HJM 4007
In CommitteeHouse
Motor voter law
Requesting that the attorney general of the United States audit and review the state department of licensing's implementation of the "motor voter law."
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
This joint memorial asks the U.S. Attorney General to review how Washington’s Department of Licensing implements automatic voter registration under the Motor Voter Law, to check for possible violations of federal or state voting rights protections. It does not create or change state law, but seeks federal oversight and potential corrective action.
- Calls on the U.S. Attorney General to audit and review the Department of Licensing’s implementation of the Motor Voter Law (RCW 29A.08.355).
- Asks the U.S. Attorney General to determine whether the law’s implementation may violate the U.S. Constitution, the federal Voting Rights Act, the Washington Constitution, or the Washington Voting Rights Act.
- Requests that the Attorney General report findings and recommend remedies to the Washington State Legislature.
- Requests that the Attorney General take immediate corrective action if violations are found, without further consultation.
- Directs that copies of the memorial be sent to the U.S. President, Attorney General, Congress, and Washington’s federal delegation.
Who is affected
- Washington voters — The bill calls for a federal audit of how the Department of Licensing implements automatic voter registration, which could affect how many people are registered to vote and whether registrations are accurate.
- Washington Department of Licensing — As the state agency responsible for implementing the Motor Voter Law, the Department of Licensing would be subject to a federal audit if the request is honored.
- U.S. Department of Justice — The bill asks the U.S. Attorney General to review whether state practices violate federal or state voting rights laws — potentially influencing future federal enforcement or guidance.
- Washington State Legislature — As the body requesting the federal review, the Washington State Legislature would receive findings and recommendations, which could inform future state legislation or policy.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (2)
The bill seeks federal oversight to ensure compliance with federal and state voting rights laws, potentially preventing systemic errors or intentional noncompliance that could disenfranchise eligible voters or dilute their ballots—especially for vulnerable populations who rely on DOL for ID and registration.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Section 2 of resolutionA federal audit could identify and correct flaws in voter registration data integrity—such as duplicate entries, ineligible registrations, or outdated addresses—which strengthens election administration reliability and reduces risk of fraud claims undermining legitimacy.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Section 2 of resolution
Potential Concerns (3)
The bill frames automatic voter registration as a risk to voting rights integrity, potentially stigmatizing state election administration and undermining public confidence in election systems—even though no evidence of widespread fraud or illegal registration is presented. This could fuel distrust in democratic institutions and discourage participation.
Public SafetyRef: Preamble, WHEREAS clauses; Section 2 of resolutionThe bill places additional administrative and reputational burden on the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL), requiring it to prepare for and respond to a federal audit—diverting staff time and resources—even if no violations are found. This is a non-federal, state-level cost with no reimbursement.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 2 of resolutionThe resolution implies that automatic voter registration inherently risks diluting the votes of legal residents, which may disproportionately affect marginalized groups (e.g., young people, low-income, racial minorities) who are more likely to interact with DOL for driver’s licenses and thus be auto-registered. This framing may suppress outreach and registration efforts targeting historically underrepresented voters.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Section 2 of resolution
Who Is Most Affected
Voters—especially young, low-income, and minority populations who rely on DOL services—may benefit from stronger safeguards against registration errors or dilution, but could also be harmed if the bill’s framing fuels voter suppression narratives or discourages registration outreach.
DOL would face added administrative and legal scrutiny, but no direct funding or operational changes are mandated. The burden is modest but non-zero, and reputational risk could affect public trust in the agency.
DOJ would gain new investigative responsibility, but the memorial is non-binding—so actual enforcement or corrective action remains discretionary. This could set precedent for future intergovernmental oversight requests.
The legislature gains a tool to pressure federal oversight, but the resolution itself has no legal force. Its success depends on federal cooperation, which is uncertain—especially given partisan dynamics at the DOJ.
Advocacy groups focused on voting rights may see this as a legitimate check on implementation, but many civil rights organizations oppose the bill’s premise, viewing it as a pretext for voter suppression given the lack of evidence of widespread illegal registration.