Title 29A — Title 29A ELECTIONS

The secretary of state shall establish a competitive local government grant program to solicit and prioritize project proposals from county election offices. Potential projects [project] proposals must be new projects designed to help the county election office comply with the re…

The secretary of state will administer the grant program and disburse funds from the election account established in the state treasury by the legislature in chapter 48, Laws of 2003. Only grant proposals from local government election offices will be reviewed. The secretary of s…

(1) The secretary of state shall create an advisory committee and adopt rules governing project eligibility, evaluation, awarding of grants, and other criteria for administering the local government grant program, which may include a preference for grants that include a match of …

(1) The Washington state election administration and certification board is established and has the responsibilities and authorities prescribed by this chapter. The board is composed of the following members:(a) The secretary of state or the secretary's designee;(b) The state dir…

The board created in RCW 29A.04.510 shall review appeals filed under RCW 29A.04.550 or 29A.04.570. A decision of the board regarding the appeal must be supported by not less than a majority of the members appointed to the board. A decision of the board regarding an appeal filed u…

The state-based administrative complaint procedures required in the Help America Vote Act (P.L. 107-252) and detailed in administrative rule apply to all primary, general, and special elections administered under this title.[ 2004 c 267 s 401.]Notes:Effective dates—2004 c 267: Se…

The secretary of state shall:(1) Establish and operate, or provide by contract, training and certification programs for state and county elections administration officials and personnel, including training on election laws, the various types of election law violations, and discri…

A person having responsibility for the administration or conduct of elections shall, within eighteen months of undertaking those responsibilities, receive general training regarding the conduct of elections and specific training regarding their responsibilities and duties as pres…

(1) A decision of the secretary of state to deny certification under RCW 29A.04.530 must be entered in the manner specified for orders under the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. Such a decision is not effective for a period of twenty days following the date of the…

An election review section is established in the elections division of the office of the secretary of state. Permanent staff of the elections division, trained and certified as required by RCW 29A.04.540, shall perform the election review functions prescribed by RCW 29A.04.570. T…

(1)(a) The election review staff of the office of the secretary of state shall conduct a review of election-related policies, procedures, and practices in an affected county or counties:(i) If the unofficial returns of a primary or general election for a position in the state leg…

The secretary of state, or any staff of the elections division of the office of secretary of state, may make unannounced on-site visits to county election offices and facilities to observe the handling, processing, counting, or tabulation of ballots.[ 2004 c 266 s 1. Prior: 2003 …

The county auditor may designate any person who has been certified under this chapter, other than the auditor, to participate in a review conducted in the county under this chapter. Each county auditor and canvassing board shall cooperate fully during an election review by making…

The secretary of state shall establish within the elections division an election assistance and clearinghouse program, which shall provide regular communication between the secretary of state, local election officials, and major and minor political parties regarding newly enacted…

The secretary of state as chief election officer shall make reasonable rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW not inconsistent with the federal and state election laws to effectuate any provision of this title and to facilitate the execution of its provisions in an orderly, t…

The secretary of state as chief election officer may make rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW to facilitate the operation, accomplishment, and purpose of the presidential primary authorized in RCW * 29A.56.010 through 29A.56.060. The secretary of state shall adopt rules co…

(1) The secretary of state and the board created in RCW 29A.04.510 shall jointly adopt rules, in the manner specified for the adoption of rules under the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, governing:(a) The training of persons officially designated by major politica…

The provisions of this title insofar as they are substantially the same as statutory provisions repealed by this chapter, and relating to the same subject matter, shall be construed as restatements and continuations, and not as new enactments.[ 2003 c 111 s 158. Prior: 1965 c 9 s…

Chapter headings, part, subpart, and section or subsection captions, as used in this title do not constitute any part of the law.[ 2003 c 111 s 159; 1965 c 9 s 29.98.020. Formerly RCW 29.98.020.]

If any provision of this title, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the title, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.[ 2003 c 111 s 160. Prior: 1965 c 9 s 29.98.030. Formerly RCW 29.98.…

Chapter 1, Laws of 2017 is known and may be cited as the "government of, by, and for the people act."[ 2017 c 1 s 9 (Initiative Measure No. 735, approved November 8, 2016).]

Chapter 1, Laws of 2017 declares that the people of Washington state support amending the Constitution of the United States to eliminate the undue influence of concentrated money and political power on elections and governmental policy. The amendment would overturn decisions by t…

(1) Free and fair elections, as well as honest representation, are essential to self-determination and self-governance as described in the Declaration of Independence and established in the Constitution of the United States.(2) The American people have lost faith in the political…

The voters of the state of Washington urge immediate action by the current and future Washington state congressional delegations to propose a joint resolution for an amendment to the Constitution of the United States clarifying that:(1) The rights listed and acknowledged in the C…

In accordance with the U.S. Constitution, the voters of the state of Washington urge the Washington state congressional delegation, and the U.S. congress generally, to include an amendment ratification method which will best ensure that the people are heard and represented during…

The voters of the state of Washington urge our current and future Washington state legislatures to ratify such an amendment when passed by congress and delivered to the states for ratification.[ 2017 c 1 s 5 (Initiative Measure No. 735, approved November 8, 2016).]

The Washington secretary of state is authorized and directed to immediately deliver copies of this initiative, when enacted, to the following persons: The governor of the state of Washington, all current members of the Washington state legislature, all current members of the Unit…

The provisions of chapter 1, Laws of 2017 are to be liberally construed to effectuate the intent, policies, and purposes of chapter 1, Laws of 2017.[ 2017 c 1 s 7 (Initiative Measure No. 735, approved November 8, 2016).]

(1) The minimum required information provided on a voter registration application in order to place a voter registration applicant on the voter registration rolls includes:(a) Name;(b) Residential address;(c) Date of birth;(d) A signature attesting to the truth of the information…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, for voter registration applicants, the date the voter registration application is received by an election official will be used as the registration date for the purpose of registering and meeting the registration cutoff deadline.[ 20…

The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Verification notice" means a notice sent by the county auditor or secretary of state to a voter registration applicant and is used to verify or collect info…

(1) In compliance with the Help America Vote Act (P.L. 107-252), the centralized statewide voter registration list maintained by the secretary of state is the official list of eligible voters for all elections.(2) In all counties, the county auditor shall be the chief registrar o…

(1) If the driver's license number, state identification card number, or last four digits of the social security number provided by the applicant match the information maintained by the Washington department of licensing or the social security administration, and the applicant pr…

(1) For persons registering under RCW 29A.08.120, 29A.08.123, 29A.08.170, 29A.08.330, 29A.08.340, 29A.08.362, and 29A.08.365, an application is considered complete only if it contains the information required by RCW 29A.08.010. The applicant is considered to be registered to vote…

(1) No person registering to vote, who meets all the qualifications of a registered voter in the state of Washington, shall be disqualified because he or she lacks a traditional residential address. A voter who lacks a traditional residential address will be registered and assign…

A person or organization collecting voter registration application forms must transmit the forms to the secretary of state or a county auditor within five business days. The registration date on such forms will be the date they are received by the secretary of state or county aud…

Any elector of this state may register to vote by mail under this title.[ 2004 c 267 s 109; 2003 c 111 s 208. Prior: 1993 c 434 s 3. Formerly RCW 29.08.030.]Notes:Effective dates—2004 c 267: See note following RCW 29A.08.010.

(1) A person qualified to vote who has a valid:(a) Washington state driver's license;(b) Washington state identification card;(c) Washington state learner's permit;(d) Current Washington tribal identification; or(e) Social security number,may submit a voter registration applicati…

(1) The office of the secretary of state shall maintain a statewide voter registration database. This database must be a centralized, uniform, interactive computerized statewide voter registration list that contains the name and registration information of every registered voter …

Election officials shall not include inactive voters in the count of registered voters for the purpose of dividing precincts, determining voter turnout, or other purposes in law for which the determining factor is the number of registered voters.[ 2011 c 10 s 14; 2009 c 369 s 13;…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1916-S.SL) ***(1) When a person who has previously registered to vote in another state applies for voter registration in Washington, the person shall provide on the registration form all information needed to cancel any previous registration. Notificat…

(1) In order to vote in any primary, special election, or general election, a person who is not registered to vote in Washington must:(a) Submit a registration application that is received by an election official no later than eight days before the day of the primary, special ele…

The expense of registration in all rural precincts must be paid by the county. The expense of registration in all precincts lying wholly within a city or town must be paid by the city or town. Registration expenses for this section include both active and inactive voters.[ 2003 c…

No record may be created or maintained by a state or local governmental agency or a political organization that identifies a voter with the information marked on the voter's ballot, except the declarations made under RCW 29A.56.050(2).[ 2019 c 7 s 6; 2004 c 271 s 107.]

Under no circumstances may an individual be required to affiliate with, join, adhere to, express faith in, or declare a preference for, a political party or organization upon registering to vote.[ 2004 c 271 s 108.]

(1) A person may sign up to register to vote if he or she is sixteen or seventeen years of age, as part of the future voter program.(2) A person who signs up to register to vote may not vote until reaching eighteen years of age unless the person is seventeen years of age at the p…

(1) A person who has attained sixteen years of age may sign up to register to vote, as part of the future voter program, by submitting a voter registration application by mail.(2) The applicant must attest to the truth of the information provided on the application by affirmative…

(1) A person who has attained sixteen years of age and has a valid Washington state driver's license or identicard may sign up to register to vote as part of the future voter program, by submitting a voter registration application electronically on the secretary of state website.…

An applicant for voter registration shall complete an application providing the following information concerning the applicant's qualifications as a voter in this state:(1) The applicant's full name;(2) The applicant's date of birth;(3) The address of the applicant's residence fo…

(1) The secretary of state shall specify by rule the format of all voter registration applications. These applications shall be compatible with existing voter registration records. An applicant for voter registration shall be required to complete only one application and to provi…