News

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 Every year, ERIC flags thousands of out-of-date voter records for state review, and in 2022 alone helped update 175,279… Read more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

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

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs certified the results of the Nov. 8, 2022, General Election this afternoon.

Final turnout statistics compiled by the Office of the Secretary of State show that more than 3.06 million active voters, or nearly 64% of the state’s electorate, cast their ballots.

“The 2022 midterm election’s excellent turnout shows how strongly Washingtonians were engaged with the issues and races on the ballot,” Hobbs said. “We thank the voters for their participation, and we… Read more

OLYMPIA — More than $3 million in state funding is now available to help Washington counties enhance election security.

The Information Security Grant program, administered by the Office of the Secretary of State, will award grants of up to $80,000 annually to help Washington counties strengthen their election security efforts. Counties can use the funding to purchase or upgrade their security software and hardware, hire IT security personnel, make structural improvements, and more.

The grants stem from $3.12 million in 2022 funding by the Legislature in support of the… Read more

OLYMPIA — It’s the most wonderful time of the year for giving. And for scammers.

Today is Giving Tuesday, and Secretary of State Steve Hobbs encourages people to “give smart” this holiday season so charitable donations will get to their intended causes.

GIVESMART!, a collaboration between the Office of the Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities division and… Read more