WashingtonWashington requires state review of certain voting changes
If specific funding is provided by June 30, 2026, covered Washington jurisdictions must seek state review before certain voting changes take effect.
What it does
Covered jurisdictions must send certain voting changes to the state attorney general before adopting or using them. Changes cannot take effect without approval, which may be presumed if the attorney general does not object on time.
The attorney general must identify covered jurisdictions every two years and notify them in writing. A public website must list them and show review requests and their status.
People who are harmed and some organizations may ask a court to review an approval or require the jurisdiction to seek one. Organizations cannot be forced to identify a specific member.
Most lawsuits based on an approved voting change are barred for four years, unless the jurisdiction changes or departs from that policy. Appeals and later actions by the attorney general remain allowed.
Argument forReview before certain voting changes take effect could help protect eligible voters' ability to take part and elect their preferred candidates.
Argument againstThe four-year limit could make it harder for voters to challenge an approved change later, unless the jurisdiction changes or departs from it.
More detail
A covered jurisdiction must send certain voting changes to the state attorney general for review before adopting or using them. A covered jurisdiction is a political subdivision that meets the law's criteria, including certain voting-rights violations or a past failure to seek required approval within 25 years. Covered changes include election methods, district boundaries, language help, and other changes that may weaken voting rights based on race, color, or language minority status. The attorney general may approve a change only if it will not reduce the protected group's ability to take part in the political process or elect preferred candidates, and it follows state and federal law. Approval may be treated as granted if the attorney general does not object within 60 days, unless the review period is extended; the attorney general may extend it twice, by 90 days each time. The jurisdiction must seek review before adopting or administering a covered change.
The attorney general must identify covered jurisdictions and publish information about them and their review requests. The designations apply to political subdivisions that meet the law's definition of a covered jurisdiction. The attorney general must use the best available census or comparable government data and consult the state financial office and relevant agencies. Designations are due by July 1 of each even-numbered year and take effect when written notice is sent. The website list must be updated twice a year.
People who are harmed and some organizations may ask a court to review an approval or require a jurisdiction to seek review. A person must be aggrieved, and an organization must meet the law's membership or mission tests. An organization may qualify if its members are harmed or a violation would frustrate its mission, including by forcing it to divert resources. A qualifying organization cannot be required to identify a specific member.
A lawsuit against a political subdivision based on an approved voting change generally cannot be brought for four years. The limit covers actions against the political subdivision based on the same approved covered policy. The limit applies only if the jurisdiction does not change or depart from the approved policy in a way that could support a legal claim. It does not block an appeal of the approval or a later action by the attorney general. The four-year period starts after approval or, if appealed, after a court upholds the approval, whichever is later.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 25Chapter 211, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 25Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 12President signed.Major
- Mar 12Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 57; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed House
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#14). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#23). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 4Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Mar 3Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Mar 2Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Mar 2Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Mar 2WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.Minor
- Mar 2Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 27Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 2:30 PM.
- Feb 25Referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 24Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 24And refer to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 24SGTE - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 20Public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 16First reading, referred to State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.Minor
- Feb 12Third reading, passed; yeas, 57; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 2.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#31). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 12Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 123rd substitute bill substituted (APP 26).Major
- Feb 11Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 4Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 2Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 2APP - Majority; 3rd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 2Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 22Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 12Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Jan 12Rules Committee relieved of further consideration.
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Mar 19Returned to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Mar 6Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 28Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 26Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 26Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 26APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 26Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 22Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
- Feb 14Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 11Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 11SGOV - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 11Executive action taken in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 5Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 29First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations.Introduced
Civil Rights & Voting