WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Statement on Secretary of State decision to not release private data to “Election Integrity” Commission

The right to vote is paramount for every American and any attempt to impede that right is a direct violation of the constitutional right of citizens to choose the leaders of their government. I am encouraged that Washington Secretary of State Wyman will not release all of the information requested by the “Election Integrity” Commission and encourage her to continue to put Washington voters above political gamesmanship. Private information on every Washington voter must be kept private.

You can read more about what will and will not be disclosed from the Secretary of State’s office below.

Washington State’s Public Disclosure Act (RCW 42.56) has been in place since 1971, and voter and registration data that is public is specifically defined in RCW 29A.08.710 [2].

This law requires certain information from the state’s voter database to be made publicly available upon request:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Legislative district
  • Gender
  • Date of birth
  • Dates when registered to vote
  • Voter registration number
  • Voter history (voter participation only)

 

What is NOT public record – and is therefore private and will not be released – includes:

  • Driver’s license number
  • Social Security number (even the last four digits)
  • Phone number
  • E-mail address
  • Where and how a person registered to vote
  • Language preference
  • HOW a person voted in a particular election
  • Party affiliation (which the state does not collect)