Washington ballot measures 2026, explained
3 statewide measures on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Each one in plain words: what it does, what a yes and a no vote mean, and the best case on both sides. No recommendations.
Your Washington ballot, in order. Tap a measure for the full explainer.
Initiative 1State law
Restore 2024 parental rights
This would bring back the 2024 rules giving parents more access to school materials and notices about their children. It is like returning to an older school rulebook after lawmakers changed it.
- Yes vote
- Re-enacting Initiative 2081 and repealing later legislative changes.
- No vote
- Keeping the parental-rights law as amended by the Legislature in 2025.
Initiative 638State law
Require sex-based girls' sports rules
This would restrict girls' sports to students the measure defines as biologically female. A health care provider would verify eligibility.
- Yes vote
- Schools and covered nonprofit athletic groups must bar biologically male students from female-only competitions and require provider verification.
- No vote
- Current Washington athletics policies remain in place.
Initiative 645State law
Repeal millionaires tax, ban income taxes
This would cancel a planned tax on the part of a person's income above $1 million. It would also stop Washington state and local governments from creating personal income taxes, like locking a door against that kind of tax later.
- Yes vote
- Repealing the 9.9% tax on individual income above $1 million and prohibiting state and local individual income taxes.
- No vote
- Keeping the high-income tax and allowing future state or local income taxes if otherwise authorized.
How sure is this guide?
Where the four AIs disagreed
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Grok each researched Washington's ballot on their own, with web search. The score is how closely their answers matched. Where they split, check the official voter guide before you trust either side.
78/ 100Partial agreement
Initiative 645 revenue effect
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Reversal reduces revenue by $11.4 billion over fiscal years 2027-2031.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Reversal costs an estimated $11.4 billion over fiscal years 2027-2031.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Reversal reduces revenue by $3.5 billion or more annually starting in 2029.
- Grok 4.5: Reversal reduces revenue by $11.4 billion over fiscal years 2027-2031.
Initiative 1 fiscal impact
- GPT-5.6 Terra: No statewide dollar estimate provided.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: No dollar figure found.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Direct state and local costs not officially estimated.
- Grok 4.5: No state fiscal impact; minor, indeterminate local costs.
Before you vote
This guide was written by AI models with web search and does not tell you how to vote. Details can be wrong: your sample ballot and Washington's official voter guide are the final word.
Still have a question?
A local measure, or what this ballot means for your taxes or job? See where four AIs agree.