Initiative 594, the citizens’ initiative to expand background checks to all gun sales, is on its way to approval after vote tallies from King County have pushed the measure to a 19-point lead.

The measure was passing statewide with a 59-percent “yes” vote.

I-594 was passing in King County, the state’s most populous county, with 74 percent of the vote.

A competing proposal, I-591, was being rejected by Washington voters. The initiative would weaken existing state laws that require background checks on gun sales. It would prohibit government agencies from requiring background checks unless a uniform national standard is required.

I-591 was falling to defeat with a 54 percent “no” vote, with 45 percent voting against the initiative.

I-594 would require background checks by licensed gun dealers on all firearm sales and transfers, including those made at gun shows or over the internet. Gifts of guns between family members, guns sold at antique sales, and gun loans for hunting, sporting or self-defense would be exempt from background checks.

Supporters of I-594 were declaring victory on Election Night.

“When it comes to guns, the only Washington that mattered this election was Washington state and the victory for I-594, the background check ballot initiative there, proved the polls right – when Americans vote on public safety measures to prevent gun violence, gun safety wins,” said John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety.

“The NRA might be able to intimidate Washington DC and state legislators, but they don’t intimidate American voters – and we expect to prove this again in Nevada where signatures are currently being gathered to put background checks on the ballot there too,” he said.

“Moms took the fight to keep our children safe from gun violence to a new grassroots level – and the election results show that while the gun lobby can bully politicians, they can’t bully the American people at the voting booth,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

“We set out to sign up 1 million Americans to vote for gun safety, and that’s just what we did this election,” she added. “We knocked on doors, we made calls, and we have built a grassroots movement that is not only rivaling the gun lobby, but winning key races. But this is a long-term effort – the gun lobby has had the field to themselves for decades and we’re finally meeting them on their turf and showing them—and the legislators in their pockets—that Americans will stand up for public safety.”

In the run-up to Election Day, supporters of I-594 noted that the last gun-related initiative, I-676, which mandated trigger locks, safety training and licensing for handgun owners, failed to muster even 30 percent support from Washington voters.

Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, said Washington had been a “NRA stronghold for decades” and noted that gun ownership in the state was fairly high, with guns in 33 percent of households.

Even so, supporters also reported strong public support for background checks on all gun purchases. A Quinnipiac University Poll in July found that 90 percent of American voters — including 92 percent of gun owners — supported a required background checks on all gun purchases.

Opponents of I-594 said the initiative was costly, confusing and “feel good legislation” that would not prevent crime.

A total of 1,195,103 ballots were counted for I-591 on Election Night.

A total of 1,205,876 ballots were tallied for I-594.

Results on the two initiatives were unavailable for only one county, Whitman, in Eastern Washington.

In Kitsap County, voters were rejecting I-591 with a 53 percent “no” vote.

I-594 was sailing to victory, with 58 percent of Kitsap voters in favor of the measure.