Bill > SB5069

This bill requires the Washington Secretary of State to print and distribute a voters' pamphlet prior to the primary election in each even-numbered year and prior to the general election every year, expanding the existing requirement. Currently, the law only mandated producing a voters' pamphlet when at least one statewide measure or office was scheduled on the ballot. The new law requires the Secretary of State to distribute these pamphlets to each household in the state, public libraries, and other appropriate locations. Additionally, the Secretary must produce recorded or Braille transcripts of the pamphlet and make them available free of charge upon request. The bill also allows the Secretary to provide the pamphlet materials electronically to web-based, print, and broadcast media. A complementary provision modifies county auditors' responsibilities for local voters' pamphlets, specifying that they should not include measures or candidates already covered in the Secretary of State's statewide voters' pamphlet. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, giving election officials time to prepare for the new requirements.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5069&Year=2025&Initiative=false