FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brionna Aho, Governor's Communications Director, Brionna.aho@gov.wa.gov, 360-628-3843

Governor signs bill prohibiting double voting

Senate Bill 6084 fixes an ambiguity in state law that prohibits voting more than once in an election

OLYMPIA — Today Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6084 to prohibit double voting by fixing an ambiguity in state law.

“Voting more than once in an election is an affront to everyone who participates in our democracy,” said Gov. Ferguson. “This bill makes it clear that double voting is illegal. Those who try it will be held accountable.”

SB 6084 was requested by the Secretary of State. Its prime sponsor is Sen. Adrian Cortes.

In 2022, a Lewis County man voted twice — once in Washington state and once in Oregon — in the same election. He was charged and found guilty of a felony for voting twice, but his conviction was overturned because the definition of an election in Washington’s law wasn’t clear.

The bill takes effect immediately. Voting more than once in an election is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

SB 6084 passed 47-1 in the Senate and 93-0 in the House.

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