HB 1916 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Amending voter registration challenges and managing voter registration lists.

HB 1916 updates Washington state law to improve accuracy in voter registration lists. It requires county auditors to cancel registrations of deceased voters using verified death certificates or obituaries (with identity checks), and to reactivate inactive voters who update their address, respond to a confirmation notice, or vote. The bill also sets strict rules for challenging a voter's registration: challengers must provide specific evidence (like certified mail receipts or property records) and file a signed affidavit under penalty of perjury, rather than making unsupported claims. These changes directly affect county auditors managing voter lists and voters whose registrations may be challenged or updated.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated to reflect its official passage by the House and Senate for the 2026 Regular Session. Substantive changes include expanding the authority to challenge a voter's registration to include registered voters from the same county (previously limited to the county prosecuting attorney) and clarifying the cancellation process for deceased voters to ensure registrations are formally removed from the list.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding voter registration challenges was expanded to allow any registered voter within the same county to initiate a challenge, rather than restricting it to the county prosecuting attorney.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the ability to challenge a voter's registration to include any registered voter from the same county, in addition to the county prosecuting attorney.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that a voter's registration for a deceased person must be formally canceled from the official state voter registration list upon receipt and confirmation of a signed statement.

TECHNICAL

Added certification text confirming the bill was passed by the House and Senate during the 2026 Regular Session.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

32–19

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 3, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 19 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 25, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 58; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 2.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (32-19)

senate

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

SGTE - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 8:30 AM.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor