A new law will make it easier for Washington state residents to register to vote online if they do not have a driver’s license.
The law stems from a bill passed in 2023 that took effect on July 15, just in time for this year’s primary elections last week. Under the new law, people can register to vote with the last four digits of their Social Security number and an uploaded photo of their signature.
Abigail Leong, communications manager for the Washington Voting Justice Coalition, said this will give people without a voter license better access to the ballot.
“The people least likely to have a Washington driver’s license,” she said, “are our young voters, black and Latino voters, low-income people, new citizens, maybe even people who have recently moved and have not yet converted their license.”
Leong said online voter registration is becoming increasingly popular, and this change helps the state prepare for it. The deadline to register online to vote in the general election is Oct. 28. If Washington residents miss that deadline, they can register in person any time before 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
Jazmine Smith, political manager for The Washington Bus, a youth voting organization, said it’s exciting to see Washington state continue to ensure more people can vote.
“We are adopting the technology we need,” she said, “and making voter access as seamless, easy and accessible as possible.”
Leong said that accessible online voter registration also has practical benefits. She cited a case where a person with disabilities had recently moved and their mail was not delivered at their new home.
“They had to register in person, in a place that was inaccessible to people with mobility aids,” she said, “and they did it during the COVID pandemic and with compromised immune systems, so it was particularly difficult for them. So it’s really helpful for people like that who may not have any other way to register to vote without a lot of hassle.”
— By Eric Tegethoff, Public News Service (WA)
