Article by Erik Smith. Published on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 EST.

Will be Certified for Ballot Wednesday

By Erik Smith

Staff writer/ Washington State Wire

OLYMPIA, July 13.—Another initiative is headed for the ballot following a signature-check by state elections officials.

            Secretary of State Sam Reed today will certify Initiative 1082, which would allow private competition for the state-run workers’ compensation system. The measure is sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Washington, and has the support of a number of business organizations.

            The measure is the second to make the ballot this year. Earlier this week Reed certified Initiative 1100, one of two initiatives this year that would privatize the state liquor stores. There are four more to go, but since all campaigns turned in more than 300,000 signatures, all appear certain to qualify. State rules require 241,000 signatures from registered voters be submitted.

            In the case of the worker compensation initiative, 345,541 signatures were submitted. State elections officials conducted a random sample, examining 10,571 signatures and accepting 9,017. The error rate was a little higher than normal, 18.9 percent.

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