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In a move aimed at broadening voter participation, the Washington State Senate has passed (SB 5077) on a straight party-line vote of 30-19 on Wednesday with all Democrats voting in favor and all Republicans voting against.

The democratically sponsored bill mandates that the governor, in consultation with the Secretary of State (SOS), identify additional state, local, federal and tribal agencies that can implement automated voter registration (AVR).

This includes agencies that collect personal information such as names, residential addresses, dates of birth and citizenship verification. The goal is to streamline the voter registration process by leveraging existing data from these agencies.

The bill also authorizes the (HBE) to provide applicant information from the to the SOS for voter registration purposes, contingent upon federal approval.

Applicants will be notified and given the option to decline within 15 days; if they do not opt-out, their information will be used to register them to vote.

Additionally, SB 5077 clarifies the role of the Department of Corrections (DOC) in facilitating voter registration for individuals transitioning from incarceration. Registrations will be marked as “pending” until the individual becomes eligible to vote.

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Support and opposition

Proponents of SB 5077 argue that expanding AVR will remove barriers to voting, particularly for marginalized communities, and promote civic engagement.

Senator Javier Valdez, the bill’s prime sponsor, emphasized during a floor speech on Wednesday that Washington has made significant progress in AVR and that this bill provides another tool to encourage more people to register.

However, the bill has faced significant opposition, primarily concerning election security, the opt-out registration process and implementation challenges. Opponents argue that Washington already has an accessible voter registration system and that the focus should be on ensuring election security rather than expanding AVR.

Some worry that automatic registration through multiple agencies increases the risk of errors, including potential ineligible registrations.

Some critics believe that voter registration should remain an opt-in process rather than automatically registering people and requiring them to opt-out. They argue that individuals should actively choose to participate in the electoral process rather than being passively enrolled.

The bill allows the HBE to send applicant information to the SOS for voter registration unless the applicant declines within 15 days.

Some feel this timeline is too short and that it may not be clear enough for applicants. There are also concerns about the privacy of personal health-related information and whether federal approval will allow the data-sharing process.

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange supports the goal of AVR but has concerns about the opt-out process, notification methods, and timeline for implementation.

The Secretary of State’s office also acknowledged that integrating voter registration through multiple agencies would require the development of new data transfer protocols, which could take time and resources.

In recent years, multiple states have implemented AVR policies, with variations in implementation. For instance, Oregon and California were among the early adopters, automatically registering eligible voters through their motor vehicle departments.

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Next steps

With the Senate’s approval, SB 5077 will move to the for consideration. If enacted, the bill will take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the session in which it is passed.

Matt Markovich often covers the state legislature and public policy for ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio. You can read more of Matt’s stories here. Follow him on , or email him here.