OLYMPIA — Candidate Filing Week is May 15-19, and the Office of the Secretary of State is joining county elections offices across Washington to accept applications for public office.
Nearly 3,400 local offices across the state are up for election this year, including more than 100 mayorships; many city and county council positions; and port, hospital, water, fire, and parks and recreation districts.
People interested in running for local or county offices may file with the … Read more
SEATTLE — Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), which provides access to information and reading materials for people who are unable to read standard print, is seeking donations during GiveBIG 2023 May 2-3.
WTBBL’s goal is to raise at least $10,000 to support the library’s new podcasting program, which will offer diverse programming including current and timely stories, connect the community with information and resources, highlight authors and library… Read more
OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State is now accepting nominations for Washington’s Medals of Merit and Valor, the highest civilian honors awarded to the people of Washington.
The Medal of Merit recognizes exceptional individuals who perform outstanding services for Washington and its residents. The Medal of Valor is awarded to anyone who has saved, or attempted to save, the life of… Read more
OLYMPIA — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs responds to former President Trump’s unfounded social media attack on the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC):
“If you support accuracy of the voter roll, you support ERIC. Washington state has benefited from ERIC since its Republican secretary of state helped found the multistate partnership in 2012. Attacks on ERIC undermine the hard work of keeping America’s voter rolls up to date and accurate. Every year, ERIC flags thousands of out-of-date voter records for state review, and in 2022 alone helped update 175,279… Read more
OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, one year into the unprovoked invasion by Russia.
Through the Office of the Secretary of State’s Combined Fund Drive (CFD), Washington state employees and retirees have donated more than $146,200 to over 15 charitable organizations that support Ukrainian relief. Of these donations, more than $12,200 were specifically dedicated to Ukraine.
“I am continually inspired by the generosity of Washingtonians who are supporting Ukraine in… Read more
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs to host reception celebrating 10 years of marriage equality in Washington state
WHAT:Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Governor Jay Inslee, along with state and local dignitaries, community leaders, and civil rights trailblazers, will gather at the Legislative Building in Olympia Feb. 14 for the grand opening of Legacy Washington’s newest exhibit, “Love, Equally: The Journey to Marriage Equality.”
“Love, Equally” celebrates the 10th anniversary of marriage equality in Washington… Read more
OLYMPIA — Public high schools throughout Washington will observe Temperance and Good Citizenship Day Friday, Jan. 13.
Now in its 100th year, Temperance and Good Citizenship Day is unique to Washington and is one of several civic observances for which state law provides specific instructions for schools. Every January, Washington… Read more
OLYMPIA — Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, recently digitized 1,745 issues of the Seattle Gay News (now known as SGN), as part of the Washington Digital Newspapers (WDN) program.
The SGN was first published in 1974 as the Gay Community Center News, a newsletter by Jim Tully and Jim Arnold, for the Gay Community Center in Seattle. George Bakan, an LGBTQ rights advocate, joined the paper as editor in 1983, co-owned as publisher with Jim Arnold in… Read more
OLYMPIA — Election recounts for the 3rd and 9th Congressional Districts and the 10th Legislative District have been completed, confirming the General Election outcomes certified by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs Dec. 7.
The amended results certified by the… Read more
OLYMPIA — This week, the Office of the Secretary of State received requests to recount certified results for two of Washington’s congressional races. In the Third Congressional District, the Joe Kent for Congress campaign requested a machine recount of all votes cast for the office of U.S. Representative. In the Ninth Congressional District, candidate Doug Basler asked for manual recounts of two precincts.
“Recounts for various federal, state, and local offices and initiatives are nothing new,” said Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. “It is important to understand the rules that… Read more
