News

OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State received names from one state political party Friday to be listed on the March 12 Presidential Primary ballot.  

The Washington State Republican Party has submitted five candidate names to go onto the 2024 Presidential Primary ballot: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Chris Christie.

Under RCW 29A.56.031, each major political party has until January 9 to submit candidate names for the Presidential Primary.

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State… Read more

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has relaunched Washington’s Productivity Board, a state employee suggestion program offering cash incentives and recognition for cost-saving and revenue-generating proposals.

The Productivity Board encourages all state employees to help save taxpayers' money by offering up to $10,000 for a successful proposal. First created by the Legislature in 1982, the Productivity Board was a cost-effective program that saved the state millions of dollars before it was shut down in 2011 due to budget constraints.

“Washington’s… Read more

OLYMPIA — This morning, the Office of the Secretary of State launched an updated user experience for Washingtonians at VoteWA.gov. The enhanced website is supported by a new look, user-informed navigation, and additional accessibility features to help voters easily and quickly find what they need.

“VoteWA’s new intuitive design reflects our commitment to providing excellent service to Washingtonians both in person and online,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “Voters will find it much easier to get the information and services they need with one quick visit to the… Read more

OLYMPIA — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued the following statement regarding the 2024 Presidential Primary: 

“As Washington’s Secretary of State and chief elections officer, it is my utmost responsibility to ensure Washington’s elections are free, fair, and conducted with full integrity in accordance with state and federal law. In RCW 29A.56, state law specifies how the Presidential Primary will be conducted when Washington holds this election on… Read more

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs certified results from Washington’s Nov. 7 General Election Wednesday afternoon.

More than 1.75 million Washingtonians participated in the General Election, a 36.4% turnout of the state’s 4.829 million registered voters. Issues on voters’ ballots included local ballot propositions, city and county elected officials, and school and fire district positions.

This was the first General Election in more than 50 years without a statewide issue or race to be decided by all of Washington’s voters.

"It’s important… Read more

OLYMPIA — This afternoon, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs sent a letter formally asking what steps the United States Postal Service will take to prevent out-of-service mail collection boxes from being left in public spaces during Washington elections.

Disused collection boxes in public spaces in King and Pierce counties have been found to contain at least 124 voted ballots from the Nov. 7, 2023, General Election. Because the ballots were found days after Election Day, they were delivered late to the appropriate county elections offices. Under the provisions of state law… Read more

OLYMPIA — Envelopes received by elections offices in King, Pierce, Skagit, and Spokane counties were found Wednesday to contain unknown powdery substances. Each impacted county’s elections workers evacuated their offices, and elections leaders have taken precautions to keep employees and office visitors safe.

Local, state, and federal authorities are investigating the incidents, which occurred while workers were processing ballots from the Nov. 7 General Election. Because investigations are ongoing, the Office of the Secretary of State can provide no further information… Read more

OLYMPIA — County elections statewide have distributed ballots for the state’s 4.8 million registered voters to participate in the 2023 General Election.

Ballots must be returned to a county drop box or voting center by 8 p.m. Nov. 7, or postmarked by Nov. 7 if mailed in, to be accepted. All 39 counties have races on the ballot in this election, with 3,095 offices up for election and 128 local measures to be decided.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs encourages all voters to use the state’s comprehensive system of trustworthy resources to participate in this… Read more

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs encourages participation in the White Cane Day Walk 2023 in Seattle on Saturday, Oct. 14, to celebrate people who are blind and visually impaired.

The White Cane Day Walk will begin at the Pike Place Market Information Center, 97 Pike Street, at 10 a.m. and end with a reception and vendor area at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), 2021 9th Avenue. WTBBL, a program of the Office of the Secretary of State, provides access to information and reading materials for people who are unable to read standard print.… Read more

OLYMPIA — Young Washingtonians across the state are invited to participate in the 2023 Student Mock Election presented by the Office of the Secretary of State.

The Student Mock Election is a non-partisan, educational event that teaches children to be informed voters. All K-12 students in Washington state are welcome to participate by casting votes on races and measures. In recognition of National Voter Education Week the first week of October, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is calling on students and teachers across Washington… Read more