OLYMPIA, Wash. – UPDATE: 7:30 p.m.
A bill to bolster election security in Washington, proposed by Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, received support from the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee, April 4.
The bill, SB 5014, now moves closer to a full House vote. It seeks to enhance the Secretary of State’s oversight of election equipment and platforms. It would also mandate the disclosure of security breaches and introduce cybersecurity requirements for county election officials.
“This legislation is intended to reinforce public trust and ensure Washington’s elections remain secure, transparent, and reliable. By implementing robust cybersecurity measures and oversight, we are safeguarding our democratic process for future generations.” Sen. Boehnke said in a release.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE: February 26
A bill sponsored by Kennewick Senator Matt Boehnke to enhance election security has cleared another hurdle in the Washington State Legislature.
Senate Bill 5014 seeks to bolster the security of Washington’s electoral process by expanding the Secretary of State’s oversight of election equipment and platforms.
If passed, the bill would also mandate the disclosure of security breaches and set cybersecurity requirements for county election officers.
“These changes are crucial to ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of our electoral process,” Boehnke said in today’s release.
Washington already has several election-security measures in place, including voter-verification laws and post-election audits. Boehnke described the bill as a bipartisan effort to provide counties with more resources and state-level oversight to combat threats and ensure election accuracy.
“This is a good bipartisan bill that shows a strong collaborative effort,” Boehnke stated.
The legislation passed with a 49-0 vote in the Senate and now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
