HB 1585
In CommitteeHouse
Voter citizenship verif.
Requiring verification of citizenship for voter registration.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
HB 1585 requires Washington counties to verify that registered voters have provided proof of U.S. citizenship—typically through an enhanced driver’s license or ID—by July 1, 2025. Voters who fail to do so may be sent notices and ultimately have their registration canceled if they do not respond before the 2025 general election. The bill also tightens citizenship verification for new and electronic voter registrations.
- By July 1, 2025, county auditors must check with the Department of Licensing to see if registered voters have an enhanced driver’s license or ID (which requires proof of U.S. citizenship).
- Voters without proof of citizenship will receive two notices—30 days and 14 days before the 2025 general election—and must appear in person at the auditor’s office with acceptable proof of citizenship to keep their registration active.
- If a voter does not provide proof of citizenship by 14 days before the 2025 general election, their registration will be canceled, and they will receive instructions on how to re-register.
- Acceptable proof of citizenship includes a valid U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, consular birth report, or a certified U.S. birth certificate with specific features (e.g., registrar’s seal, control number, signature).
- Birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued before July 1, 2010, and Washington wallet-sized birth registrations are not accepted as proof of citizenship.
- New and existing voter registration forms must include explicit affirmation of U.S. citizenship, and electronic applications must include digital signatures and citizenship documentation from state or federal sources.
Who is affected
- Registered voters without documented proof of citizenship — Registered voters in Washington who have not yet provided proof of citizenship (e.g., via an enhanced driver's license or other acceptable documents) may receive notices and risk having their registration canceled if they do not respond in time—especially ahead of the 2025 general election.
- New voter applicants at driver's license facilities — Must verify citizenship status through state-issued enhanced licenses or submit alternative documents to avoid registration cancellation; may need to visit county auditor offices in person.
- County auditors — Must update systems to collect and transmit citizenship-proof documentation and voter registration data to the Secretary of State, and ensure compliance with new verification procedures.
- Department of Licensing — Required to provide citizenship verification data (e.g., enhanced license issuance records) to the Secretary of State and assist in confirming voter eligibility.
- Secretary of State's office — Must ensure electronic registration systems align with new citizenship verification requirements and collect required documentation and signatures from applicants.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for concerns
Potential Benefits (3)
The bill strengthens the integrity of voter registration by requiring explicit citizenship affirmation and documentation, reducing the risk of noncitizen registration and enhancing public confidence in election results.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2(f), (g); Sec. 3(1); Sec. 4(1)(j), (k)Electronic registration requirements for digital signatures, citizenship verification, and cross-agency data sharing improve system accuracy and reduce duplicate or fraudulent registrations.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 3(1); Sec. 4(1)(m); Sec. 5Standardizing acceptable proof of citizenship (e.g., certified birth certificates with specific features, passports, naturalization certificates) creates a uniform, verifiable standard that reduces ambiguity in eligibility determinations.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(3)(b)(i)-(iv); Sec. 4(b)(i)(D)
Potential Concerns (5)
Cancelling voter registration for individuals who fail to provide citizenship documentation by the 2025 election deadline—especially those who are elderly, disabled, low-income, or lack transportation—disenfranchises eligible citizens who may not have easy access to required documents or in-person services.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(a)(iii)The two-notice system and in-person reinstatement requirement disproportionately burden vulnerable populations—including non-English speakers, people with disabilities, and those without reliable transportation—who may miss deadlines or be unable to appear in person before the election.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(a)(i)-(ii); Sec. 4(b)(i)-(iii)Excluding certain birth certificates (e.g., pre-2010 Puerto Rican certificates and Washington wallet-sized registrations) arbitrarily disqualifies U.S. citizens who possess legally valid but nonconforming documentation, especially affecting residents of U.S. territories and long-time residents with older documents.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(b)(iv) & (c)-(d); Sec. 4(b)(i)(D) & (ii)-(iii)The bill imposes new administrative burdens on county auditors and the Department of Licensing—including outreach, verification, notice-sending, and in-person processing—without specifying funding, potentially diverting resources from other core election functions.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Fiscal Impact section; Sec. 1–4 (systemic changes)Cancelling registrations days before a major election may increase confusion, reduce voter confidence in the system, and potentially heighten tensions around election administration—especially if large numbers of eligible voters are disenfranchised.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(a)(iii); Sec. 4(b)(i)
Who Is Most Affected
Registered voters without enhanced driver’s licenses or easily accessible citizenship documents—especially low-income, elderly, disabled, or rural residents—face significant barriers to maintaining registration and may be disenfranchised if they cannot obtain required documents or travel to auditor offices in time.
While the bill aims to ensure citizenship verification, its narrow document requirements exclude many valid U.S. citizens—particularly those born in U.S. territories (e.g., Puerto Rico before 2010) or those with older birth certificates—disproportionately affecting communities of color and long-time residents.
County auditors must implement new verification workflows, send multiple notices, and manage in-person reinstatement—adding administrative costs and staffing demands without guaranteed state funding, straining already limited election resources.
The Department of Licensing must share citizenship verification data with the Secretary of State and may be asked to provide original documents—increasing operational burden and potential privacy concerns, though it aligns with existing data-sharing infrastructure.
The Secretary of State gains expanded authority over electronic registration systems and cross-agency data verification, but must invest in system updates and oversight to ensure compliance—net neutral or slightly positive if viewed as strengthening election administration capacity.