Referendum 71 decision expected by Tuesday

OLYMPIA — The secretary of state’s office says the signature checking on Referendum 71 should be completed by Tuesday. Then election officials will announce whether there are enough valid signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.

R-71 would ask voters to overturn the “everything but marriage” domestic partnership law passed by the Legislature.

The campaign needs 120,577 valid signatures. Supporters turned in more than 137,000 signatures. Because some of the signatures are rejected as duplicates or otherwise invalid, Elections Director Nick Handy says the count is too close to call.

The new law adds registered domestic partners to all remaining areas of state law that presently apply only to married couples.