News

OLYMPIA — Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) received the 2022 Regional Library of the Year Award from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) May 18.

Each year NLS, part of the Library of Congress, recognizes its national network of libraries for providing outstanding service in their communities. WTBBL was honored for excellence, innovation, and special achievement in serving people who are blind or have a print disability.

In 2021 WTBBL, which serves more than 7,200 patrons (over 1,100 of whom enrolled last year),… Read more

OLYMPIA — Candidate Filing Week is May 16-20 for people who want to run for any of the 165 federal, state, and multicounty legislative or judicial offices up for election in Washington this year.

Candidates are encouraged to submit an application… Read more

OLYMPIA — Up to $1 million in state funding is now available to local governments through the Local Records Grant Program.

Administered by Washington State Archives, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, the Local Records Grant Program helps local-government agencies and entities upgrade the technological resources needed to improve their records management and retention, as well as processes for responding to public-records requests.

The Local Records Grant… Read more

OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State has received multiple reports of third-party canvassers presenting themselves as elections officials and going door-to-door across Washington asking residents about their voter information and other election-related questions.

These canvassers are not affiliated with and do not represent the Office of the Secretary of State, its Elections division, or any of Washington’s 39 county elections offices.

“I want to assure Washington voters that you are under no obligation to answer any questions from, or disclose information to, an… Read more

OLYMPIA, Wash. — 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 2022, May 3-4.

WTBBL’s goal is to raise at least $10,000 to support the library’s equipment, collections, and additional programming needs.

“WTBBL is building a greater a sense of community and providing an enriching experience for the thousands of patrons we are privileged to serve,” said WTBBL Director Danielle Miller. “We… Read more

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs today launched the 2022 Washington Campus Voting Challenge for colleges and universities statewide.

The Washington Campus Voting Challenge, part of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, is a nonpartisan competition among higher-education institutions to increase voter participation and encourage colleges and universities to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship.

Colleges… Read more

Funding enables the Office of the Secretary of State to strengthen election security, fight election disinformation, enhance voter education, and preserve vital state records and archives

OLYMPIA — The 2022 state budget, awaiting Governor Inslee’s signature, enables the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS) to strengthen election security, counter misleading and harmful election disinformation, and enhance voter education.

“Election security and voter education are my top priorities,” said Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. “I thank the state Legislature for its bipartisan… Read more

OLYMPIA — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs encourages Washingtonians to do their due diligence and conduct research on the charities or nonprofits to which they donate to support relief efforts in Ukraine.

“Americans are a generous people. Whenever a tragedy or crisis occurs around the world, we express our compassion by donating to any number of honest, legitimate charities,” said Secretary Hobbs. “These charities have the resources and infrastructure to ensure the money we contribute directly supports their designated causes.”

“On behalf of the government of… Read more

OLYMPIA — Washington students in grades K-12 are invited to participate in a contest that encourages them to learn more about the history of their community and state.

The “What’s in a Place Name?” contest offers students the opportunity to explore their neighborhoods and identify a sign or label on a public place named after a person, location, or landmark that is part of Washington’s history. “What’s in a Place Name?” asks participating students — or teams of students — to find out how that name fits into the state’s history and reflects their community’s values, and to present… Read more

OLYMPIA – Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs released the following statement in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“Today we commemorate and honor the life, service, and dedication of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His commitment to justice and non-violence serves as a continual beacon and inspiration for millions of people nationwide. Dr. King helped lay the groundwork for a more equitable and inclusive country. As a person of color, I, too, have experienced racism. When I was a child, my family’s house was tagged, we were harassed, and I was bullied.… Read more