Presidential primary privacy

AN ACT Relating to maintaining the privacy of party selections 1
during presidential primaries; adding a new section to chapter 29A.56 2
RCW; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that every 5
presidential primary election, voters contact legislators, auditors, 6
and other government officials with concerns about the visibility of 7
their party preference selections on the outside of presidential 8
primary ballot envelopes. Often, the concern is that just by seeing 9
the party preference, an outside observer would know that voter's 10
presidential candidate vote. The legislature further finds that in 11
order to protect the secrecy of the ballot, a party preference 12
selection must be kept as secret as any other part of the ballot.13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 29A.56 14
RCW to read as follows: 15
Where a voter is required to make a political party declaration 16
on a ballot or ballot envelope: 17
(1) That declaration must be placed such that the ballot envelope 18
must be opened in order for anyone to see the declaration; and19
S-0061.1
SENATE BILL 5050
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators J. Wilson, Christian, McCune, Schoesler, Holy, Dozier,
Short, Torres, Chapman, and Fortunato
Prefiled 12/13/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.
p. 1 SB 5050
(2) The ballot envelope must include a prominently placed 1
reminder to the voter that a political party declaration is required 2
for the ballot to be counted. 3
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p. 2 SB 5050