What does a YES vote on Pierce County Charter Amendment 57 mean?

Pierce County's charter ban on discrimination in county duties would be revised, and would state that it may not infringe on rights secured by the U.S. or Washington State Constitution.

What does a NO vote on Pierce County Charter Amendment 57 mean?

Pierce County's charter nondiscrimination section would stay as it is.

Does it affect veterans' preference?

The current text mentions "consideration of veterans' preference." The opponents' rebuttal says the amendment removes veterans' preference. The ballot title and explanatory statement do not mention it; they add "military or veteran status" as a category.

Where is the full proposed wording?

In the County's "C-36 as Transmitted for Ballot" document; the voters' pamphlet prints the ballot title and explanatory statement.

How many votes does Pierce County Charter Amendment 57 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Pierce County Charter Amendment 57?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Pierce County Charter Amendment 57 — Nondiscrimination

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 3:09 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does: The Pierce County Charter Review Commission proposed an amendment to Section 9.65 of the Pierce County Charter concerning Nondiscrimination. If approved, this amendment will revise the prohibition on discrimination in the performance of County duties. The prohibition on discrimination may not infringe on, diminish, or impair any right secured by the U.S. Constitution or Washington State Constitution. Should this proposed Charter amendment be:
A YES vote means: Pierce County's charter ban on discrimination in county duties would be revised, and would state that it may not infringe on rights secured by the U.S. or Washington State Constitution.
A NO vote means: Pierce County's charter nondiscrimination section would stay as it is.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Section 9.65, unchanged since 1980, reads: "In the exercise of its powers or in the performance of its duties, the County shall ensure that no person is discriminated against because of race, creed, color, sex, age, handicap, or any other basis not reasonably related to the accomplishment of a legitimate governmental purpose, and after consideration of veterans' preference, shall take whatever affirmative action necessary to accomplish this purpose as defined in the State and Federal constitutions and applicable court interpretations."

If it passes

YES: The list would become, in the explanatory statement's words: "sex; race; color; national origin or ancestry; creed; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age except by minimum age and retirement provision; genetic testing results; status as a family caregiver; pregnancy, childbirth, or lactation; and military or veteran status."
YES: Adds that the prohibition "may not infringe on, diminish, or impair any right secured by the U.S. Constitution or Washington State Constitution."
The explanatory statement does not say whether the current "any other basis" and "veterans' preference" phrases stay; the full proposed text is in the County's C-36 document.
NO: The 1980 wording stays.

Example

The current text uses the word "handicap"; the proposed list uses "disability." (source)

Who would notice

Pierce County government, its employees and job applicants (the statement for cites more than 3,000 workers), and people and contractors dealing with County offices.

How it got here

Proposed (as C-36) by the 2026 Charter Review Commission, which sent it directly to the ballot.

What each side says

Supporters

"The Pierce County Charter section setting standards for county hiring and contracting hasn't been updated since 1980. This means it's missing language protecting essential and growing workforces, such as veteran spouses or families, parents requiring family leave for infant and elder care, and many other protected classes." · Pierce County for Aligned Employment Practices (Devin Rydel-Kelly, Latasha Palmer, Ayanna Colman), official statement for, Pierce County voters' pamphlet
"Updating the charter ensures that our most important governing document complies with the Washington State and US Constitutions, provides clear direction to county offices employing 3,000+ workers, and prevents expensive lawsuits from current and future employees." · Pierce County for Aligned Employment Practices (Devin Rydel-Kelly, Latasha Palmer, Ayanna Colman), official statement for, Pierce County voters' pamphlet

Opponents

"The amendment adds terms such as genetic testing results, status as a family caregiver, and lactation. Voters are left to guess how these categories will be interpreted and applied in future disputes, creating uncertainty and inviting litigation." · Common Sense for Pierce County (Mason Fletcher, Hollie Rogge, Jeff Joseph), official statement against, Pierce County voters' pamphlet
"This proposal addresses no demonstrated problem. Existing federal, state, and local laws already provide extensive protections against discrimination. The Charter should not be amended absent a clear need and clear benefit to county residents." · Common Sense for Pierce County (Mason Fletcher, Hollie Rogge, Jeff Joseph), official statement against, Pierce County voters' pamphlet

In the news

Charter Review Commission sends seven proposals to voters · Gig Harbor Now, 2026-07-09

Written by SpectrumVote from 5 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Who's for and against

Supporting (YES)

Opposing (NO)

A sourced selection, not a complete list. Who supports a measure is listed so you can see who is behind each side; SpectrumVote takes no position.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Pierce County Charter Amendment 57 mean?: Pierce County's charter ban on discrimination in county duties would be revised, and would state that it may not infringe on rights secured by the U.S. or Washington State Constitution.
What does a NO vote on Pierce County Charter Amendment 57 mean?: Pierce County's charter nondiscrimination section would stay as it is.
Does it affect veterans' preference?: The current text mentions "consideration of veterans' preference." The opponents' rebuttal says the amendment removes veterans' preference. The ballot title and explanatory statement do not mention it; they add "military or veteran status" as a category.
Where is the full proposed wording?: In the County's "C-36 as Transmitted for Ballot" document; the voters' pamphlet prints the ballot title and explanatory statement.
How many votes does Pierce County Charter Amendment 57 need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Pierce County Charter Amendment 57?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Pierce County ballot.

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