Washington HJR 4209, Use of Legislative Congressional Redistricting Map Amendment (2026)

Washington HJR 4209
Election date November 3, 2026
Topic Redistricting policy
Status Proposed
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

The Washington HJR 4209, the Use of Legislative Congressional Redistricting Map Amendment, may appear on the ballot in Washington as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.

House Joint Resolution 4209 would amend Article II, Section 43 of the Washington State Constitution to allow the state to adopt a congressional redistricting map drawn by the legislature instead of an independent commission in the event that another state redraws its district map for a purpose other than as ordered by any state or federal court to remedy an unlawful or unconstitutional map.

Text of measure

Constitutional changes

See also: Article II, Washington State Constitution

The ballot measure would amend Section 43 of Article II of the Washington State Constitution.

Full text

The full text of the constitutional amendment is available here.

Path to the ballot

Amending the Washington Constitution

See also: Amending the Washington Constitution

In Washington, a referred constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds (66.67%) vote in each chamber of the Washington State Legislature during one legislative session. That amounts to a minimum of 66 votes in the Washington House of Representatives and 33 votes in the Washington State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

House Joint Resolution 4209 (2026)

Reps. Joe Fitzgibbon (D) and Sharlett Mena (D) introduced the constitutional amendment into the Washington House of Representatives as House Joint Resolution 4209 (HJR 4209) on January 6, 2026. The following is the timeline of the resolution in the state legislature:

• January 6, 2026: Reps. Joe Fitzgibbon (D) and Sharlett Mena (D) prefiled HJR 4209 for introduction into the Washington House of Representatives.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Washington

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Washington.

How to vote in Washington

Poll times

Washington is an all-mail voting state. Individuals who prefer to vote in person rather than by mail may do so at local voting centers, which are open for 18 days prior to the election. The voting period ends at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Contact your county elections department for more information on voting center locations and times.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Washington, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years of age. A person must also not be disqualified from voting due to a court order or imprisoned for a felony conviction in Washington, federal prison, or another state. Individuals who are 16 years or older can pre-register to vote.

One may register to vote online, by mail, or in person at a county elections department or voting center. Registration must be completed eight days in advance if done by mail or online. In-person registration is available through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Washington automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, health benefit exchange, and other state agencies approved by the governor. After the person's information is processed they will receive a confirmation in the mail from the county elections office.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Washington has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Washington allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Washington, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

On November 7, 2023, the Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington challenging a provision in the state constitution that requires voters to live in the state for at least 30 days before Election Day. In March 2024, a federal judge approved a consent decree, with the state of Washington agreeing not to enforce the provision.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Washington does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who knowingly provides false information or knowingly makes a false declaration about their qualifications "will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Vote WA, run by the Washington Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Washington is an all-mail voting state and does not require voters to present photo identification (ID). Voters may choose to vote in person at a local voting center. According to state law, “The county auditor shall require any person desiring to vote at a voting center to either sign a ballot declaration or provide identification.”

The following list of accepted ID was current as of December 2025. Click here for the Washington State Legislature's voter ID regulations to ensure you have the most current information.

“

The identification must be valid photo identification, such as a driver's license, state identification card, student identification card, tribal identification card, or employer identification card. A tribal identification card is not required to include a residential address or an expiration date to be considered valid under this section. Any individual who desires to vote in person but cannot provide identification shall be issued a provisional ballot, which shall be accepted if the signature on the declaration matches the signature on the voter's registration record.

”

See also

2026 ballot measures

View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Washington.

• 2026 ballot measures
• Washington 2026 ballot measures
• Washington elections, 2026

Washington ballot measures

Explore Washington's ballot measure history, including constitutional amendments.

• List of Washington ballot measures
• Washington Historical Ballot Measures Factbook
• Restricted-use funds ballot measures
• Washington State Legislature

Legislative process

Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.

• Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
• Washington Constitution
• Amending state constitutions

External links

• Washington House Joint Resolution 4209 (2026)

Footnotes

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