Residents of Asotin County, Washington, will have three weekends this month to add their signatures to petitions backing a trio of statewide ballot initiatives, with collection events scheduled at several locations in Clarkston and Asotin.
Signature gathering is set for June 6, 13, and 20, running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday. The effort, organized in part by Clarkston accountant Todd Snarr, targets three separate Washington state initiatives that supporters hope to place before voters.
What the Three Initiatives Would Do
The first initiative seeks to repeal a state income tax approved by the Washington Legislature earlier this year — a measure that has drawn pushback from residents wary of the added tax burden. The second would require proof of citizenship as a condition of voter registration, a step proponents say strengthens election integrity. The third initiative would end Washington’s so-called sanctuary state policy, which currently limits how state and local agencies may cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Together, the three measures reflect a conservative policy agenda that has gained traction among residents in eastern Washington communities like Clarkston and Asotin, which share close economic and social ties with Lewiston and the broader Lewis-Clark Valley. Voters in this region have historically favored border security measures, election integrity safeguards, and fiscal restraint — making Asotin County a natural hub for this kind of signature activity.
For those interested in the results of recent ballot activity in the region, early unofficial results from Nez Perce County’s May primary offered a look at local voter priorities, while Nez Perce County election officials previously outlined early voting and ballot return deadlines ahead of that election.
Where to Sign and Who Is Eligible
In Clarkston, signature collectors will be stationed at Wasems, as well as in the parking lots near Taco Bell and Mattress Firm. Asotin residents can find a collection point near the county courthouse.
Only registered Washington voters are eligible to sign the petitions. Snarr noted that participants are not required to support all three initiatives — “Washington residents can sign all of the petitions or just one or two of them,” he said.
The flexibility means residents with strong feelings about one particular issue — whether the income tax repeal, citizenship verification, or the sanctuary policy — can choose to sign only the relevant petition without committing to the others.
What Comes Next
Initiative campaigns in Washington state must gather a required number of valid signatures from registered voters before a measure can qualify for the ballot. Once petitions are submitted, the state verifies signatures and determines whether the threshold has been met. If successful, each qualifying initiative would go before Washington voters in a general election.
For Asotin County residents who want to participate, the three remaining Saturdays in June represent the organized local opportunity to weigh in before petition deadlines approach. Organizers are encouraging eligible voters to turn out at any of the listed locations during the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. window.
Those with questions about their registration status or eligibility to sign should contact the Asotin County Auditor’s office or the Washington Secretary of State’s office prior to the events.