News

OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State is now accepting nominations for Washington’s Medals of Merit and Valor. Nominations for both awards can be made until September 20.

The Medal of Merit recognizes people 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 another at the risk of their own safety and is not acting in the course of duty as a Washington police officer, firefighter, or other government-employed first responder.

“The Medals of… Read more

OLYMPIA — Washington Presidential Primary election results certified Friday by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs show the second-most votes counted of any Presidential Primary in Washington history.

More than 1.7 million Washingtonians participated in the Presidential Primary, a 35.3% turnout of the state’s 4.8 million registered voters. In 2020, nearly 2.3 million voters — a record 49.6% turnout — participated in that year’s Presidential Primary. Washington’s previous highest number of Presidential Primary voters was 1.3 million in 2000.

“We had a… Read more

OLYMPIA — Secretary Steve Hobbs praised Governor Jay Inslee and the Legislature Wednesday for enacting new laws requested and supported by Secretary Hobbs to strengthen elections across Washington state.

“Thanks to our lawmakers and Governor Inslee, my office’s elections staff and our election partners in all 39 counties have stronger protections,” Secretary Hobbs said. “A lot of determined and careful work took place in this year’s short legislative session, and our state’s voters are better off for it.”

New elections laws Secretary Hobbs supported or… Read more

OLYMPIA—During the 2024 legislative session, the Legislature approved several bills and $33.3 million in funding requested by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs that will enhance the integrity of Washington elections and improve support for charities and libraries statewide.

“These bills and critical funding will go a long way toward reducing barriers to voter registration, enhancing election security, and supporting libraries and other key services,” Secretary Hobbs said. “I thank the Legislature for their strong support of these important efforts.”

OLYMPIA — The Productivity Board will meet from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, March 11, in the conference room of the Office of the Secretary of State in the Legislative Building at the Capitol Campus in Olympia.

This is the first convening of the Productivity Board after the state Legislature reinstated the Employee Involvement and Recognition Board during the 2024 Legislative Session.

The Productivity Board encourages all state employees to help save… Read more

OLYMPIA — For the first time in more than a century of voter-submitted ballot proposals, the filing fee for Initiatives to the Legislature will move from $5 to an inflation-indexed cost, currently set at $156. Similar adjustments to the filing fees for referenda and Initiatives to the People will take effect in January, the beginning of the next filing period for each.

The fee has remained static for more than a century, despite inflation. In 1912, voters approved Amendment 7 of the Washington State Constitution to create the ability to file initiatives and referenda,… Read more

OLYMPIA — Through a partnership between Wizards of the Coast and the Office of the Secretary of State, a donation of 75 Dungeons & Dragons Library Kits will ensure that every library system and institutional library in Washington can obtain a free gaming kit for patron use.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Wizards of the Coast Head of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) Dan Rawson announced the donation Thursday. The games will be available to library systems statewide from the Washington State Library. Secretary… Read more

OLYMPIA — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued the following statement today regarding Washington’s Presidential Primary and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that states cannot decide eligibility for federal offices:

“I am glad that the U.S. Supreme Court has provided a clear federal answer to questions that have arisen in multiple states around this year’s Presidential election,” Secretary Hobbs said. “My office and county elections officials statewide have followed the law in providing candidate names to voters for the Presidential Primary now underway. I… Read more

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has received the Washington Library Association's Honorary Membership Award for his advocacy of libraries across the state.

The Washington Library Association’s Merit Awards offer the opportunity to recognize and highlight the outstanding work ongoing in Washington libraries. The Honorary Membership Award, presented to Secretary Hobbs at a 9:30 a.m. meeting Feb. 14, is awarded to individuals who demonstrate consistent and prolonged support of library service in Washington, promote legislative action, or participate in statewide… Read more

OLYMPIA — Ballot boxes in all 39 counties will open Friday, Feb. 23, for the March 12 Presidential Primary election. Vote-by-mail ballots are being sent to the state’s 4.8 million active voters, who may return their ballots to county drop boxes or by mail using the postage-paid envelopes included with each ballot.

“Every eligible voter in Washington can participate in this critical step toward picking the next president,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “The choice we’ll make in November comes from the selections made in the primary process. I encourage voters statewide to… Read more