Washington Will Use Dice for Ballot Initiative Numbers

Washington state officials will assign ballot numbers using a random dice-rolling system starting this November.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Elections

Isometric editorial illustration of three ten-sided dice on a neutral surface, representing Washington's new ballot initiative numbering system. — Washington will transition to a random dice-rolling system for ballot initiative numbering in November 2026 to ensure electoral transparency. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you trust randomizing ballot numbers more than the traditional sequential system for state initiatives?

Beginning with the November 2026 general election, Washington will transition to a random numbering system for ballot initiatives using three 10-sided dice. This change is designed to stop sponsors from shopping for specific initiative numbers.

Why it matters

The new system aims to eliminate bias in ballot placement by removing the ability for sponsors to choose specific numbers. Additionally, the initiative filing fee has been raised to $156 to better cover the state's processing costs.

The state now utilizes three 10-sided dice to generate random numbers for all ballot initiatives, a move from the sequential system used for over a century. The initiative filing fee has been increased to $156 to address processing costs.

The players

Secretary of State's office

This government body is responsible for managing elections and recording the official dice-rolling process for ballot numbering.

The details

The Secretary of State's office will record the entire dice-rolling process on video to ensure transparency and prevent manipulation. This system replaces a sequential numbering process that had been in place for more than 100 years.

The initiative process began in 1912 with a $5 filing fee.
New numbering rules and the $156 fee took effect in spring 2024.
The first general election using the new system occurs in November 2026.

Political Context

Opponents or skeptics of the change have expressed concerns that abandoning a century-long tradition could introduce unnecessary complexity into the voting process. Critics of the fee hike also argue that higher costs could potentially limit public participation in the initiative system.

Voters will see randomly assigned numbers on their ballots for the first time, rather than the sequential numbers of previous decades. Citizens participating in the initiative process must also now prepare for the higher $156 filing fee.

The takeaway

The transition to a random numbering system reflects an effort to modernize administrative fairness in direct democracy. Prospective initiative sponsors should adjust their budgets to account for the significantly higher filing fees now required by the state.