New Elections Laws Passed in 2024

This year the Washington State Legislature continued to consider and pass new laws to help strengthen our state’s election systems. This blog provides summaries of six new laws relating to elections that passed in 2024.

Election Worker Harassment

Effective March 26, 2024, HB 1241 amends RCW 9A.46.020 and makes it a Class C felony to harass an election official. The definition of “election official” includes any staff member of the office of the Washington Secretary of State (SOS) or staff member of a county auditor's office (regardless of whether the member is employed on a temporary or part-time basis) whose duties relate to voter registration or the processing of ballots and votes, as provided in title 29A RCW.

This law also allows harassed election officials to apply for the Address Confidentiality Program under state law in chapter 40.24 RCW.

Elections Security Improvements

Effective June 6, 2024, among other security improvements, SB 5843 requires every county to install and maintain an intrusion detection system to monitor its election-related network and to disclose certain malicious activity or breaches of security of information technology systems. These measures will help safeguard against election-related cybersecurity threats. The new law also establishes violations and penalties related to election interference.

Additionally, the SOS is authorized to certify the results of an election if a county canvassing board refuses to certify the results of the election without cause.

Ballot Review

Under SB 5890, mostly effective June 6, 2024 (see below for sections with later effective dates), this new law improves the ballot review, signature verification, and rejection processes. According to the SOS:

Counties now have standardized requirements for notifying voters of any challenges due to signature mismatches or other issues and have new state protocols for ensuring that accurate signatures are on file in county elections offices.

County auditors are now required to use additional methods of communication to address a ballot that is unsigned or has a signature that does not match the one on file. County auditors are also required to develop a community outreach plan to educate voters about signature verification requirements.

The SOS is directed to adopt statewide standards and related tools for signature verification and ballot curing. The SOS will be supported in this effort by a workgroup whose goal is to approve a uniform ballot envelope design.

For canvassing boards, county auditors must publish on their websites the names of all canvassing board members who received training on statewide standards for signature verification and the dates on which the training was completed. In addition, canvassing board meetings must be held at times and in locations that are accessible to the public.

Two parts of this legislation have effective dates later than the June 6, 2024, effective date:

• By July 15, 2024, the SOS “is encouraged to provide applications for voter registration with multiple signature blocks to assist in comparing signatures on ballot declaration” (See sections 10 and 11 of ESSB 5890). It is interesting that this change is an encouragement rather than a requirement, and there is likely more to come about whether and how multiple signature blocks might be used.
• By June 1, 2025, the declarations on ballots sent to voters must also clearly state that the signature on their declarations will be compared to their signature in the voter registration files (See sections 6 and 7 of ESSB 5890).

Voter Identity Verification

Effective June 6, 2024, SSB 6269 creates a pilot project for testing methods of verifying voter identity on a returned ballot other than signature matches. With approval from the SOS, counties will be able to test new verification methods during the upcoming 2025 February or April special election cycles. 

Voters’ Pamphlets

Effective January 1, 2025, E2SHB 1272 includes an amendment to RCW 29A.32.280(2) to require that individuals appointed by a local government legislative authority to “pro” and “con” committees (i.e., committees that write arguments for and against ballot measures in local voters' pamphlets) reside within the jurisdiction’s boundaries.

In addition, the bill increases maximum fines for publishing or distributing campaign material that is deceptively similar to a voters' pamphlet. The fine is increased to $5 per copy or $10,000 total, whichever is greater.

Voter Address Changes

Effective June 1, 2025, HB 1962 amends RCW 29A.08.410, a statute that details several ways a person may transfer their voter registration address within a county. With the passage of HB 1962, the methods outlined for transferring a voter registration address apply to all registered voters regardless of whether they are transferring their registration address within a county or to a different county.

In addition, this new law eliminates the requirement that a voter must reregister to vote when moving from one county to another county within the state. This law also modifies voter registration and notification procedures related to voter address changes for county auditors. These changes to the voter address change processes are intended to improve voter registration list accuracy.

Conclusion and Resources

These new elections laws are intended to support and strengthen the integrity of our state’s elections systems. Accurate voter registration records, effective signature verification, transparent ballot canvassing and standards, staff training, and voter outreach are all essential tools to ensure fair and secure elections.

Below are a few additional resources:

• MRSC: Local Elections — This page lists all of MRSC's resources, including recent blogs, related to local government elections.
• SOS: Elections — This page lists all of SOS’ resources related to local government elections.