News

OLYMPIA — A secure portal operated by the Office of Secretary of State provides all Washington residents, public employees, and state retirees a one-stop way to donate to Maui relief efforts.

OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State is monitoring reports of suspicious materials in envelopes received by elections officials in King and Okanogan counties.

Local, state, and federal authorities are investigating the incidents, which occurred while election workers were processing ballots from the August 1 Primary election.

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has been named Western Region Vice President of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).

Secretary Hobbs was sworn in Wednesday, July 12, at the NASS 2023 Summer Conference in Washington, D.C.

Founded in 1904, NASS is the nation’s oldest nonpartisan professional organization for public officials. Its members include secretaries of state, lieutenant governors, and chief state election officials from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

OLYMPIA — For a second year, the Office of the Secretary of State will provide each county’s elections officials with up to $80,000 to improve local election security.

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued the following statement on the passing of John McCoy, who for 17 years represented Washington’s 38th Legislative District in the State House of Representatives and State Senate.

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued the following statement on the passing of Don Bonker, who served seven terms representing Washington’s 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1989. 

OLYMPIA — New laws and funding requested and supported by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs during the 2023 Legislative session will help ensure the integrity of Washington’s elections and improve access to the ballot for eligible voters.

The bipartisan elections measures signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee help advance Secretary Hobbs’ top priorities of election security, voter education, and fighting election disinformation.

OLYMPIA — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued the following statement in response to Governor Jay Inslee’s proclamation of a special legislative session.

“As Secretary of State, it is my duty to add the Washington State Seal to Governor Inslee’s proclamation of a special legislative session to establish a policy on drug possession. I support this extraordinary action, which provides the Legislature time and authority to create consistent statewide laws that balance compassion with accountability.

OLYMPIA — State funding is now available to local governments through Washington State Archives’ Local Records Grant Program.

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.