OLYMPIA -- Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued a statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the SAVE Act, also known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.
"The SAVE Act creates unnecessary barriers to voter registration in Washington state, where we already verify eligibility and maintain secure, accurate voter rolls.
In 2024, nearly half of the 900,000 motor voter registrations processed didn’t include documentary proof of citizenship — something the SAVE Act would now require. That could block or delay eligible voters from participating in federal elections.
This act would also make it harder for many eligible voters — such as seniors, college students, active-duty military, adoptees, and tribal members — who may be less likely to have documentary proof of citizenship readily available at the time of registration, potentially creating barriers to participation.
As election officials prepare for the upcoming midterms, the SAVE Act — combined with Executive Order 14248 — adds uncertainty and confusion at a time when clarity and consistency are urgently needed. While the act faces long odds in the Senate due to the filibuster, the conversation alone creates unnecessary doubt about a system that is already secure, tested, and trusted."
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Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. The Secretary of State also oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.