Referendum 90 was a Washington state referendum to approve or reject the March 2020 bill that would mandate that comprehensive sex education is taught in all public schools in the state. On June 24, 2020, state officials announced that enough signatures in favor of the referendum had been submitted and scheduled the referendum to appear on the ballot in the November 3 general election. The law was upheld by voters in the November 3, 2020 election by a final margin of 15.6% (57.8% approve, 42.2% reject). This measure was the nation's first ballot measure pertaining to sex education to be decided by voters.

Background Senate Bill 5395 was passed by both chambers of the Washington State Legislature, the Washington State Senate and Washington House of Representatives, during the 2020 regular legislative session. It passed each chamber on a party line and required all school districts in the state to teach comprehensive sex education. Governor Jay Inslee signed the bill after it was sent to his desk. Prior to the law passing, each school district was able to decide whether to teach sex education. The law allowed parents or guardians to view materials and opt their students out of any or all of it. Republicans and religious conservatives collected signatures to force a vote on the issue.

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin Approve Reject UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%56%33%11%SurveyUSA/KING-TVSurveyUSA/KING-TVOctober 8–10, 2020591 (LV)± 5.2%52%34%14%

Results Referendum 90 passed with 58% of the vote.

By county +CountyYesNoMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams1,76830.94%3,94769.06%-2,179-38.13%5,715Asotin5,55948.20%5,97451.80%-415-3.60%11,533Benton37,86737.53%63,04362.47%-25,176-24.95%100,910Chelan19,24447.48%21,28552.52%-2,041-5.04%40,529Clallam24,24651.92%22,45248.08%1,7943.84%46,698Clark144,84356.92%109,61843.08%35,22513.84%254,461Columbia78932.44%1,64367.56%-854-35.12%2,432Cowlitz25,40943.34%33,21256.66%-7,803-13.31%58,621Douglas8,39040.36%12,39959.64%-4,009-19.28%20,789Ferry1,39933.22%2,81266.78%-1,413-33.55%4,211Franklin11,95237.74%19,71762.26%-7,765-24.52%31,669Garfield43530.21%1,00569.79%-570-39.58%1,440Grant11,76832.77%24,14567.23%-12,377-34.46%35,913Grays Harbor16,45644.14%20,82655.86%-4,370-11.72%37,282Island28,45954.62%23,64045.38%4,8199.25%52,099Jefferson16,43368.47%7,56731.53%8,86636.94%24,000King853,10273.19%312,42426.81%540,67846.39%1,165,526Kitsap89,06857.74%65,17842.26%23,89015.49%154,246Kittitas12,22448.17%13,15251.83%-928-3.66%25,376Klickitat6,06747.82%6,61952.18%-552-4.35%12,686Lewis14,51532.72%29,84767.28%-15,332-34.56%44,362Lincoln1,78025.82%5,11574.18%-3,335-48.37%6,895Mason17,09547.10%19,20252.90%-2,107-5.80%36,297Okanogan8,98643.33%11,75356.67%-2,767-13.34%20,739Pacific6,67748.97%6,95951.03%-282-2.07%13,636Pend Oreille2,75733.05%5,58466.95%-2,827-33.89%8,341Pierce239,14252.85%213,37947.15%25,7635.69%452,521San Juan9,17672.16%3,54027.84%5,63644.32%12,716Skagit36,62951.51%34,48248.49%2,1473.02%71,111Skamania3,47749.38%3,56450.62%-87-1.24%7,041Snohomish239,76556.10%187,60043.90%52,16512.21%427,365Spokane134,16046.37%155,18053.63%-21,020-7.26%289,340Stevens7,85728.40%19,81371.60%-11,956-43.21%27,670Thurston93,86457.56%69,21942.44%24,64515.11%163,083Wahkiakum1,26543.58%1,63856.42%-373-12.85%2,903Walla Walla14,98849.41%15,34750.59%-359-1.18%30,335Whatcom81,01559.91%54,20740.09%26,80819.83%135,222Whitman11,69756.59%8,97443.41%2,72313.17%20,671Yakima43,30746.49%49,84553.51%-6,538-7.02%93,152Totals2,283,63057.82%1,665,90642.18%617,72415.64%3,949,536

By congressional district "Yes" won eight of ten congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican. District Yes No Representative 57% 43%Suzan DelBene 60% 40%Rick Larsen 51% 49%Jaime Herrera Beutler 40% 60%Dan Newhouse 45% 55%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 57% 43%Derek Kilmer 83% 17%Pramila Jayapal 52% 48%Kim Schrier 71% 29%Adam Smith55%45%Denny Heck (116th Congress)Marilyn Strickland (117th Congress)

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Partisan clients

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