These 3 Washington State Communities Now Need State Approval for Election Rule Changes
The first state preclearance list covers jurisdictions with histories of diluting Latino voting power, and officials say the process will review election-rule changes.
- Under House Bill 1710, Yakima, Pasco, and Yakima County must obtain 'preclearance' from Attorney General Nick Brown before implementing voting policy changes, requiring a 'certificate of no objection' for election-related updates.
- State officials selected these jurisdictions due to historical court orders showing at-large voting systems weakened opportunities for Latino voters. Lawmakers added this mandate this year to address gaps left by weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections.
- Covered policies include redrawing district boundaries, restricting interpreter services, or limiting non-English voting materials. The Attorney General office must confirm proposed policies will "not diminish the ability" of protected classes to participate in the political process.
- Yakima Mayor Matt Brown criticized the oversight as "another example of Olympia creating costly, unnecessary mandates," adding that the law raises "serious constitutional concerns" following a Supreme Court decision on race in districting.
- Attorney General office spokesperson Mike Faulk stated the law advances obligations to preserve voting rights. If denied, jurisdictions can appeal in court, while aggrieved parties may sue to compel compliance with preclearance requirements.
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11 Articles
'Why make it harder to vote?': Gee, Ursula weigh in after 3 WA jurisdictions placed under state voting oversight
Three local governments in Washington will now have to get permission from the state before changing certain election rules, as Yakima County, the City of Yakima, and Pasco are under a new pre-clearance requirement. The move is in response to past findings that their voting systems diluted the power of Latino voters, and now any changes must be approved by Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown. Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin, co-hosts of “Th…
These 3 WA communities now need state approval for election rule changes
For the first time, three Washington state local governments will need the state’s OK before implementing new voting policies due to their histories of diluting the power of Latino voters.
These 3 Washington state communities now need state approval for election rule changes
For the first time, three Washington state local governments will need the state’s OK before implementing new voting policies due to their histories of diluting the power of Latino voters. Yakima County and the cities of Yakima and Pasco won’t be able to change election and voting rules without approval from state Attorney General Nick Brown through a process called “preclearance” under the state Voting Rights Act. Democratic state lawmakers ad…
These 3 WA communities now need state approval for election rule changes • Washington State Standard
Ballot envelopes sit in the Thurston County elections center. (Photo by Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)For the first time, three Washington state local governments will need the state’s OK before implementing new voting policies due to their histories of diluting the power of Latino voters. Yakima County and the cities of Yakima and Pasco won’t be able to change election and voting rules without approval from state Attorney General N…
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