Washington Voters Trend Against Initiative 001

Early returns show the measure trailing as it seeks to reverse Democrats' 2025 changes to a 2024 law on parental rights.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Primary Education

Washington Voters Trend Against Initiative 001

Live Poll

Should parents have more access to their child's school records and notices?

Initiative 001 was trailing in election results released Tuesday night, with 53% of voters saying no as nearly all counties reported. More votes will be counted in the coming days.

Why it matters

The measure would alter parents' access to certain student records and modify schools' obligations to notify parents about certain activities. Washington voters are weighing whether to reinstate the original version of a law the Legislature revised in 2025.

Early returns show 53% of voters rejecting I-001 with nearly all counties reporting, and the measure was trailing Tuesday night. Final certified totals will depend on ballots still being counted in the coming days.

The players

Let's Go Washington

A political committee that advanced I-001 in an effort to undo the Democrats' 2025 changes and restore the original version of the law.

Brian Heywood

The head of the political committee that advanced three statewide ballot measures, including I-001.

Gov. Bob Ferguson

Washington's governor, who came out against the measure.

The details

I-001 would give parents the right to review more sensitive student records, more quickly and in more situations. It would also require schools to notify parents when medical services are offered to their child at school, and remove a provision protecting schools from lawsuits over parental rights compliance.

2023: Let's Go Washington collected signatures for an identical initiative.
2024: Democrats in the Legislature passed the identical initiative.
2025: Democrats in the Legislature changed the law, creating a revised version.
2026: Let's Go Washington advanced I-001 to reverse the 2025 changes.
Tuesday night, November 3, 2026: Early election results showed I-001 trailing.

Political Context

The measure is an attempt to reverse the 2025 revisions to the 2024 parental rights law, which Democrats in the Legislature passed after an identical initiative had already advanced. Opponents, including Governor Bob Ferguson, have argued against the measure, which the early returns suggest voters are rejecting.

If approved, I-001 would change how quickly parents can review certain student records and when they receive notice of medical services offered at school. Parents in Washington would see those changes in school practices only if the measure passes once all ballots are counted.

The takeaway

Parents tracking Washington school policy should watch for the final certified count, since early returns can shift as remaining ballots are tallied. The outcome will determine whether the 2025 revisions to parental access rules remain in place.