OLYMPIA – The Washington Supreme Court issued its ruling today in Vet Voice v. Hobbs, unanimously affirming the constitutionality of the state’s signature verification process for vote-by-mail ballots. In a majority opinion, the court ruled in favor of the defendants, upholding the longstanding process that ensures the integrity of Washington’s vote-by-mail system.
The plaintiffs challenged the signature matching procedure outlined in RCW 29A.40.110(3), arguing that election officials should only use it to confirm whether a ballot return envelope has been signed. However, the court’s decision reinforces the validity of the procedure as a critical safeguard for election security while balancing accessibility for voters.Â
“We are pleased with the court’s ruling, which affirms our commitment to secure, accessible, and transparent elections in Washington,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “Signature verification has been a fundamental part of our state’s vote-by-mail system for decades, helping to protect against fraud while ensuring that every eligible voter’s ballot is counted.”
The decision allows counties to continue using signature matching for verifying ballots, while also maintaining processes for voters to correct signature issues to ensure their ballots are counted.
For more information on Washington’s signature verification process and voter resources, visit sos.wa.gov/elections.
About Secretary of State’s Office
Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. The Secretary of State also oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.
Source: Washington Secretary of State’s Office
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
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