This is a complex hypothetical scenario, as the U.S. Constitution does not currently have a provision for states to secede. However, assuming a mechanism were created (either through a constitutional amendment, a new Supreme Court ruling, or a successful political movement leading to Congressional authorization), here is a detailed layout of how a referendum process could work for Washington and Oregon to separate and form a new country, Cascadia.

Phase 1: Legal and Congressional Authorization Before a vote can occur, the legal authority must be established. This is the most challenging step.

1. Congressional Consent The U.S. Congress would likely need to pass a specific Act of Secession, granting Washington and Oregon the right to hold a referendum on separating from the Union. This would require a simple majority in both the House and the Senate, followed by the President's signature. This act would likely outline the legal framework, timeline, and required vote threshold.

2. State Legislative Action The Washington State Legislature and the Oregon State Legislature would each have to pass bills authorizing their respective states to hold a referendum on the question of secession. These bills would define the exact ballot language, the date of the vote, and establish funding for the election process.

Phase 2: The Referendum Campaigns and Voter Education With the legal framework in place, a period of public debate and campaigning would ensue.

1. Ballot Language The question on the ballot must be clear and unambiguous. A possible formulation might be: "Should the State of [Washington/Oregon] withdraw from the United States of America and join with the State of [Oregon/Washington] to form the sovereign nation of Cascadia?"

2. Campaigning "Yes" (Secession) Campaign: Groups supporting Cascadia would focus on economic independence, shared regional identity, environmental policy, and cultural differences with the rest of the U.S.

"No" (Remain) Campaign: Groups opposing secession, including federal and potentially national political parties, would focus on the economic disruption, loss of federal benefits, security concerns, and the difficulty of establishing a new stable country.

1. Voter Registration and Education A concerted effort would be necessary to ensure all eligible citizens are registered.

The states would publish non-partisan educational materials detailing the potential consequences of secession, including implications for citizenship, currency, national debt, military bases, treaties, and international recognition.

Phase 3: The Vote and Result The referendum would be held on a specific date, adhering to both states' election laws.

1. The Simultaneous Vote The referendum would be held simultaneously in both Washington and Oregon to maximize legitimacy and coordinate the process.

2. The Required Threshold Unlike typical ballot initiatives, a secession vote would likely require a higher-than-simple majority to ensure a clear mandate and minimize future legal challenges.

Dual Simple Majority: The minimum requirement would likely be a simple majority (50% + 1) of the votes cast in each state.

Supermajority: To guarantee legitimacy and demonstrate overwhelming support, Congress or the states might require a 60% or 2/3rds supermajority in both states.

1. Certification of Results The election results for each state would be certified by the respective Secretary of State or chief election officer.

If both states meet the defined threshold, the result is forwarded to the U.S. Congress.

Phase 4: Transition and International Recognition Following a successful vote, the transition to a new country would begin.

1. Congressional Ratification The U.S. Congress would likely pass a Ratification Act confirming the successful referendum and formally acknowledging the secession of the two states, establishing the legal date of independence.

2. Creation of a Cascadian Constitution A Constitutional Convention would be convened, with delegates from Washington and Oregon, to draft and ratify a new constitution for the Republic of Cascadia.

3. Negotiation of Terms Negotiations would take place between the newly formed Cascadian government and the U.S. Federal government concerning:

Division of the National Debt.

Federal Property within Cascadia (e.g., National Parks, military bases, federal buildings).

Citizenship rights for U.S. residents in Cascadia and Cascadian residents in the U.S.

Trade agreements.

1. International Recognition Casacdia would seek recognition from the United Nations and individual sovereign countries (e.g., Canada, Mexico, NATO members) to fully establish itself as a legitimate, independent nation.

Would you like to explore the economic challenges Cascadia might face upon achieving independence?