Making Democracy Work®
Elections

Improve access to the ballot, modernize election methods for better representation, more flexibility, with reliable election security, and provide clear, transparent ballot information for voters.

Issue Team Chair: Carol Sullivan, csullivan@lwvwa.org 
Interested in getting involved with this topic? Click here! 

Download Issue Paper.


Bill Tracking

Weekly Reports


Bill Descriptions


Get Involved

Overview

In the 2022 Legislative session, four Election bills were delivered to Gov. Inslee.

  • HB1630 restricts open carry of dangerous weapons at government or public meetings (includes ballot counting centers).
  • HB 1876 requires the fiscal impact of ballot measures on public investments and services to be disclosed on the ballot. This gives voters information needed to vote on ballot measures.
  • HB 1953 provides greater voter confidentiality by ensuring sensitive voter information appearing on ballot return envelopes, ballot declarations or signature correction forms can no longer be subject to public disclosure.
  • SSB 5793 removes financial barriers to participation on state boards and commissions for low income or underrepresented community members by providing stipends for people who would be impacted by police decisions. This creates more equitable public policy discussions.

In the 2023 session, we hope to see these bills delivered to Gov. Inslee for signing into law:

  • Repeal of Advisory votes, Streamlined Automatic Voter Registration, Enhancements to Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA), Ranked Choice Voting for Presidential Primaries, Increased election security for military and overseas voters by banning ballot submission via email or facsimile, and Changes for Conservation Districts Elections. All are returning from a prior session.

Bill Tracking

League priority bills are in bold below.

Senate Bills Senate House After Passage
Bill # Bill Name (Brief Title) League Position Take Action In Committee On Floor Calendar Passed  In Committee On Floor Calendar Passed  Passed Legislature On Governor's Desk Signed
SB 5047 Enhancing the Washington voting rights act. Supports
x







SB 5082 Abolish Advisory Votes Supports
x







SB 5112 Update Automatic Voting Registration Supports
x







SB 5208 Online Voter Registration Upgrade Supports
x







House Bills House Senate After Passage
Bill # Bill Name (Brief Title) League Position Take Action In Committee On Floor Calendar Passed  In Committee On Floor Calendar Passed  Passed Legislature On Governor's Desk Signed
HB 1048 Enhancing WA Voting Rights Act Supports
x







HB 1139 Harassment of Election Officials Supports
x







HB 1158 Abolish Advisory Votes Supports
x







HB 1174 Access for Jail-based voting Supports
x







HB 1229 Update Automatic Voter Registration Supports
x







HB 1443 Online Voter Registration Upgrade Supports x








Weekly Reports

These weekly updates will provide you with a "deep dive" into the progress of each bill, along with more analysis of the potential impact of the bill if it should pass. 


Bill Descriptions

SB 5047/HB 1048 Enhancing WA Voting Rights Act, Sen. Saldana and new Rep. Mena as sponsors of these companion bills, which have support of LWV of WA.

SB 5082/HB 1158 Abolishing Advisory Votes, Sen. Kuderer and Rep. Walen as sponsors of these companion bills, which are supported by LWV of WA.

SB 5112/HB 1229 Updating Automatic Voter Registration, with Sen. Hunt and Rep. Simmons as sponsors, the companion bills have LWV of WA support.

SB 5208 Updating online voter registration to allow authentication with the last four digits of Social Security number, sponsored by Sen. Trudeau, this bill has support of LWV WA.

HB 1139 Addressing Harassment of Election Officials, sponsored by Sen. Leavitt, and has support of LWV WA.

HB 1174 Improving Jail-based Voting Access, sponsored by Rep. Simmons, and has support of LWV WA.

Bills we are watching:

HB 1475 Allowing online ballot submission by certain populations, Sponsored by Rep. Farivar. 

SB 5182 Concerning procedures and deadlines for candidate filing, sponsored by Sen. Nguyen.

SB 5153 Concerning records of future voters, sponsored by Sen. Valdez.

SB 5209/HB 1220 Concerning establishment of universal civic voting, sponsored by Sen. Hunt, Rep. Mena

How To Be Involved
  • Local Leagues in Washington have action chairs who coordinate action teams. Some local Leagues have democracy teams to take action locally. Contact your local League action chair to find out and join.
  • You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA issue chairs. We will take your perspectives under considerations as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Contact Carol Sullivan, Elections Issue Chair, csullivan@lwvwa.org.

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