News

OLYMPIA – The Office of the Secretary of State’s elections division conducted its first statewide random ballot audit, also called a risk-limiting audit (RLA), November 19, in advance of county and state certifications.  

The statewide audit, chosen at random, examined the lieutenant governor contest. Outcomes of the audit were consistent with results from the voting system record. 

Washington counties conduct post-election audits after every election. RLAs are another efficient and effective form of audit utilized nationally… Read more

Washington officially reached the 5 million registered voter milestone Monday, November 4.

The Office of the Secretary of State is dedicated to ensuring that all 5 million registered voters can participate in safe, accessible, and secure elections.

“Elections are an important opportunity for all Washington voters to shape the futures of our communities,” Assistant Secretary of State Kevin McMahan said. “The Office of the Secretary of State encourages all registered voters to participate and vote on the candidates and statewide initiatives on the ballot… Read more

As Washington’s 2024 General Election draws near, more than 1,980,509 voters have already returned their ballots, and state and county election officials are busy preparing for the vote count. Here’s a look at what Washington voters and the public can expect on election night and in the days following as ballots are processed and results are certified.

Election Day Reminders

In-person registration is available at county elections offices and voting centers until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5, although online and mailed registrations or updates were due by Oct. 28.

… Read more

This morning, the Office of the Secretary of State received reports of a suspected incendiary device placed in a drop box in Vancouver, WA. Law enforcement agencies, including FBI and the Vancouver Police Department, promptly responded to the scene.

While an investigation is ongoing, we believe some ballots were damaged. We are confident the Clark County Auditor’s Office will work diligently to ensure that any impacted voters receive replacement ballots in time to participate in the 2024 general election.

“We take the safety of our election workers… Read more

OLYMPIA — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, are excited to announce the launch of its project, “Guy Reed Ramsey’s Postmarked Washington.” The web-based project maps and catalogues the post offices of the state and is available for the public to view, enjoy, and comment on now. The Washington State Library plans to add more information on WA post offices to the map in the future to present more of Guy Reed Ramsey’s work detailing these… Read more

OLYMPIA — Washington’s county elections offices will mail ballots and open official ballot drop boxes by Friday for the more than 4.9 million registered voters across Washington to participate in the November 5 General Election.  

Voters have the opportunity to weigh in on statewide initiative measures, presidential candidates, and state executive offices such as Governor and Attorney General. Additionally, voters will select candidates for state legislative and judicial offices, while many communities will have local races such as county commissioner or PUD… Read more

OLYMPIA – Secretary of State Steve Hobbs encourages participation in the White Cane Day Walk 2024 in Seattle on Sunday, October 13, to celebrate people who are blind and visually impaired.

The White Cane Day Walk will begin at 12 p.m. at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), 2021 9th Avenue, and will follow a route to Westlake Park, 4th Ave. and Pine, and will return WTBBL.

The White Cane Day walk is presented by several blindness organizations and service providers including the National Federation of the Blind of Washington,… Read more

OLYMPIA — In an effort to empower Washington residents and ensure informed participation in the upcoming general election, the Office of the Secretary of State is participating in National Voter Education Week (NVEW) from Oct. 7-11. The weeklong initiative focuses on equipping voters with the knowledge and resources needed to confidently vote this November. Voters in WA State can visit  VoteWA.gov to check the status of their registration, track their ballot, and view their voter’s guide.

National Voter Education Week is a… Read more

OLYMPIA — Young Washingtonians across the state are invited to participate in the 2024 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.

“I’m inviting educators throughout the state to use the Student Mock Election and help encourage lifelong participation in our democracy,” Secretary Hobbs said. “This opportunity is great preparation for… Read more

OLYMPIA – Secretary of State Steve Hobbs opened a secure portal for all Washington residents, public employees, and state retirees to donate to Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

The Disaster Relief Center, a special function of the Secretary of State’s Combined Fund Drive, provides links for one-time donations to verified and registered crisis-relief charities during periods of natural or humanitarian disasters that exceed a region’s capacity to provide help.

Hurricane Helene left catastrophic… Read more