Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs responds to Homeland Security’s “voter fraud investigation surge”

WA Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

OLYMPIA — After learning that the Department of Homeland Security plans to launch voter fraud investigations in Washington and eight other states through a CNN article, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued the following statement:

“I learned about the Department of Homeland Security’s ‘voter fraud investigation surge’ through the media, just like everyone else. Homeland Security made no attempt to contact me or representatives of my office about this.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have learned about federal actions through the media.

“It’s troubling that Homeland Security is wasting taxpayer dollars investigating a phenomenon we know to be false.

“Incidents of voter fraud are incredibly rare. In Washington state, there were just five cases between 2008 and 2025, out of 90 million ballots cast during that time.

“This is another attempt by the federal government to cause chaos and confusion ahead of the midterms.

“I know that my office and county election officials across Washington state remain focused on administering a secure and fair election for Washington voters this November.”

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Washington Secretary of State issues statement after hearing in DOJ lawsuit seeking state voter rolls

OLYMPIA — Following a hearing today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington regarding the U.S. Department of Justice’s demand for Washington state’s full, unredacted voter roll, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued the following statement:

"Today’s hearing marks the latest chapter in the DOJ’s efforts to force states to turn over their voter rolls. To date, DOJ is 0-18 in these cases. That record speaks for itself. Rather than addressing any real problem, these lawsuits seek private voter information that is protected under state law.

"The Constitution is clear that the authority to administer elections rests with the states. The DOJ’s demands for complete voter rolls are another example of federal overreach and an attempt to exert control over our elections.

"When the DOJ requested Washington’s complete voter roll, including information that is protected under state law, my office upheld its duty to protect voters’ information in compliance with state and federal law.

"Washington has a proven track record of maintaining a secure and accurate voter roll. Our list maintenance practices comply with state law, the Help America Vote Act, and the National Voter Registration Act. We offered all voter data that is publicly available, consistent with state and federal privacy laws and the approach taken by many other states.

"My office will continue defending Washington voters’ private information while ensuring the integrity our voter roll remains secure, accurate, and trustworthy.” 

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Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs becomes NASS president

Steve Hobbs, WA Secretary of State.
President of NASS

Rapid City, South Dakota — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has been selected President of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), the nation’s oldest, nonpartisan professional organization for public officials. 

Hobbs was sworn in July 17, 2026 at the conclusion of the NASS 2026 Summer Conference in Rapid City, South Dakota.

“I am deeply honored to serve as President of NASS and look forward to working alongside my colleagues from across the country,” said Hobbs.

“From overseeing elections and supporting businesses to preserving state records, our offices carry out a wide range of critical functions that are essential to the communities we serve. NASS provides an invaluable forum to collaborate, share ideas, and identify innovative approaches that reflect our shared commitment to effective public service.”

Hobbs is Washington’s 16th Secretary of State and has served in the role since 2021. Before becoming Secretary of State, he represented Washington’s 44th Legislative District in the state Senate. He also serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Washington Army National Guard.

Hobbs has been an active leader within NASS, serving on the Executive Board, co-chairing NASS committees, and showcasing Washington’s efforts to strengthen election security, foster international relations, manage public records, and support state archives and libraries.

His term as NASS President will conclude in July 2027 at the NASS 2027 Summer Conference in New Hampshire. As a point of history, Hobbs is the fourth Washingtonian to serve in this nationally respected role.

Additionally, the following members were sworn in to serve on the NASS Executive Board: 

• President: Hon. Steve Hobbs, Washington
• President-elect: Hon. Michael Howe, North Dakota
• Immediate Past President: Hon. Michael Watson, Mississippi
• Treasurer: Hon. Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut
• Secretary: Hon. Dale Caldwell, New Jersey
• Eastern Region Vice-President: Hon. Gregg Amore, Rhode Island
• Southern Region Vice-President: Hon. Kris Warner, West Virginia
• Midwestern Region Vice-President: Hon. Steve Simon, Minnesota
• Western Region Vice-President: Hon. Phil McGrane, Idaho
• Member-at-Large (NPA Section): Hon. Deidre Henderson, Utah
• Member-at-Large (ACR Section): Hon. Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Vermont

Executive Board members will also serve until the conclusion of the NASS 2027 Summer Conference.

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. 

The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. 

The Secretary of State oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime and the Civic Engagement Program to increase governmental trust and participation for all Washingtonians.

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Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs' response to DOJ letter

Steve Hobbs, Washington
Secretary of State

OLYMPIA - On July 7, our office received a letter from the Department of Justice titled "The State of Washington’s Compliance with Federal Law Governing Voter Eligibility."

My response is below:

Dear Mr. Mohrman,

Washington has received Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon’s letter dated July 7, 2026, titled "The State of Washington's Compliance with Federal Law Governing Voter Eligibility." 

The letter appears to be another instance in a troubling pattern of efforts to intimidate election officials and interfere with states’ constitutionally protected election administration.

Washington election officials take seriously our responsibilities under both federal and state law. This commitment is reflected in RCW 29A.04.205, which states:

"It is the policy of the state of Washington to encourage every eligible person to register to vote and to participate fully in all elections, and to protect the integrity of the electoral process by providing equal access to the process while guarding against discrimination and fraud."

Washington's elections are conducted transparently, and our voter registration maintenance procedures are publicly available. I invite you to review Chapter 3 of Elections 101, along with our published guidance on Cancellation Due to Death, Cancelling Inactive Voters, Restoration of Voting Rights After Felony Conviction, Voter Registration Applicants Without Identification, and Voter Registration Updates. 

As you will see, Washington’s practices fully comply with the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 52 U.S.C. § 20501 et seq.; the Help America Vote Act of 2002, 52 U.S.C. § 20901 et seq.; and Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, 52 U.S.C. § 20701 et seq.

Notably, your letter does not identify any specific concerns regarding Washington's voter registration procedures or compliance with federal law. 

If the Department has recommendations regarding our practices, we ask that it identify the factual basis and applicable legal authority so that we may review it promptly. 

We regularly coordinate with our federal partners on matters involving election administration and election security, including efforts to protect our elections against both physical and cyber threats.

For example, in 2025 the Department of Justice shared several potential instances of double voting with our office. We reviewed each referral and, where appropriate, forwarded the information to the applicable county auditor for investigation in accordance with Washington law. Many of these records had already been identified through our existing Data Integrity Program.

State and county election officials faithfully administer elections under the laws enacted by their legislatures and should be able to perform those duties free from unsupported suggestions of criminal liability. 

Threats of criminal prosecution, absent the identification of any specific violation of law, undermines the cooperative relationship that has long existed between federal partners and state election officials and may demoralize the election officials responsible for administering free and secure elections.

Finally, your letter asks how the Department can assist Washington. We welcome meaningful assistance, including timely information sharing regarding potential election crimes, cybersecurity threats, and other actionable intelligence. We remain committed to working cooperatively with our federal partners to protect election integrity while respecting the constitutional role of the states in administering elections.

Sincerely,

Steve R. Hobbs
Washington Secretary of State

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'Election access shouldn’t be decided along party lines' Secretary Steve Hobbs' statement after Trump's State of the Union

Steve Hobbs, Washington
Secretary of State

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs' statement after Trump's State of the Union

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, I attended the State of the Union as Sen. Cantwell’s guest to help sound the alarm on the SAVE America Act. During the address, President Trump directed Congress to pass the SAVE Act, repeating false claims of mass fraud in American elections.  

These comments should be deeply concerning to all Americans. Voting is a sacred right for all citizens, and  election access shouldn’t be decided along party lines. Dedicated state and county election officials strive to ensure Washington’s elections are accurate, transparent, and secure. Their experience,  professionalism,  and commitment to public service are what make elections great in Washington.   

To repeat what I said before the State of the Union yesterday: The SAVE America Act doesn’t save anything. Here are some common-sense truths about Washington elections: 

• Voting by mail removes barriers to citizens’ ability to participate in our democratic process.  Washington continues to improve voter access while maintaining the integrity of our elections. We should be doing everything we can to increase voter  participation for all eligible Washingtonians. 

• Washington’s voter roll maintenance processes support an accurate and well-maintained system. Election officials use data from multiple sources to ensure ineligible voters are regularly removed from the voter roll.  

• Actual incidents of ineligible voting are incredibly rare. There have been just 15 cases of noncitizen voting in the state of Washington - out of 1,620 nationally - between 1982 and 2025.  Washington uses paper ballots, which are a physical record that can be recounted and audited as many times as needed. 

Our elections face real risks, and we lost valuable federal partnerships in 2025 when several critical federal security programs were defunded. 

The SAVE America Act is voter disenfranchisement masquerading as election security.  It would make voting harder for eligible citizens while failing to address the real risks election officials face. 

Proposed federal legislation and comments made by national authorities undermine election security and accessibility. Instead, federal actions should protect vote-by-mail elections and advocate for voters’ rights and data privacy.

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections

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Washington residents encouraged to support Western Washington flood relief

Flooding in King County
Photo courtesy King County

OLYMPIA – Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is encouraging Washington residents, public employees, and state retirees to help residents of Western Washington affected by flooding from this week’s atmospheric river.

Secretary Hobbs authorized the activation of the Disaster Relief Center (DRC), a special function of the Office of the Secretary of State’s Combined Fund Drive (CFD), and initiation of a special fundraising campaign to benefit response and recovery efforts, Dec. 11, 2025.

“Whenever disaster strikes, Washington’s residents and state employees have always stepped up to offer support when needed most. This time, it is for our own neighbors and communities,” Hobbs said.

“The Combined Fund Drive is always an option for those to support fellow Washingtonians in their time of need, in a reliable and secure way.”

The DRC directs interested donors to verified and registered crisis-relief charities during periods of natural or humanitarian disasters that exceed a region’s capacity to provide help. The DRC does not endorse any specific charity but rather shares relevant and accurate information about the organizations to help inform donation decisions.

Historic amounts of precipitation from a level 4 atmospheric river have pushed rivers to major, near-record flood stages, causing communities in Western Washington to experience widespread flooding, dangerous travel conditions, and damage to homes, property, and infrastructure around the region. 

Governor Bob Ferguson issued an emergency declaration and activated the Washington National Guard on December 10, 2025 as conditions worsened.

State employees and retirees can make a one-time donation or set up a monthly payroll deduction through the Combined Fund Drive and use the charity code to designate the donation toward one of our member charities assisting in the affected area. For more information on specific charities involved or to set up a payroll contribution, go to this link.

Members of the public and non-state employees can use a secure link to make an online donation: link for public donations.

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Washington Office of the Secretary of State honored with National Clearinghouse Awards

OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS) was recognized for excellence in election administration with national Clearinghouse Awards in two categories.

Also known as the “Clearies,” the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) presents the awards program annually to celebrate the hard work of election offices across the country. 

Now in its ninth year, these Clearie Awards honored programs that took place during the 2024 presidential election year.

OSOS received an award in the Accessibility category for its collaboration with advocates who work on disability access and TVW.org to produce an American Sign Language (ASL) Video Voters’ Guide. This is the first year ASL has been included in the guide, which provides videos of candidate statements and ballot measure information to voters each year.

The office earned a second Clearie in the Communications category for its “Mark the Ballot” public education campaign. “Mark the Ballot” provided trusted elections information to Washingtonians by connecting election security messaging with communities across the state, bolstering voter confidence. 

According to post-campaign survey results, the campaign had a measurable impact on public confidence in Washington state government and election officials.

In addition to these awards, OSOS earned an honorable mention in the Contingency Planning category for its Government Operations and Key Infrastructure Toolkits (GO-KITs). The GO-KIT is a cybersecurity solution designed to restore critical election functions during a cyber incident.

"Election workers in Washington have worked tirelessly to make voter education and outreach more accessible and engaging for our voters,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said.

“These projects and partnerships demonstrate the impact and value of their hard work. We will continue finding ways to keep our elections safe, secure, and accessible for all Washingtonians.”

County elections offices were also awarded Clearies and honorable mentions. Thurston County won an award in the Communications category and an honorable mention for Accessibility. Pierce County won an award in the Security category with an honorable mention for Communications. King County was also given an honorable mention in the HAVA Grants: Outstanding Use of HAVA Grants in Elections Modernization category.

The Clearies play an essential role in fulfilling the EAC’s mission to serve as a clearinghouse for election administration information under the Help America Vote Act. 

The EAC is an independent, bipartisan federal agency solely focused on election administration. Submissions were judged on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and the generation of positive results.

More information on the Clearies and each awardee is available on eac.gov.

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Office of the Secretary of State certifies 2024 General Election results

Gov. Inslee and Secretary of State Steve Hobbs
 take a selfie of their election certifications

OLYMPIA – The Office of the Secretary of State certified statewide results of the 2024 General Election on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

According to vote totals certified by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, 3.96 million voters, or 78.94% of registered voters, returned ballots in the Nov. 5 election. 

Using Washington’s secure vote-by-mail system, 66.47% of voters returned ballots to official county drop boxes, and 32.78% of voters returned ballots by mail.

Washington reached a milestone on Nov. 4, surpassing 5 million registered voters. 

Notably, on Oct. 28, 10,059 voters registered online, marking the highest single-day total for the year. 

Additionally, approximately 13,250 voters registered in person on Election Day, Nov. 5.

“Thanks to the dedication of our highly trained county election workers, Washington was able to maintain its proven track record of holding safe, secure, and fair elections,” said Assistant Secretary of State Kevin McMahan, who oversees the Elections division at the Office.

“Our priority remains on ensuring that all of our registered voters have the opportunity to make their voices heard in upcoming elections and shape the future of our state.”

With the state’s certification now complete, Washington’s slate of electors will meet on Dec. 17 to cast their electoral votes in the presidential election.

Looking ahead to the next election, eligible Washingtonians can register to vote or update their registration at any time. This can be done online at VoteWA.gov, by mail, or in person at county election offices.

For more election information, including results, statistics, and voter resources, visit sos.wa.gov/elections.

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Washington state reaches 5M registered voters

Washington officially reached the 5 million registered voter milestone Monday, November 4, 2024.

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 this election.”

10,059 voters registered on Monday, Oct 28, 2024 the deadline for registering or updating voter registration online and via mail, setting a state record for online voter registrations in a single day. Eligible voters can still register to vote or update registration in person at voting centers until 8pm on Election Day, November 5, 2024.

Voters must return their ballots to a county drop box or voting center by 8pm Tuesday, November 5 for their ballot to be accepted. 

Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Tuesday, November 5 to be accepted. Washington has 544 official drop boxes and 67 voting centers across the state.

Washingtonians can visit VoteWA.gov to check the status of their ballot, print replacement ballots, and locate ballot drop boxes and voting centers near their registered address. 

A complete map of drop boxes and voting centers is available on the Office of the Secretary of State’s Elections webpage.

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections.

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Secretary of State’s office distributes $2 million to county elections offices to bolster security

King county elections workers
Photo courtesy King County Elections

OLYMPIA — In the second year of a statewide funding program to help counties improve their elections security, the Washington state Office of the Secretary of State has provided approximately $2 million to 30 elections offices statewide, with final calculations pending.

The program’s third year of funding is now open. As in prior years, each county’s elections office can receive up to $80,000 to pay for improvements to local election security.

“County election officials and employees around the state work hard to ensure our election systems are fair and secure,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “This additional funding will go a long way to bolster security efforts.”

Counties can use this funding to purchase or upgrade elections security software and hardware, hire IT security personnel, make structural improvements, and more. Among the county elections offices that received 2023-24 funds, notable uses included:

• Snohomish County invested in monitoring devices, security measures for ballot drop boxes, building security, and upgraded cybersecurity measures and training.

“Voters in Snohomish County and across our state can continue to take pride in our fair and accurate elections,” Snohomish County Auditor Garth Fell said. 

“Our elections are supported by state and local government resources that help keep our elections security top-notch.”

Secretary Hobbs launched this program in November 2022. $1.57 million was awarded to 25 counties in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work closely with election officials to better protect our elections from cyber threats and other bad actors,” Secretary Hobbs said. “With each new election cycle, these threats continue to escalate in frequency and severity.”

To be eligible, a county must have an Albert sensor in operation to monitor its network for cyber threats and attacks. The deadline for county elections offices to apply is May 2, 2025.

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Secretary Hobbs named Treasurer of National Association of Secretaries of State

Steve Hobbs, Washington
Secretary of State

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has been elected the Treasurer of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), the nation’s oldest nonpartisan professional organization for elected officials.

Secretary Steve Hobbs was sworn in Friday, July 12, at the NASS 2024 Summer Conference in Puerto Rico.

Founded in 1904, NASS includes secretaries of state, lieutenant governors, and chief state election officials from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

“I am honored to have been selected by my fellow secretaries of state to a national leadership role,” Secretary Hobbs said. 

“NASS is a vital partnership for states to share important innovations regarding elections, cybersecurity, international relations, business support, and the many other critical services secretaries of state provide. 

"I look forward to this opportunity to continue working alongside these esteemed state leaders to help our organization serve Washington and every state.”

Secretary Hobbs previously served on the NASS Executive Board as the Western Region Vice President and was co-chair of the State Heritage Committee. He is a member of the NASS Elections, Cybersecurity, State Records and Archives, International Relations, and Business Services committees. He will serve as the Treasurer for a one-year term.

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Initiative filing fee charge increased and linked to inflation

OLYMPIA — For the first time in more than a century of voter-submitted ballot proposals, the filing fee for Initiatives to the Legislature has moved from $5 to an inflation-indexed amount, 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, starting in 1913. 

That year, the filing fee was set at $5 to mirror contemporaneous state filing costs. At that time, home prices averaged $3,500, a gallon of milk was around 35 cents, and movie tickets were 7 cents. The change indexes the filing fees for initiatives and referenda to the modern equivalent of $5 in 1913, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics valuation, and ensures that annual review and adjustment will keep the relative value current.

“This overdue adjustment recognizes the reality of inflation on cost structures universally,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. 

“The expenses generated in multiple state agencies for processing each and every filing of a potential ballot measure are not what they used to be in 1913, and our fee structure must reflect that.”

On January 11, 2024 Secretary Hobbs filed a change within Washington Administrative Code to link the filing fee with the federal inflation benchmark. A public hearing was held February 6. The fee change became effective March 9 for Initiatives to the Legislature. The cost adjustment to Initiatives to the People and referenda will take effect in 2025 because the filing period for each is underway.

From 1912 to 2024, the Office of the Secretary of State received 3,737 filings for Initiatives to the People or Initiatives to the Legislature. More than 60% of those filings were since the year 2010. 

In 2022 alone, 271 initiatives were filed; two people submitted 54% of that total. Each submitted initiative and referendum must be reviewed and processed by elections staff of the Office of the Secretary of State, as well as the Attorney General’s office and the state Code Reviser.

An additional rule change will randomize the numbers assigned to each initiative rather than numbering them sequentially in order of filing. The numbers will be assigned by rolling 10-sided dice.

“The participatory democracy of filing ballot measures is an important facet of our state government’s structure, but keeping the fee artificially low has problematic ripple effects,” Secretary Hobbs said. 

“Many more ballot measures are filed now and never seriously pursued. The outdated fee structure may have made that a low-cost exercise for the filers. At the same time, receiving hundreds of filings that don’t cover their own costs has driven government expenses upward.”

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. 

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Secretary Hobbs praises Legislature for passing elections security bills and reinforcing important public services

King County election workers
Photo courtesy King County Elections

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.”

Priority legislation includes:

House Bill 1241, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D-University Place), makes harassing election workers a class C felony and allows harassed election officials to apply for the Address Confidentiality Program.

House Bill 1962, requested by Secretary Hobbs and sponsored by Rep. Sam Low (R-Lake Stevens), helps maintain accurate voter lists and streamlines registration updates for voters moving from one Washington county to another.

Senate Bill 5843, requested by Secretary Hobbs and sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyen (D-White Center), requires counties to notify the Office of the Secretary of State if they experience malicious cyber activity and maintain intrusion detection systems to safeguard against election cyber threats, among other security improvements.

Senate Bill 5824, requested by Secretary Hobbs and sponsored by Sen. Sam Hunt (D-Olympia), protects library districts and expands voter eligibility to include all qualified district residents who can vote when a proposal for library dissolution appears on the ballot. It also increases the petitioning threshold from 10% of voters in unincorporated areas to 25% of qualified voters in the district.

These bills now await the governor’s signature.

Among the $33.3 million allocated in supplemental budgets for the Office of the Secretary of State, $23.75 million will support election cost reimbursements to Washington’s 39 counties for the 2024 elections. 

Another $3.9 million will stabilize operations of Washington State Library and Washington State Archives operating funds, which are experiencing shortfalls due to historically low transactions from document recording fees, as well as provide continued funding for the new Library and Archives building in Tumwater. 

In addition, $500,000 will expand voter education and outreach programs statewide, 

$587,000 will modernize the Combined Fund Drive donor management system, $72,000 will expand charities education outreach, and $52,000 will support Office of the Secretary of State international trade missions to expand workforce development opportunities stateside and abroad.

“Thank you to Senator June Robinson, Representative Timm Ormsby, and the budget committee members for your tireless work shaping this budget,” Secretary Hobbs said.

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2024 Student Mock Election is now open for all Washington K-12 students

OLYMPIA — K-12 students across the state can now 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. Through the March 12 Presidential Primary, K-12 students in Washington state are welcome to participate by informing the major political parties who they think should be nominated for president.

“This is an opportunity for children and young adults to learn how easy and impactful voting is,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “I invite educators throughout the state to use the many free resources available to get students excited about civic engagement.”

The Office of the Secretary of State offers a free teacher toolkit to help educators host mock elections, which includes mock ballots, tabulation sheets, posters, Voter Pamphlets, lesson plan materials, and access to “I Voted” stickers. The participation dashboard will show student participation by school and grade level.

Students who are at least 16 can pre-register online or using a paper registration form to be automatically registered to vote when they become eligible. Those who will be 18 by November 5 can vote in this year’s Presidential Primary and August Primary elections.

“Our Student Mock Election helps prepare students for lifelong participation and teaches the importance of democracy in our country,” Secretary Hobbs said.

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. 

The office also operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program to provide incentives for efficiency improvements. The Secretary of State also oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.

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Court hearing Tuesday for challenge to presidential primary ballot

OLYMPIA — Under the process outlined in RCW 29A.68, Kitsap County Superior Court has scheduled a hearing Tuesday, January 16, 2024 for a court filing contesting ballot placement for the March 12 Presidential Primary.

The challenge filed in Kitsap County January 10, 20024 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 registered voters weeks ahead of Election Day,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. 

“Our state’s process gives the courts an important role in answering questions about eligibility. I look forward to having this question resolved in a timely fashion.”

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees a number of areas within state government, including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal.

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Secretary Hobbs named Western Region Vice President of the National Association of Secretaries of State

Steve Hobbs, Washington
Secretary of State

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has been named Western Region Vice President of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).

Secretary Hobbs was sworn in Wednesday, July 12, at the NASS 2023 Summer Conference in Washington, D.C.

Founded in 1904, NASS is the nation’s oldest nonpartisan professional organization for public officials. Its members include secretaries of state, lieutenant governors, and chief state election officials from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

“I am honored to have been selected by my fellow secretaries of state to a national leadership role for our organization,” Secretary Hobbs said. 

“NASS is a vital partnership for states to share important innovations about elections, business support, and the many other critical services secretaries of state provide. I look forward to this opportunity to work with other state leaders and share the advances that we’ve made in Washington.”

Secretary Hobbs began serving as Washington Secretary of State in November 2021 and was elected in 2022.

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees a number of areas within state government, including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. 

The office also manages the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, oversees the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees, and administers the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.

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