Election laws and legislation in Washington

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Election Administration Legislation
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State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election law.

Election law encompasses a wide array of issues, including voter registration, ballot access, early voting, absentee/mail-in voting and voter identification requirements. The laws governing the administration of elections can vary significantly from state to state and even between jurisdictions within states. This article identifies the statutory source of election law in Washington and compiles information on proposed and enacted legislation that would modify election law in Washington.

Analysis

See also: State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

2025

In 2025, Washington lawmakers passed five election-related bills. One of the bills, SB 5077, gives the governor authority, under certain conditions, to expand automatic voter registration services to federal, state, local, and tribal agencies that already process and collect the necessary information.

2024

In 2024, Washington legislators passed four bills that changed election law, including three bills that changed policy on election security, voter verification methods, and ballot signatures.

  • SB 5843 creates new penalties for election interference, implements new election-related cybersecurity disclosure requirements, and mandates that counties install and maintain a cybersecurity intrusion detection system.
  • SB 6269 establishes a pilot program for alternative voter verification methods to be administered by the secretary of state. Counties’ applications must include a description of current verification methods, information about how new verification methods will be implemented, and at which elections the county plans to implement the new methods.
  • SB 5890 adds new requirements for election officials to contact voters to correct or cure an unsigned ballot, including contacting the voter by telephone or email when possible. The bill also requires the secretary of state to adopt and regularly review statewide standards for ballot signature verification and creates new community outreach in each county about signature verification laws.



Election law in Washington

See also: Election administration in Washington

The laws governing elections in Washington are contained in Title 29A of the Revised Code of Washington.

Election legislation in Washington

2025

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in Washington in 2025. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2024

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in Washington in 2024. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2023

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in Washington in 2023. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2022

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in Washington in 2022. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.


Election policy ballot measures

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Washington ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Washington.

  1. Washington Initiative 872, Top-Two Primaries Measure (2004)
  2. Washington HJR 4206, Office Vacancies Amendment (2003)
  3. Washington SJR 143, Voter Residency Requirement Amendment (1974)
  4. Washington Referendum 5, Party Conventions Measure (1916)
  5. Washington Referendum 15, Changes to Party Conventions and Nomination Measure (1922)
  6. Washington SJR 25, State Constitutional Amendment Publication Requirement Change Amendment (1962)
  7. Washington SJR 9, Voter Pamphlet Mailing Requirement Amendment (1962)
  8. Washington Referendum 39, Voter Registration by Mail Measure (1977)
  9. Washington SJR 138, Legislative and County Vacancies Amendment (1986)
  10. Washington Referendum 25, Electoral Campaign Financing Regulation Measure (1972)
  11. Washington HJR 4, Voter Qualifications for Presidential Elections Amendment (1966)
  12. Washington Initiative 394, Voter Approval for Energy Project Bonds Measure (1981)
  13. Washington Initiative 276, Regulations for Campaign Expenditures and Contributions Measure (1972)
  14. Washington Initiative 58, Permanent Registration of Voters Measure (1932)
  15. Washington Referendum 35, Senate Vacancy Appointments Measure (1975)
  16. Washington Referendum 32, Deputy Voting Registrar Appointments Measure (1973)
  17. Washington HJR 6, Voting Age of 19 Amendment (1970)
  18. Washington SJR 14, Filling State Legislature Vacancies Amendment (1956)
  19. Washington Voter Residency Requirement Amendment, SJR 8205 (2011)
  20. Washington SJR 6, Superior Court Judge Elections Amendment (1966)
  21. Washington HJR 22, Voter Approval of Excess School Tax Levies Amendment (1985)
  22. Washington Initiative 126, Non-Partisan Elections for School Superintendents Measure (1938)
  23. Washington Amendment to Article XI Sec. 5, Classification of Counties by Population for County Official Elections (1924)
  24. Washington Recall Elections Process Amendment (1912)
  25. Washington Gubernatorial Line of Succession and Special Election Amendment (1910)


The Ballot Bulletin

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The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

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Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Washington can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Washington County Elections Departments

Click here for a list

Washington Secretary of State, Elections Division

Physical Address: 416 Sid Snyder Ave SW
Olympia, WA 98501
Mailing address: P.O. Box 40229
Olympia, Washington 98504-0229
Phone: 360-902-4180
Toll free: 800-448-4881
Fax: 360-664-4619
Email: elections@sos.wa.gov
Website: https://www.sos.wa.gov

Washington State Public Disclosure Commission

Physical Address: 711 Capitol Way, Room 206
Olympia, Washington 98504
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 40908
Olympia, Washington 98504-0908
Phone: 360-753-1111
Toll free: 877-601-2828
Fax: 360-753-1112
Email: https://wapdc.freshdesk.com/support/tickets/new
Website: https://www.pdc.wa.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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See also

Footnotes