Referendum 88 Leads After King County Ballot Drop Friday
OLYMPIA, WA — Referendum 88, a ballot measure seeking to restore affirmative action policies in Washington state, took the lead Friday afternoon after a fresh batch of King County ballots were counted. Friday afternoon, votes to approve R-88 led by a narrow margin, separated by less than 4,000 votes statewide.
The referendum asked voters whether to approve or refect Initiative 1000, which was passed by state lawmakers in April. Approval would allow public employers to consider a person's minority status as a factor when screening qualified applicants, reversing a 20-year ban on affirmative action in the state.
Considerations can not be used as a "sole qualifying factor" to select a less qualified person over someone more qualified, and mandatory quotas are not permitted. Opponents argued the law allows for government discrimination and further divides the state.
A second King County ballot drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and margins will continue to shift as results are updated in other counties.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/referendum-88-leads-after-king-county-ballot-drop-friday/ar-BBWu5N6
