As I-5 Bridge replacement efforts resume, Clark County residents should carefully interpret results of the most recent light rail advisory vote from November 2013. That proposal read “Should the Clark County Board of Commissioners approve proposed Resolution 2013-07-17 which opposes any light rail project in Clark County unless it is first supported by a majority of the voters in a countywide advisory vote of the people?”
Only 37.62 percent of registered voters returned ballots (92,863 of 246,865 voters). Of these, only 88,353 ballots included votes about this advisory vote; 60,424 ballots had “yes” votes (favoring a majority of voters needed to oppose light rail) and 27,929 ballots had “no” votes (against requiring a majority to oppose light rail).
Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, and others who say these results indicate the will of voters against light rail ignore that the resolution referred to a process on how to decide about and not a vote for or against light rail, that only 35.7 percent of registered voters (88,353 of 246,865) rendered an opinion, and even fewer “voted against light rail.”
This is hardly the will of the county voters. Similar detailed analysis should be applied when interpreting other advisory vote results.
