2021-2023 Biennium Review: Elections

Aggressive partisan-focused election reforms were a common theme of the 2022 legislative session. However, most of the elections-related legislation that ultimately made its way to Governor Inslee\’s desk was largely bipartisan, with one notable exception (HB 1876). Proposed partisan-focused reforms included elimination of odd-year elections including ballot measures, adding misleading public investment impact disclosures to the ballot title of certain ballot measures, and creating significant additions to the Washington Voting Rights Act. These styles of reform sought partisan advantage rather than directly address existing issues in our electoral processes. Despite most of these reforms not passing, they are worth keeping an eye on heading into future sessions as these reforms become more mainstream within the progressive bubble.