News

01/22/2024
Fake elections robocall simulating President Biden’s voice reported in New Hampshire Hobbs-requested legislation in 2023 banned deepfake election ads in Washington

OLYMPIA — After news reports that registered voters in New Hampshire have received fake phone calls simulating President Joe Biden speaking negatively about the Presidential Primary, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs warned Washington voters that deepfakes are an ongoing threat to elections and the voting public.

In a recording… Read more

01/18/2024

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs delivered official notification to the Legislature Thursday that signature verification has been completed and certified for one Initiative to the Legislature:

Initiative to the Legislature no. 2081 concerning parental rights relating to their children’s public school education.

The signatures on the remaining three pending initiative petitions are being verified by the Office of the Secretary… Read more

01/18/2024

OLYMPIA — In accordance with Thursday morning’s ruling by Thurston County Superior Court Judge Mary Sue Wilson, printing of ballots and voters’ pamphlets for the March 12 Presidential Primary will move forward with the candidate lists submitted by both political parties. 

“An order directing the secretary of state to take different action, an order from this court, is simply not supported by the statutes and not supported by the affidavit of the electors,” Judge Wilson said in her ruling.

As directed by state law RCW 29A.56, Secretary of State Steve… Read more

01/17/2024

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Library has preserved more than 20 years of music industry history through digitizing The Rocket magazine, a popular Seattle publication that covered music venues and bands.

Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, recently digitized over 16,000 pages of historic newspapers for the Washington Digital Newspapers website, including 333 issues of The Rocket.

The Rocket ran from 1979 to 2000, prior to the popular use of the internet, covering music venues and regional bands from Seattle to… Read more

01/16/2024

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs delivered official notification to the Legislature Tuesday that signature verification has been completed and certified for an Initiative to the Legislature:

Initiative to the Legislature no. 2117 concerning carbon tax credit trading.

Previously, Secretary Hobbs notified the Legislature Jan. 11 that signature verification had been completed for Initiative to the Legislature no. 2113. The signatures on the remaining… Read more

01/12/2024

OLYMPIA — On Tuesday, Jan. 16, public high schools throughout Washington will observe Temperance and Good Citizenship Day, an annual event created in 1923 to educate future voters about the importance of civic engagement.

In partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Office of the Secretary of State offers resources to support K–12 educators in teaching about the processes and impacts of voting in elections. Educators can find resources at the official  Temperance and Good Citizenship Day websites hosted by the… Read more

01/12/2024

OLYMPIA — Under the process outlined in RCW 29A.68, Kitsap County Superior Court has scheduled a hearing Tuesday, Jan. 16, for a court filing contesting ballot placement for the March 12 Presidential Primary.

The challenge filed in Kitsap County Jan. 10 contests the eligibility of Donald J. Trump for the office of President under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“I am committed to presenting Washingtonians with the opportunity to make their voices heard in the Presidential Primary March 12, which requires printing ballots and sending them to… Read more

01/11/2024

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs delivered official notification to the Legislature Thursday that signature verification has been completed and certified for one Initiative to the Legislature:

Initiative to the Legislature no. 2113 concerning vehicular pursuits by police officers.

The signatures on the remaining five pending initiative petitions are being verified by the Office of the Secretary of State Elections Division… Read more

01/09/2024

OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State received candidate names from the Washington State Democratic Party Tuesday for the 2024 Presidential Primary.

Candidate lists are now complete for the statewide March 12 Presidential Primary ballot. The state Democratic Party submitted three candidate names: Joseph R. Biden Jr., Dean Phillips, and Marianne Williamson. The Washington State Republican Party previously submitted five candidate names for the Presidential Primary… Read more

01/09/2024

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs sent official notification to the Legislature Monday that six initiatives to the Legislature have been granted provisional certification while signatures are verified. The six initiatives are:

Initiative to the Legislature no. 2081 concerning parental rights relating to their children’s public school education. Initiative to the Legislature no. 2109 concerning taxes. Initiative to the Legislature no. 2111 concerning taxes. Initiative to the Legislature no. 2113 concerning vehicular pursuits by police officers. Initiative to the… Read more

Social Media

 

Photographs

Photo of Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (color)

 

Contact Info

[email protected]