wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > SB 6035 > Original Bill

SB 6035 - Voting services

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Section 1

  1. To the extent practicable, each county auditor shall schedule the following meetings with each Indian tribe located in whole or in part within the county:

    1. Not later than August 1st of each odd-numbered year, a meeting to discuss the details for the next regularly scheduled election cycle. Such a meeting may address, without limitation:

      1. The establishment and operation of voting centers or ballot drop boxes within an Indian reservation and the size requirements for any such voting centers or ballot drop boxes;

      2. The dates and times of the upcoming elections for which voting centers or ballot drop boxes may be established;

      3. The deadlines relating to the next regularly scheduled election cycle for the Indian tribe to submit a request for the establishment of voting centers or ballot drop boxes;

      4. Responsibilities for the recruitment of election officers; and

    2. Any other information relating to the establishment and operation of voting centers and ballot drop boxes;

    3. Not later than September 1st of each odd-numbered year, a meeting to confirm any details relating to the establishment and operation of voting centers or ballot drop boxes. Such a meeting may address, without limitation:

      1. Whether the Indian tribe will request or has requested to establish any voting centers or ballot drop boxes within an Indian reservation and the size requirements for any such voting centers and ballot drop boxes;

      2. The days and hours of any voting center or ballot drop box established within an Indian reservation;

      3. Election officers for any voting center or ballot drop box established within an Indian reservation; and

      4. The deadlines relating to the next regularly scheduled election cycle for the Indian tribe to submit a request for the establishment of voting centers or ballot drop boxes; and

    4. A meeting on an ongoing basis during the year of an election if an Indian tribe elects to establish any voting centers or ballot drop boxes within an Indian reservation.

  2. If a county auditor:

    1. Is unable to make contact with an Indian tribe to carry out the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, the county auditor shall contact the secretary of state to facilitate contact; or

    2. Has not contacted an Indian tribe, a representative of the Indian tribe may contact the secretary of state to facilitate contact.

  3. The tribal liaison designated by the secretary of state may assist the county auditor or an Indian tribe to facilitate any contact required pursuant to this section.

Section 2

Each biennium, the secretary of state must meet with Indian tribes of the state to provide a forum for discussing and addressing barriers to voting, including but not limited to:

  1. Education and outreach tools for tribal voters;

  2. The use of tribal identification card data for online voter registration;

  3. Assistance with tribal-led voter registration drives;

  4. Establishment of ballot mailing sites on tribal land for voters with nontraditional mailing addresses;

  5. Installation of ballot drop boxes on or near tribal lands;

  6. Providing students with information about voting and opportunities to register or preregister to vote;

  7. Personalized voter registration links, emails with election date reminders, and meetings or presentations on various elections topics; and

  8. Any other policy issues or tribal concerns.

Section 3

  1. The secretary of state may employ an electronic ballot portal to be available for the following registered voters:

    1. Service voters as defined in RCW 29A.04.163;

    2. Overseas voters as defined in RCW 29A.04.109;

    3. Disabled voters as defined in RCW 29A.04.037; and

    4. Any elector who is a member of an Indian tribe and resides on an Indian reservation.

  2. Only the voters described in subsection (1) of this section shall be permitted to use an approved portal to return voted ballots.

  3. Prior to use in conducting any primary or election for voters described in subsection (1) of this section in returning voted ballots, the secretary of state must approve any electronic ballot portal used in the conduct of elections.

    1. The secretary of state shall make reasonable rules to develop and test electronic methods of ballot return for voters described in subsection (1) of this section that are secure against electronic monitoring and incursion or interference, provide the maximum level of voter secrecy and privacy available, and ensure that only a single vote is cast by any voter.

    2. The secretary of state shall make reasonable rules governing the use of any approved portal that include times of availability, storage of ballots, and establishing the circumstance in which a voter described in subsection (1) of this section may use the portal to return a voted ballot.

    3. The secretary of state shall make reasonable rules related to the standards and procedures for the examination and testing of any portal to be used by voters described in subsection (1) of this section.

    4. Each county election office using an approved portal for the return of voted ballots must keep a record of every attempt at ballot return, successful and unsuccessful, and prepare a report at the conclusion of each voting period listing the number of ballots returned using the portal and confirming that only voters described in subsection (1) of this section used the portal. The report must be submitted to the secretary of state using the deadlines contained in RCW 29A.60.190.

    5. The secretary of state shall prepare a statewide report annually aggregating the information provided by each county.

Section 4

  1. The secretary of state may rely on the results of independent design, engineering, and performance evaluations for the purposes of this act and the source and scope of these independent evaluations are specified by rule.

  2. The secretary of state may contract with experts to assist in examining an electronic ballot portal.

  3. The secretary of state may consult with experts to assist in drafting reasonable rules, including:

    1. County auditors;

    2. Representatives from the University of Washington Evans school of public policy and governance; and

    3. Representatives with expertise in electronic voting methods.

  4. This section expires January 1, 2034.

Section 5

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

"Indian tribe" means any federally recognized Indian tribe whose traditional lands and territories included parts of Washington.

Section 6

The provisions of this chapter must be implemented by January 1, 2029.

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