On Nov. 3, Washington voters will decide on three ballot measures — all of which are initiated state statutes — with topics covering certain parental rights in public schools, LGBTQ issues, and income taxes.
Initiative 1
The first initiative that voters in Washington will decide on — Initiative 1 — would reenact an indirect initiated state statute that the legislature previously approved in 2024, and then partially repealed and amended in May 2025. That law provided parents with a right to review educational materials, receive certain notifications, and opt out of sexual health education. The legislative changes removed from the statute the rights of parents to receive prior notification when medical services are offered to their child, except in cases of emergency medical treatment, when medical services or medications are given that could result in a financial impact on the parent or guardian, or when the school has arranged for medical treatment resulting in follow-up care after school hours.
Initiative 638
The second initiative — Initiative 638 — would prohibit biologically male students from participating in sports designated for female students, and would require verification of their biological sex by a health care provider based on "reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels."
Initiative 638 was the first statewide measure related to biological sex requirements for eligibility in school sports to qualify for the ballot in American history. Additionally, voters in three other states — Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska — will decide on the topic in 2026.
Initiative 645
The third initiative — Initiative 645 — would repeal provisions of Senate Bill 6346 (SB 6346) that enacted a 9.9% tax on household income exceeding $1 million, effective in 2028. Additionally, the measure would prohibit taxes on income in general and define income as "any gain or benefit measured in money derived from an individual's capital, labor, property, or other source."
Voters in four other states — California, Colorado, Iowa, and North Carolina — will decide on statewide ballot measures related to income or wealth taxes. On Aug. 4, 2026, voters in Missouri defeated Amendment 5, which would have required reductions in the individual income tax until the tax was eliminated in the state.
Background
All three initiatives are supported by Let's Go Washington, a political action committee (PAC) founded by Brian Heywood, a hedge fund executive and Republican donor. As of August 31, 2026, the committee has raised approximately $7.7 million in both cash and in-kind contributions.
In 2024, Let's Go Washington gathered and submitted signatures for six measures — covering topics ranging from prohibiting the state from implementing an income tax to removing restrictions on when a police officer can engage in a vehicular pursuit — with three being approved by the state legislature and three being rejected by voters.
Additional reading: