2006 Seattle Elections

General Elections Voters' Guide

Chrtr Am 12-Selected Cnclmmbrs Vote on Chrtr Amend - Ballot Title

Ballot Title

The city council has proposed an amendment to Article XX Section 1 of the city charter concerning which city council members may vote to propose charter amendments.

This charter amendment would eliminate the provision that only "elected" council members may vote on whether to propose amendments to the city charter. This would allow a council member who had been selected to fill a vacant council position until the next election to vote on whether to propose charter amendments to the voters.

Should this charter amendment be

Approved ………
Rejected ………

1. The proposal

This amendment would allow a councilmember who had been selected to fill a vacant council position, but had not been elected by the voters, to vote on whether to propose charter amendments to the voters.

2. The charter as it currently exists

Article XX of the Seattle City Charter governs how the charter may be amended. Under Article XX, a charter amendment may be proposed either by the voters or by the city council. The charter states that the city council may propose a charter amendment if a majority of all "elected" councilmembers agree to do so. The proposed charter amendment must then be approved by the voters to become effective.

City councilmembers are elected to serve four-year terms. However, if a councilmember leaves office before the end of his or her term, the city council selects a person to fill the vacant council position until an election is held.

Because Article XX Section 1 of the charter states that charter amendments may be proposed by a majority of "elected" city councilmembers, a councilmember who has been selected by other councilmembers to fill a vacant council seat until an election is held may not vote on whether to propose a charter amendment to the voters.

3. The effect of this amendment if approved

Article XX Section 1 of the charter would be changed to eliminate the provision that only "elected" city councilmembers may vote on whether to propose charter amendments. This would allow a councilmember who had been selected to fill a vacant position to vote on whether to propose charter amendments to the voters.

This proposition and Seattle Charter Amendment No. 11 amend different provisions of Article XX Section 1 of the charter. Each amendment is independent of the other. If the voters approve either amendment at the November 7 election, then that amendment will be given effect. If the voters approve both amendments at the November 7 election, then both amendments will be given effect.