| Washington Voting Rights Act | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Washington State Legislature | |
| Full name | Washington Voting Rights Act of 2018 |
| Acronym | WVRA |
| House voted | February 27, 2018 (52–46) |
| Senate voted | March 5, 2018 (29–20) |
| Signed into law | March 19, 2018 |
| Governor | Jay Inslee |
| Bill | SB 6002 |
| Associated bills | HB 1048 |
Status: Current legislation (amended) | |
The Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA) is a state law in the U.S. state of Washington that aims to protect voting rights and prevent discrimination. It is the second state level voting rights act to be enacted after the California Voting Rights Act, which inspired the WVRA, was approved in 2002. It was enacted in the aftermath of a lawsuit against the city of Yakima under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. Among its provisions, the act allows individuals to issue a request for voting by districts as opposed to at-large elections, something that was a key issue in the lawsuit against Yakima. It also requires public notification of proposed changes to elections.[1] In 2023 the Washington State Legislature passed HB 1048 to strengthen the WVRA.[2] In 2023 the Washington Supreme Court upheld the WVRA in a unanimous (9–0) opinion.[3][4]
- ^ Fowler, Lilly (March 6, 2018). "WA to protect against voting discrimination with new law". Crosscut.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Hoang, Mai (May 4, 2023). "WA passed a 'Voting Rights Act 2.0' bill. Here's what's in it". Crosscut.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Hoang, Mai (June 15, 2023). "State Supreme Court upholds Washington Voting Rights Act". Crosscut.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ "Washington State Courts - Opinions: Portugal v. Franklin County". www.courts.wa.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2024.