage of student voters will receive a signed certificate to honor their commitment to civic education, and each student will get a prize for participating. Additionally, Reed will visit the schools to personally give his congratulations, and to discuss with students what they learned in the Mock Election. Younger students in grades K-5 voted on more age-appropriate ballot measures. A resounding 76 percent voted against mandatory school uniforms, whereas 61 percent thought kids should pick up litter around their school one recess a month.