As I mentioned in a post yesterday, the Washington state senate is scheduled to vote on a marriage equality bill tonight, in a potential victory that would position it to be the seventh state (New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa, plus D.C.) to legalize same-sex marriage.
Democratic Senator Ed Murray, its chief sponsor, said last week proponents had secured the 25 votes needed for a simple majority in the 49-seat chamber. Murray has said he hoped to end up with 27 or more votes, though the controversial issue was likely to result in a lengthy floor debate that could last well into the night.
With passage in the state House of Representatives already seen as virtually assured, opponents of same-sex matrimony say they will seek the measure's repeal with a referendum asking voters to reaffirm marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman.
To qualify for the November ballot, they would need to collect at least 120,577 signatures of registered voters by July 6.
The Washington House could vote on the measure as soon as February 8.
Tune in here this evening for news on the vote…
