Voter registration database

AN ACT Relating to protecting the voter registration database; 1
amending RCW 42.56.425 and 29A.84.150; prescribing penalties; and 2
declaring an emergency. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 42.56.425 and 2023 c 404 s 4 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) The following information related to election security is 7
exempt from disclosure under this chapter: 8
(a) The continuity of operations plan for election operations and 9
any security audits, security risk assessments, or security test 10
results, relating to physical security or cybersecurity of election 11
operations or infrastructure. These records are exempt from 12
disclosure in their entirety; 13
(b) Those portions of records, manuals, or documentation 14
containing technical details and information regarding election 15
infrastructure, which include the systems, software, and networks 16
that support the election process, the public disclosure of which may 17
increase risk to the integrity of election operations or 18
infrastructure; 19
(c) Voter signatures on ballot return envelopes, ballot 20
declarations, and signature correction forms, including the original 21
Z-0527.2
SENATE BILL 5892
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Riccelli, Valdez, Bateman, Frame, Hasegawa, Liias,
Nobles, Pedersen, Slatter, and C. Wilson; by request of Secretary of
State
Prefiled 12/16/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.
p. 1 SB 5892
documents, copies, and electronic images; and a voter's phone number 1
and email address contained on ballot return envelopes, ballot 2
declarations, or signature correction forms. The secretary of state, 3
by rule, may authorize in-person inspection of unredacted ballot 4
return envelopes, ballot declarations, and signature correction forms 5
in accordance with RCW 29A.04.260; 6
(d) Records regarding the infrastructure of a private entity 7
submitted to elections officials are exempt from disclosure for a 8
period of 25 years after the creation of the record when accompanied 9
by an express statement that the record contains information about 10
the private entity's infrastructure and public disclosure may 11
increase risk to the integrity of election operations or 12
infrastructure; and 13
(e) Voted ballots, voted ballot images, copies of voted ballots, 14
photographs of voted ballots, facsimile images of voted ballots, or 15
cast vote records of voted ballots, starting at the time of ballot 16
return from the voter, during storage per RCW 29A.60.110, and through 17
destruction following any retention period or litigation.18
(2) The exemptions specified in subsection (1) of this section do 19
not include information or records pertaining to security breaches, 20
except as prohibited from disclosure under RCW 29A.12.200.21
(3) The exemptions specified in subsection (1) of this section do 22
not prohibit an audit authorized or required under Title 29A RCW from 23
being conducted. 24
(4) Requests for records from or any existing reports generated 25
by the statewide voter registration database established under RCW 26
29A.08.105 must be submitted to and fulfilled by the secretary of 27
state. If a county elections office receives a request for records 28
from or any existing reports generated by the statewide voter 29
registration database established under RCW 29A.08.105, the county 30
elections office ((is)) shall not ((required to)) produce any records 31
in response to the request, but shall, by the deadline set forth in 32
RCW 42.56.520, direct the requestor to submit their request to the 33
secretary of state. A knowing violation of this subsection is a 34
violation of RCW 29A.84.150.35
Sec. 2. RCW 29A.84.150 and 2004 c 267 s 138 are each amended to 36
read as follows: 37
(1) Any state or local election officer, or a designee, who has 38
access to any county or statewide voter registration database who 39
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knowingly uses , discloses, or alters information in the database 1
inconsistent with the performance of his or her duties is guilty of a 2
class C felony, punishable under RCW 9A.20.021. 3
(2) The Washington driver's license number, Washington 4
identification card number, social security number, and full 5
birthdate, shown on an affidavit of voter registration or included in 6
a voter registration file are confidential and shall not be disclosed 7
to any person except to state or local election officers and election 8
officials unless authorized by the office of the secretary of state. 9
Any state officer or election officer, or designee, who knowingly 10
violates this subsection is guilty of a class C felony punishable 11
under RCW 9A.20.021.12
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate 13
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 14
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 15
effect immediately.16
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