SB 5069
In CommitteeSenate
Voters' pamphlets
Requiring the secretary of state to print and distribute a voters' pamphlet for the primary in each even-numbered year and for the general election every year.
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 bill expands Washington’s existing voters’ pamphlet system by requiring the Secretary of State to produce and mail a state pamphlet before every primary (in even-numbered years) and general election, and requiring counties to produce local pamphlets for races and measures not covered by the state version. It also improves accessibility for people with disabilities and expands distribution to more public locations.
- Requires the Secretary of State to print and distribute a state voters' pamphlet before every primary election in even-numbered years and before every general election.
- Mandates that the state pamphlet be sent to every household in Washington, plus public libraries and other designated locations.
- Requires the Secretary of State to provide Braille, audio, or recorded versions of the pamphlet upon request, free of charge.
- Requires county auditors to produce and distribute a local voters' pamphlet before each primary and general election (and special elections), covering only local races and measures not included in the state pamphlet.
- Allows electronic distribution of the state pamphlet and permits sharing with news media at reproduction/transmission cost.
Who is affected
- Registered voters — All registered voters in Washington will receive a printed voters' pamphlet at home before each primary (even-numbered years) and general election (every year), plus access to alternative formats like Braille or audio upon request.
- County auditors — County auditors must produce and distribute local voters' pamphlets for county-specific races and measures, following state formatting rules where applicable.
- Public libraries and community access points — Public libraries and other designated locations will receive copies of the state voters' pamphlet to support voter education and access.
- News media and online information providers — News media and digital platforms may receive electronic copies of the pamphlet at cost to reproduce or transmit, helping spread voter information.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Expanding the voters’ pamphlet to include primaries in even-numbered years significantly improves voter access to candidate and measure information at a critical time—when turnout is lowest and races are often decided by small margins—thereby strengthening democratic participation and reducing information asymmetry.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1Mandating Braille, audio, and recorded versions upon request (free of charge) and expanding distribution to public libraries and community access points directly enhances civic inclusion for people with disabilities, low-income residents, and rural communities with limited internet access.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1More frequent, accessible, and widely distributed voter information supports civic education, especially for first-time voters, new citizens, and non-English speakers (if accompanied by translation support), fostering long-term engagement and informed decision-making.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1Local pamphlets ensure that county-specific races and ballot measures receive equal attention and context, preventing voter confusion in down-ballot contests where information gaps are most severe—especially in diverse or rapidly growing counties.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2Electronic distribution and sharing with news media at cost may improve digital equity and extend reach to younger, tech-savvy voters, though this benefit is limited without explicit funding for digital outreach or multilingual support.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill imposes new mandatory costs on all 39 counties to produce and distribute local voters’ pamphlets for every primary, general, and special election. County auditors must allocate staff time, printing, and distribution resources for these materials, which may strain budgets—especially in smaller or rural counties with limited resources.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1, Sec. 2The state will incur additional printing, mailing, and accessibility production costs for the expanded state pamphlet schedule (now twice per even-numbered year instead of once), which could total several million dollars annually depending on ballot complexity and household density. These are unfunded mandates on state and local governments.
FinancialRef: Sec. 1Increased frequency of mailings may contribute to voter fatigue or skepticism about unsolicited mail, potentially reducing engagement with the pamphlet content or eroding trust in election administration if perceived as excessive or partisan.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1The requirement to mail pamphlets to *every* household (not just registered voters) increases volume and cost, as counties and the state must account for non-voter addresses (e.g., vacant homes, PO boxes, military addresses), complicating logistics and increasing waste.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1The bill may benefit commercial printers and mail services through increased government contracts, but the scale is unlikely to create significant new jobs—most printing is outsourced or automated, and the volume increase is modest relative to existing election mail volume.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1
Who Is Most Affected
Registered voters—especially those in rural areas, seniors, and people with disabilities—gain more consistent, accessible, and timely information about candidates and measures, improving voting confidence and reducing reliance on partisan or unverified sources.
County auditors face new unfunded mandates requiring additional staff time, printing, and distribution logistics, especially in smaller counties where election offices are already stretched thin. This could divert resources from other core functions like property records or elections administration.
Public libraries and community centers gain a new civic resource to support voter education, but may face increased demand for assistance interpreting the pamphlet or accessing alternate formats, requiring staff training and outreach.
News media and digital platforms benefit from easier access to standardized, official content they can republish, potentially reducing misinformation—but the cost-based sharing clause may limit use by small independent outlets without printing infrastructure.