OLYMPIA — More than 60 percent of voters would support an initiative on next month’s ballot to add state penalties to wildlife trafficking, while an anti-tax ballot measure has an equal amount of support and opposition, according to a poll released Monday.
The survey by independent pollster Stuart Elway found that support for Initiative 1401, which would ban the purchase, sale and distribution of parts or products made from 10 endangered animals, including elephant ivory and rhino horns, dropped from 72 percent in a July poll to 66 percent in the recent survey. Twenty-three percent are opposed, while 12 percent are undecided.
Support for Initiative 1366 has seen a dip in support as well, dropping from 49 percent in July to 42 percent in October. That measure, backed by anti-tax initiative promoter Tim Eyman, would decrease the 6.5-cent state sales tax to 5.5 percent — unless the Legislature puts a constitutional amendment before voters that would reinstate a two-thirds legislative majority to raise taxes. According to the survey, 42 percent are opposed to the measure, while 16 percent are undecided.
The poll off 500 registered voters was conducted Oct. 13-15, and has a margin of error of 4.5 percent. Voters started receiving their ballots the mail last week for the Nov. 3 election.
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