The Home Rule Charter provides the citizens of Snohomish County with the power of initiative, mini-initiative and referendum. The charter also provides for a periodic charter review.

Initiative: An initiative is the citizen's right to propose an ordinance (county law). After proper registration of the initiative with the Auditor, the petitioner has 90 days to collect the signatures of registered voters. The number of qualified signatures collected must equal 7% or more of the number of votes cast in the county in the last gubernatorial election. If the signatures are validated, the initiative shall be submitted to the voters at the next general or special election that is not less than 60 days after submission of the petition, unless the County Council enacts the proposal without change or amendment.

Mini-Initiative to the Council: A mini-initiative is the citizen's right to propose an ordinance or amendment to an existing ordinance by registering with the Auditor initiative petitions bearing the signatures of registered voters equal to 3% of the number of votes cast in the county in the last gubernatorial election. If the signatures are validated, the Auditor shall present the initiative petition to the County Council which shall hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance and enact, reject, or modify the proposed ordinance within thirty days.

Referendum: A referendum is the practice of referring measures passed by the County Council to the voters for approval or rejection. A referendum petition must be filed within 10 days of the council's approval of the ordinance and the petition must contain the signatures of a minimum of 100 county registered voters. The petitioner shall have 45 days from registration with the Auditor to collect the signatures of registered voters equal to 5% of the number of votes cast in the county in the last gubernatorial election. If validated, the measure would be submitted to the voters at the next general or special election not less than 60 days after submission of the petition for signature verification.

Charter Review: At least every 10 years, the County Council shall cause an election of a Charter Review Commission. The Commission shall be composed of 15 persons, an equal number from each council district. The election shall be held at the November general election and candidates shall run on a nonpartisan basis. The term of office is one year. The Commission shall review the charter to determine its adequacy and suitability to the needs of the county and may propose amendments which would be submitted to the voters. The last time a Charter Review Commission met to review the County Charter was 1996.

Charter Amendments by the Public: The public may propose amendments to the charter (subject to voter approval) by registering with the Auditor an initiative petition bearing the signatures of registered voters of the county equal to but not less than 20% of the number of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.

Amendments by the County Council: The County Council may propose amendments to the charter by enacting an ordinance to submit a proposed amendment to the voters at the next general election occurring at least 90 days after enactment. A minimum of four affirmative votes by the Council shall be required to enact such an ordinance. An ordinance proposing an amendment to the charter shall not be subject to the veto power of the County Executive.