WA People
BILL · 2021–22 SESSION · LATEST VERSION E2SSB 5597

SB 5597: Voting rights

Concerning the Washington voting rights act.

Summary

  • Requires certain jurisdictions to obtain preclearance that certain proposed changes to their election systems will not violate the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA) before those changes may take effect.
  • Provides that persons or organizations who file a notice of intent to challenge an election system under the WVRA may recover costs incurred in conducting the necessary research, if the notice causes the political subdivision to adopt a remedy that is approved by the court.
  • Establishes a data repository at the University of Washington to assist the state and political subdivisions with evaluating their compliance with election laws, implementing best practices, and investigating potential infringements of the right to vote.
  • Makes minor language changes to other aspects of the WVRA.

From the Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill Report (E2SSB 5597), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
  1. IntroducedJan 10, 2022
  2. Out of committeeFeb 7, 2022
  3. Passed SenateFeb 10, 2022
  4. Passed Housestopped here
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Rebecca Saldaña (D-37)
Introduced
January 10, 2022 in the Senate
Last action
March 10, 2022
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5597, SSB 5597, E2SSB 5597

AN ACT Relating to the Washington voting rights act;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Rebecca Saldaña (D-37)

14 co-sponsors (14 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Senator D-22Steve Conway D-29Senator D-47Manka Dhingra D-45Senator D-46Bob Hasegawa D-11Patty Kuderer D-48Marko Liias D-21Liz Lovelett D-40Joe Nguyen D-34T'wina Nobles D-28Jamie Pedersen D-43Derek Stanford D-1Claire Wilson D-30

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 10, 2022
Version voted on: E2SSB 5597
29 Yea 20 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29000
Republican02000
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (E2SSB 5597)
  2. Referred to Appropriations. (E2SSB 5597)
  3. SGOV - Executive action taken by committee. (E2SSB 5597)
  4. Minority; do not pass. (E2SSB 5597)
  5. SGOV - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (E2SSB 5597)
  6. First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations. (E2SSB 5597)
  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 29; nays, 20; absent, 0; excused, 0. (E2SSB 5597)
  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (E2SSB 5597)
  9. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (E2SSB 5597)
  10. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (E2SSB 5597)
  11. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (SSB 5597)
  12. 2nd substitute bill substituted.
  13. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (E2SSB 5597)
  14. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SSB 5597)
  15. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  16. Minority; do not pass. (E2SSB 5597)
  17. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (E2SSB 5597)
  18. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (E2SSB 5597)
  19. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SSB 5597)
  20. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 5597)
  21. Minority; do not pass. (SSB 5597)
  22. Minority; do not pass.
  23. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  24. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  25. Referred to Ways & Means. (SSB 5597)
  26. Referred to Ways & Means.
  27. SGE - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 5597)
  28. And refer to Ways & Means. (SSB 5597)
  29. Minority; do not pass. (SSB 5597)
  30. Minority; do not pass.
  31. And refer to Ways & Means.
  32. SGE - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  33. First reading, referred to State Government & Elections.
  34. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5597 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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