 Groups such as Equal Rights Washington and Washington Families Standing Together urged voters to uphold the law providing for domestic partnerships, while Protect Marriage Washington was the main group in opposition.Washington's voters approved the law 53.15% to 46.85%
 — this marked the first time in the United States that voters had approved a statewide ballot measure that extended LGBT relationship rights.The law went into effect the day the election was certified, December 3, 2009.