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Can you give me a summary of the major issues that are in the voters camp guide for Clark County?

2026clarkcountygeneralvp-web.pdf

The Clark County Official Local Voters' Pamphlet for the November 3, 2026 General and Special Election covers local races and measures. The major issues are these:

Ballot measures (Charter amendments). Seven Charter Amendments (19 to 27) and three propositions go to voters. Each measure has a 'Statement for' and 'Statement against' written by committees, and the pamphlet notes that statements are printed as submitted and not checked for accuracy (p. 51, p. 63).

  • Amendment 19 (term limits): Limits County Council members to three consecutive terms, with eligibility restored after one full term out (p. 64-65).
  • Amendment 20 (budget timeline): Sets earlier public budget presentations, with the first in early September and adoption in November. Opponents say the County already follows state rules (p. 66-67).
  • Amendment 21 (boards and commissions): Lets the Council share nomination power with the County Manager, excluding the Ethics Review Commission. The pamphlet notes no statement against was submitted (p. 68).
  • Amendment 22 (primary bypass): Sends county races with two or fewer candidates straight to the general election. Opponents say it reduces voter information and favors incumbents (p. 70-71).
  • Amendment 23 (annual report): Makes the County Manager's annual fiscal report mandatory and broadly published. Opponents worry about its use near elections (p. 72-73).
  • Amendment 24 (housing impact analysis): Requires a published analysis before certain housing-related ordinances. Opponents call it costly and misplaced in the Charter (p. 74-75).
  • Amendment 25 (tax supermajority): Requires a two-thirds Council vote for new or increased councilmanic taxes after January 1, 2027. Opponents warn it gives a minority veto power (p. 76-77).
  • Amendment 26 (initiatives): Lowers the initiative and referendum signature threshold from 10% to 8% and allows statistical sampling. A 2022 similar measure was rejected by 59% of voters, according to the opposing statement (p. 78-79).
  • Amendment 27 (performance audits): Lets the Council order performance audits. Opponents cite added cost (p. 80-81).
  • Proposition 12 (jail bonds): Authorizes up to $366,204,000 in general obligation bonds for jail, courtroom and Sheriff's headquarters work, repaid by excess levies (p. 82-83).
  • Proposition 13 (public safety levy lid lift): Raises the 2027 levy to $1.15 per $1,000 assessed value from about $0.71. Opponents say it is premature without the jail bond (p. 84-85).
  • Battle Ground School District Proposition 11: A replacement levy at $1.76 per $1,000, about $37 million in 2027, with opposing arguments on spending and test scores (p. 86-87).

Candidate races. The pamphlet includes statements for Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Councilor Districts 1, 2 and 5, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Treasurer, several District Court judgeships, and PUD No. 1 Commissioner, District 3 (p. 52-63). The Auditor race is open, since the current Auditor is not seeking reelection (p. 43).

The pamphlet doesn't say which positions to take. For the full text of each measure, see the Complete Text section (p. 88-99), and VoteWA.gov has personalized ballot information.

Also discussed here:
- Iara, can you download the Clark County Washington voters pamphlet …

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