skip navigation
MRSC logo

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC
About Our Blog Our Authors

MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Elections and Voting

New Elections Laws Passed in 2025

August 18, 2025  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Elections and Voting

Several election-related laws were passed in 2025, all of which were designed to improve the security of the election system and the reliability of voter data across the state. 

Read more

Election Season Tips and Reminders

March 31, 2025  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  Elections and Voting

During any election season, there are a variety of common areas that can trip up candidates, elected officials, and local government agencies and their staff — so let's review some potential problems before they happen.

Read more

A group of elected officials assume their seats at the dais

Managing Unexpected Post-Elections Issues

October 21, 2024  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  Elections and Voting

From ties to contested results, unusual and unexpected situations can arise during the election process. Fortunately, state law offers solutions for such situations.

Read more

A bicyclist rides pass a variety of election related yard signs

Regulating Signs During Election Season

September 9, 2024  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Sign Control ,  Elections and Voting

MRSC gets many questions regarding the regulation of political signage, before and after an election, but jurisdictions must be careful in drafting and enforcing regulations so as to not improperly infringe on a person’s right to free expression.

Read more

A person putting a ballot into a ballot box

Managing Election-Related Issues

August 14, 2024  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  Elections and Voting

Challenges can arise for a local government during an election season, including those involving candidates, keeping election workers safe, keeping ballot boxes accessible and secure, and regulating temporary signage. 

Read more

Election ballot, pin, and button

New Elections Laws Passed in 2024

May 28, 2024  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Elections and Voting

In 2024 the legislature passed new bills related to elections integrity, including some that address election worker safety, improve the ballot review and voter verification process, and ease the ability for a voter to move their official address from one county to another.

Read more

New Elections Laws Passed in 2023

July 17, 2023  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Elections and Voting

The state legislature adopted several new election laws this year regarding the candidate filing period, voter registration, records of future voters under the age of 18, and the Washington Voting Rights Act.

Read more

Elections Integrity and Security: Part 2

October 3, 2022  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Elections and Voting

In the second part of our series on election security measures, we look at how elections offices verify and tabulate votes to ensure a complete result, and under what conditions and how a recount happens.

Read more

A voter putting their ballot into a mailbox

Elections Integrity and Security: Part 1

September 26, 2022  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Elections and Voting

Free, fair, and accurate elections are a hallmark of our democratic system. Washington State has enacted a number of measures to protect each person’s right to vote and to ensure that elections statewide are safe and secure.

Read more

Redistricting and the 2020 Census

August 30, 2021  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Tax and Population Data ,  Elections and Voting

Local governments using a district-based voting system must begin the process of redistricting in response to the 2020 Census, although a delay in distribution of this data also means new redistricting deadlines.

Read more

2021: New Election Laws

July 8, 2021  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Elections and Voting

This blog summarizes five new laws relating to elections from the 2021 legislative session.

Read more

Voting Rights and the Election

October 26, 2020  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Elections and Voting

This blog discusses a number of elements of Washington State elections that help keep them secure and accessible for everyone. 

Read more

Election Season Rules – Does COVID-19 Change the Game?

August 10, 2020  by  Steve Gross
Category:  COVID-19 ,  Elections and Voting

Can an employee post a political sign in their home office? Should elected officials take part in PSA's? This blog explores how standard rules governing what government resources can and cannot be used for during campaign season, and how these rules apply during the pandemic. 

Read more

Elections – What’s New in 2020

June 18, 2020  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Elections and Voting

This blog looks at election-related legislation passed during the Washington State Legislature's 2020 Regular Session. 

Read more

Washington Women Led the Way: National Women’s Suffrage Centennial 2020

November 19, 2018  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Inclusive Communities ,  Elections and Voting

The Governor’s Women’s Commission has partnered with the Washington State Historical Society and the Women’s History Consortium to create a campaign commemorating the historical achievement of granting women the right to vote in Washington State in 1910.

Read more

WVRA: To Change or Not to Change?

May 25, 2018  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Elections and Voting

The new Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA) gives most municipalities the authority to change their election systems to remedy potential issues relating to equal voting opportunities for members of certain protected classes. This blog answers some common questions about the WRVA.

Read more

The Future of Voting in Washington

March 29, 2018  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Elections and Voting

With the Voting Rights Act of 2018, ​Washington State took a step towards ensuring the right to vote for all Washingtonians, especially those in certain protected classes. Legal Consultant Linda Gallagher provides an overview. 

Read more