Bill > HB1710

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for ensuring voting rights protections in Washington state by creating a process for reviewing and pre-clearing certain electoral changes in jurisdictions with historical voting discrimination. The bill defines "covered jurisdictions" as political subdivisions that have either been subject to past voting rights violations, have significant disparities in voter registration or participation among protected classes, or have notable socioeconomic disparities. For any "covered practice" (which includes changes to election methods, district boundaries, voting sites, or other electoral processes), the jurisdiction must first submit the proposed change to the state Attorney General for review and receive a "certification of no objection" before implementation. The Attorney General must determine that the proposed change will not diminish the ability of protected classes to participate in the political process or elect their preferred candidates. If the Attorney General does not respond within 60 days, a certification may be deemed issued, but they can extend the review period twice by 90 days. Aggrieved parties, including organizations representing potentially impacted communities, can file actions to challenge proposed changes, and the bill provides a four-year protection from further legal challenges once a practice is approved. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to maintain a list of covered jurisdictions and mandates that the Attorney General publish a publicly accessible website with detailed information about submissions and actions.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1710&Year=2025&Initiative=false