SCOTUS upholds state laws allowing mail-in ballots received after Election Day to be counted
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Sates Supreme Court on Monday ruled 5-4 that federal election-day statutes do not require mail-in ballots for federal elections to be received by Election Day, upholding a Mississippi law that counts absentee ballots postmarked on or before Election Day if received by election officials up to five business days later. […]
Executive Order on citizenship lists and mail-in voting blocked, day after USPS said ballots won’t be delivered until states provide lists
BOSTON, Mass. — U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, a Barack Obama appointee, ruled Thursday, June 25, that key provisions of President Donald J Trump’s March 31, 2026, executive order on election integrity exceed presidential authority and violated the U.S. Constitution related to federal elections. The Trump administration and Department of Justice may appeal the decision […]
Mail-in ballots at risk: Postmaster says USPS will not deliver ballots in states refusing to turn over voter lists
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Postmaster General David Steiner testified Wednesday that the U.S. Postal Service would not deliver mail-in ballots under a proposed regulation unless states first provide their voter lists to the federal government. According to the Washington Secretary of State official Ballot Drop Box Usage reports, roughly a third of returned ballots are mailed […]
WA delegation returns from Japan Trade Mission with focus on investment and innovation
JAPAN — Washington State Secretary of State Steve Hobbs says a recent trade mission to Japan helped strengthen the state’s longstanding economic relationship with the country while opening new opportunities in industries ranging from aerospace and technology to gaming, agriculture and professional sports. The trade relationship between Washington and Japan is worth $11 billion and […]
WA Redistricting Challenge Heads to US Supreme Court Over Alleged Racial Gerrymander
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—The state of Washington on Tuesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to accept a challenge against the state’s political maps, then remand it to a lower court to determine if the way the lines were drawn complies with a recent ruling in a Louisiana case. “The lower courts should be given the first […]
WA Secretary of State Responds to USPS Proposed Rule on Ballot Mail
OLYMPIA — On Friday, May 29, the U.S. Postal Service released a proposed rule for handling ballot mail in federal elections in alignment with Executive Order 14399 regarding elections. “This is an unnecessary rule and does nothing to provide security in our elections. We’ll continue to evaluate and provide feedback to the USPS,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “Once […]
Let’s Go Washington launches signature drive to repeal new state income tax
REDMOND—Let’s Go Washington launched a signature-gathering campaign Tuesday, May 12, for initiative IP26-645 to repeal Washington’s newly enacted 9.9% tax on household income above $1 million and place the issue before voters on the November 2026 ballot. The political committee, led by founder Brian Heywood, announced the drive at a press conference as the conservative […]
WA Supreme Court rules “Necessity Clause” shields new income tax law from voter referendum
OLYMPIA [JERRY CORNFIELD & JAKE GOLDSTEN-STREET]—Washington’s Supreme Court on Monday, May 4, denied Let’s Go Washington’s, a conservative political committee, request to pursue an attempt to repeal the state’s new income tax law with a referendum this fall. The opposition can still move forward with an initiative to overturn the tax on millionaire earners. But […]
Dumped ballots raise fresh doubts about vote-by-mail security and chain of custody
BELLEVUE—Hundreds of undelivered, mostly blank ballots from multiple election cycles were discovered in February 2026 next to a dumpster behind a Renton strip mall, later turned over to Washington State Republican Party Chairman Jim Walsh and are now under federal investigation by U.S. Postal Inspectors, with the FBI expressing interest. The discovery of almost 500 […]
April special election ballots mailed in 16 participating counties
OLYMPIA — Washington counties participating in the April 28 special election have officially mailed ballots to eligible voters. The 18-day voting period began on Friday, April 10. Only 16 counties are participating in the special election, with 8% of Washington voters eligible to cast a ballot. This special election includes 17 measures and 17 districts, with a majority of races covering school districts. Voters participating in the […]
