WashingtonWashington uses election dates to define prohibited repeat voting
Washington’s repeat-voting rule covers same-date elections across states, while allowing eligible voters to vote in a special election held alongside a primary or general election.
What it does
Intentional repeat voting in same-date elections is a felony, including across states. Eligible voters may still vote in a special election held alongside a primary or general election.
Argument forUsing election dates could help voters and election officials understand the repeat-voting rule without comparing the races on each ballot.
Argument againstPeople intentionally voting in Washington and another state could face felony charges for same-date elections, even when the ballots cover different races.
More detail
Washington uses the election date to decide whether votes fall within the same election under its repeat-voting rule. The rule covers general, primary, and special elections, including voting in both Washington and another state. Different ballot choices or ballot mailing and return dates do not change which elections count as the same election. Intentionally voting or attempting to vote more than once in the same election is a class C felony, a category of serious crime. Otherwise eligible voters may vote in both a special election and the primary or general election held alongside it. Reckless or negligent violations are class 1 civil infractions, a category of noncriminal violation. The law took effect immediately when enacted on March 17, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 17Effective date 3/17/2026.Latest
- Mar 17Chapter 79, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 17Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 4President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 93; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 5.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#21). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 2Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 24SGOV - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 20Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 12First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations.Minor
- Feb 10Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#11). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 6Placed on second reading consent calendar.Minor
- Feb 4Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 3SGTE - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 3Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 27Public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 13First reading, referred to State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.Introduced
Civil Rights & VotingCriminal Justice