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Washington Require Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration Initiative (2026)
| Washington Require Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration Initiative | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 3, 2026 | |
| Topic Voter registration | |
| Status Cleared for signature gathering | |
| Type State statute | Origin Citizens |
The Washington Require Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration Initiative may appear on the ballot in Washington as an Initiative to the Legislature, a type of indirect initiated state statute, on November 3, 2026.
The ballot initiative would require voters to present proof of citizenship to vote and cancel voter registration for those currently registered who do not provide proof of citizenship.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The original ballot title was issued on June 9, 2025.[2] That ballot title can be read here. On July 10, 2025, a Thurston County Superior judge ordered that the ballot title be revised to replace "concerns voter registration requirements" with "concerns heightened voter registration requirements for applicants and currently registered voters."[3] The revised ballot title for the initiative is below:
| “ |
Initiative Measure No. IL26-126 concerns heightened voter registration requirements for applicants and currently registered voters. This measure would require voters to have an enhanced driver’s license or enhanced identicard, or provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person, and would cancel registrations for voters not meeting those requirements. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ][4] |
” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for the initiative is below:[2]
| “ |
This measure would require voter registration applicants to have an enhanced driver’s license or enhanced identicard, or, alternatively, to demonstrate proof of U.S. citizenship in person at their county auditor’s office by providing certain types of documentary evidence, as specified by the measure. The measure imposes the same requirements on existing voters and would require cancellation of registrations for voters who have not met those requirements 14 days prior to the 2027 general election.[4] |
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Full text
The full text is available here.
Path to the ballot
Process in Washington
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.
While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
In Washington, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute, called an Initiative to the Legislature (ITL), is equal to 8% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Signatures for indirect initiatives are due at least 10 days prior to the beginning of the legislative session in the year of the targeted election.
In Washington, the Legislature has three options regarding Initiatives to the Legislature:
- (1) The Legislature can adopt an Initiative to the Legislature, in which case the initiative is enacted into law without a vote of electors;
- (2) The Legislature can reject or not act on the initiative, in which case the initiative is placed on the ballot at the next state general election; or
- (3) The Legislature can approve an alternative to the proposed initiative, in which case both the original proposal and the legislative alternative are placed on the ballot at the next state general election.
If an indirect initiative goes to the ballot, a simple majority vote is required for approval.
The requirements to get an Initiative to the Legislature certified for the 2026 ballot:
- Signatures: 308,911 valid signatures
- Deadline: January 2, 2026
Stages of this ballot initiative
The following is the timeline of the initiative:
- May 20, 2025: Jim Walsh filed the ballot initiative.[5]
- June 9, 2025: The office of Attorney General Nick Brown (D) issued the ballot title and summary for the initiative.[2]
- July 10, 2025: A Thurston County Superior judge ordered that the ballot title be revised.[3]
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Initiative Measure No. IL26-126," accessed June 13, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Washington Secretary of State, "IL26-126 Title and Summary," accessed June 13, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Washington State Standard, "This measure would make WA residents prove they are citizens when they register to vote," accessed July 14, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Proposed Initiatives to the Legislature - 2025," accessed June 6, 2025
