News

OLYMPIA —Secretary of State Kim Wyman filed legal action yesterday asking Thurston County Superior Court to declare she is not required to accept electronic signatures on initiative petitions. The filing was made as a result of initiative sponsors asserting the Secretary of State is required to count electronic signatures when verifying and canvassing signatures on initiative petitions.

OLYMPIA — National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday, Sept. 22, and Secretary of State Kim Wyman is encouraging all eligible Washingtonians to register to vote in time for the Nov. 3 General Election.

“As Americans our right to vote is sacred, and it is incumbent upon all of us as citizens to participate in our democracy and make our voices heard,” said Wyman, whose office oversees elections in Washington. “Each year National Voter Registration Day reminds us of our duty to recognize and celebrate every citizen’s role in shaping the future of our state, and our nation.”

OLYMPIA — Washington state voters may soon receive a postcard from the U.S. Postal Service encouraging voters to “plan ahead” for the Nov. 3 General Election. Among the recommendations is to request a mail-in or absentee ballot at least 15 days before Election Day.

The following is a statement by the Office of the Secretary of State in response to the “If you plan to vote by mail, plan ahead.” postcard.

Issued in collaboration with the Washington State Association of County Auditors.

OLYMPIA — In coordination with Washington’s 39 county election officials, the Office of the Secretary of State Wednesday issued an emergency rule change that requires county officials to use First Class mail when sending ballot packets to voters beginning at least 15 days before Election Day.

Petition filed with Thurston County Superior Court seeks clarity on “crossover signatures” to qualify minor party presidential candidates for the November General Election

OLYMPIA —Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State Monday filed a petition with Thurston County Superior Court seeking expedited clarification as to whether the secretary of state may accept or reject signatures of voters who signed nominating petitions for more than one minor party.

OLYMPIA — Today the Office of the Secretary of State certified Washington’s Aug. 4 Primary Election, in which more than 2.51 million people — or 54.44% of all registered voters in Washington — cast their ballots. The turnout rate is the highest on record for a Primary since 1964 when over 840,000 people voted, representing a 56.06% turnout.

OLYMPIA — Former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton died Wednesday morning at the age of 92. Secretary of State Kim Wyman released the following statement:

“Washington state lost one of its fiercest leaders and greatest champions today.

OLYMPIA — The U.S. Postal Service’s capacity to meet the increased service demand during mail-in elections this fall has been cause for concern given President Trump’s recent remarks about the lack of additional funding for the agency.

OLYMPIA —Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman issued the following response to a tweet by President Donald Trump this morning about delaying the 2020 General Election.

“The 2020 General Election will take place Nov. 3 as required by law. Only an act of Congress can change that, and comments from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have assured the American people that the election will take place as planned.

OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State’s Corporations & Charities Division received an International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA) Merit Award for its online Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS).

Each year IACA recognizes jurisdictions that have successfully implemented innovative changes in government. A panel of experts, composed of international leaders in both the public and private sectors, reviews award submissions from jurisdictions around the world based on originality, significance, effectiveness, and other criteria.