Initiative 200: Affirmative Action

Initiative 200 would overturn affirmative-action policies in Washington that have been in place since the mid-1970s.

The policies were enacted to help rectify a history of discrimination and racism.

If passed, the measure would impact three main areas:

Government hiring: State and local governments would not be allowed to consider race or gender when filling positions or giving promotions. Currently, a policy called the “plus 3 rule” encourages managers to add three people - either minorities or women - to the pool of finalists for any open job, if that pool is otherwise exclusively white men.

College admissions: State colleges and universities could not select minorities or women over more qualified white male applicants simply to ensure diversity on campus or within a given program. The most dramatic effect would be at the University of Washington - the only state school so competitive that not all qualified applicants are granted entry. There, officials estimate that minority enrollment would drop by 18 percent.

Government contracts: Currently state laws give preference to firms bidding on government contracts when they are owned by a minority or a woman, or when they use sub-contractors owned by minorities or women.

Proponents of the measure reason that the government has perpetuated racism by showing preference for minorities, reinforcing the misconception that the only way most minorities can get jobs or into college is because of their race.

Opponents say that affirmative action, although temporary, is still necessary to undo the injustices of the past and provide legal safeguards to prevent a return to the good-old-boy network that dominated government practices before affirmative action.

The measure needs a simple majority to pass.

I-200 Initiative 200 would prohibit affirmative action in government hiring, state college admissions and government contracts.