Washington State Abolishes Residency Requirement for Voter Registration

The state of Washington has recently made significant changes to its voter registration requirements, effectively abolishing the long-standing residency requirement.

This decision, led by Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Attorney General Bob Ferguson, has sparked controversy, with some alleging that it is an attempt by Democrats to manipulate the presidential election.

The Center Square reports that through agency rulemaking, Hobbs’ office has removed a provision that has been a part of Washington’s electoral framework since the state’s original 1889 Constitution.

This move comes after a consent decree earlier this year settled a lawsuit claiming that the residency requirement violated federal law due to a 2018 state law.

Historically, Article VI, Section 1 of the Washington Constitution mandated that a person must be a resident of the state for 30 days before the election to register to vote.

However, the Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans filed a lawsuit in November 2023 arguing that this requirement was in violation of the U.S. Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970.

The lawsuit claimed that this “pre-election durational residency requirement” disenfranchised voters who had recently moved into the state or within the state and prevented them from lawfully registering and casting ballots.

As a result, these individuals were barred from voting in upcoming elections and could not elect state or local officials who would represent their current residence.

In response to this lawsuit, the state Legislature passed Senate Bill 6021 in 2018, allowing voters to register as late as 8 p.m. on Election Day.

The consent decree now states that Washington residents who have lived at a particular address for longer than 30 days no longer need to meet any durational limits to vote while new residents still had to meet the 30-day requirement.

This decree stipulated the removal of the residency requirement not just for federal elections but also for state elections unless new durational registration requirements were imposed by August 1.

Despite this constitutional mandate, the Secretary of State’s rulemaking session on June 25 adopted this change, eliminating the need for voters to attest to a 30-day residency.

Criticism has arisen from various political candidates and officials regarding these changes.

Dale Whittaker running for Secretary of State as a Republican criticized it as “a backroom deal” bypassing constitutional mandates and legislative processes.

Kittitas County Auditor Bryan Elliot expressed concerns about rapid implementation during a presidential election year and potential mistrust in voter registration systems due to conflicting laws and unexpected expenses incurred by counties to comply with these changes.

In conclusion, these recent developments in Washington’s voter registration requirements have sparked controversy and criticism from various quarters.

While some argue that these changes are necessary to protect voter rights and prevent disenfranchisement, others see them as an attempt at manipulating election outcomes.

The implications of these changes will undoubtedly continue to be debated as they unfold over time.

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