Washington Sexual Health Education Referendum 2020 Results

SEATTLE — Referendum Measure No. 90, a referendum to mandate sexual education in Washington schools, has taken nearly 60 percent of the vote in the Nov. 3 election, and the Associated Press has called that the referendum will pass.

Now that it has been approved by voters, the referendum will allow Senate Bill 5395, passed by the legislature in 2020, into law. The bill requires all schools to provide comprehensive sexual health education, legally defined as "instruction in human development and reproduction that is medically accurate, age-appropriate and inclusive of all students."

However, the bill does not require all students to receive that instruction, and allows parents to opt their child out of sex ed classes if they so choose.

According to the state, the only content required is:

• Students in grades K-3 would take Social Emotional Learning classes, teaching them to manage their feelings, goals, and work together with others. There would be no sexual content for these students.
• Students in grades 4-12 would receive lessons in:
  • The physiological, psychological, and sociological development of their bodies.
  • The development of communication skills, with the goal of reducing health risk and promoting healthy behaviors and relationships.
  • Health care and health resources.
  • Abstinence and other methods of avoiding unwanted pregnancy or STDs.
  • Avoiding exploitative relationships.
  • Understanding the influence of family, peer pressure community and the media on sexual relationships.
  • Affirmative consent and how to avoid or escape situations when violence or a risk of violence is present.

The education is necessary to curb sexual assault and the rates of sexually transmitted diseases in Washington, according to Superintending of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal.

"The rates of sexually transmitted diseases(STDs) experienced by Washington youth are increasing at such a fast rate that it is now a health crisis. Students are also reporting high rates of sexual violence and coercion," Reykdal said. "Research tells us that with a fact-based comprehensive sexual health education where students build skills related to communication and safety; STD, pregnancy, and sexual violence rates decrease."

Reykdal also points to studies showing that one in three Washington girls will be the victim of sexual violence before they graduate high school, as will one in six boys.

However, opponents did not see it that way, and argued that the education is invasive and restricts a parent's choice to teach their children in the way they see fit. After Senate Bill 5395 passed the legislature, opponents of sexual education gathered enough signatures to create the referendum and put the decision into the hands of the voters. To make it to the ballot, a referendum must receive the signatures equal to four percent of the total votes cast for the office of Governor in the last state gubernatorial election.

As of 8p.m. Tuesday, polls have closed in Washington. In Washington, ballots are tabulated each day following the election, and percentages will continue to change in the days ahead. Results are final upon certification by the Secretary of State's office, due by Tuesday, Nov. 21.

This year, several of the state's top offices are also on the ballot, including the governor, attorney general and secretary of state.

2020 Election Night Statewide Results: Referendum 90
(For clarity: a vote to approve indicates that sexual education will be mandated)

• Approved: 59.59 percent
• Rejected: 40.41 percent

Patch will update with the latest results as they come in.

View all statewide results, or narrow by county:

• Statewide results
• King County
• Pierce County
• Snohomish County

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