2026 Democracy Legislation
Bills in green are supported. Bills in red are opposed by the League. Bills in black the League is watching.
NOTE: Bills marked with an asterisk (*) are our priority bills for this session.

HB 1710 Pre-Clearance for Proposed Changes to Election Procedures.
This bill requires certain local election officials to consult with the state attorney general’s office before making changes to election procedures that may violate the state’s Voting Rights Act (VRA) prohibition against racial discrimination. Without pre-clearance, redressing violations to the state VRA requires lengthy and expensive litigation after the fact. In 2013, The U.S. Supreme Court declared the pre-clearance requirement of the federal Voting Rights Act unconstitutional (Shelby County vs. Holder). Supporting the League’s belief in fair elections, HB 1710 would allow our state to use pre-clearance to prevent racial discrimination in election procedures.

SB 5892 Protects voter databases from distribution to unauthorized parties.
The League of Women Voters supports legislation that enhances voter rights and election security. This bill strengthens the protection of confidential voter databases which include ID card number, social security number and full birthday. This bill prohibits the distribution of this information to any person except to state or local election officers and election officials without permission from the Secretary of State. It provides that any state officer or election officer or designee who knowingly violates this law is guilty of a class C felony punishable under RCW9A.20.021. With the current request and lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice, this bill is needed to strongly discourage anyone from releasing private information.

HB 1116 Recognizing election day as a legislative holiday.
This bill makes Election Day recognized as a legislative holiday. Empowering voters and encouraging citizens to participate in their government and democracy are key missions of the LWV. This bill is also in line with the League’s goal to encourage more civic education.

HB 1916 Amending voter registration challenges and managing voter registration lists.
The League of Women voters supports policies that ensure that every person eligible to vote can vote. This bill would protect voters by restricting who can bring a registration challenge and by requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the challenged voter is not qualified to vote. Individuals who make false statements or frivolously challenge a voter, either before or during the election, may be subject to criminal penalties. We can continue the legacy of protecting our voters from anti-voter tactics by supporting HB 1916 and protecting our voters from mass voter challenges.

SB 5973/HB 2259 Protecting the integrity of the state initiative and referendum process.
These bills do two things. One, they require that before a ballot title may be issued, supporters must gather at least 1,000 verified signatures. The 1,000-signature requirement would raise the costs of filing multiple ballot proposals and make it harder to "strategically manipulate” by fishing for a more favorable ballot title. Second, these bills address the use of paid signature gatherers. While currently prohibited by law, paid gatherers are reported to be common practice, with many petitions gathering fabricated and/or forged signatures. This bill would allow civilians to bring civil lawsuits against those allegedly engaging in pay-per-signature practices, permitting penalties of up to $10,000 per violation plus legal fees. The League’s position explicitly rejects paid signature gatherers and is supportive of laws that would reduce its practice.

HJR 4209 Congressional redistricting between decennial censuses.
This resolution calls for a Washington constitutional amendment to allow mid-decade redistricting for congressional districts. The new language would be active if another state has redistricted their congressional maps for purposes other than as ordered by the court during the time between Census cycles. The League is opposed to redistricting for partisan gain and emphasizes that redistricting should be done to support communities and enhance the voices of all people. The League is dedicated to empowering everyone to fully participate in our democracy. The League will use any hearings on this resolution to elevate the need for comprehensive reform of the Washington State Redistricting Commission and the redistricting process in Washington.

How To Be Involved

• If you are interested in a particular bill, use the links above to go to the webpage for that bill. These pages include staff summaries and reports including who testified PRO versus CON on the bill. There is also information about how to access videos of hearings that have been held.
  
  
• Read and take action through the LWVWA Legislative Action Newsletter, distributed each Sunday during the legislative session.
  
  
• You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA issue chairs. We will take your perspectives under consideration as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Please direct questions or comments to Alison McCaffree, Democracy Team Coordinator.