The Right to Vote for Water
A clarification on who can vote in the Columbia Irrigation district election highlights the importance of land ownership to civic participation.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A question being frequently asked is, who will be entitled to vote at the Columbia Irrigation district election, December 26? The law provides that any resident of the state of Washington who owns land within the limits of the district and who is a qualified voter is entitled to vote. Registration is not necessary. Any person holding a contract for deed or a conditional sale is considered an owner the same as though he held a warranty deed. Both man and wife can vote, regardless of in whose name title to the property is written. This means that the owner of a town lot is entitled to vote as well as the owner of farm lands. Before voting every land owner should thoroughly understand that the creation of the district in no way binds the district to take over the irrigation system. It merely provides a means whereby the system can be taken over if it becomes necessary to do so to continue successful farming operations in the valley.
“Both man and wife can vote, regardless of in whose name title to the property is written.”
The history of the Tri-Cities is defined by irrigation districts, which essentially acted as local quasi-governments. The debate over who holds the power to tax and manage water resources remains a perennial issue in the arid Columbia Basin.
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