WSR 26-01-154

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

SECRETARY OF STATE

[Filed December 19, 2025, 10:04 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Elections.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 29A.04.611.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SB 5843 (2024) added a provision to RCW 29A.60.200 stating that the secretary of state may examine a county's election materials and certify the county-level results if the county canvassing board refuses to certify the election without cause. The purpose of this rule making is to create administrative code detailing the procedure in such a situation.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Not applicable.

Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Dave Piersma, P.O. Box 40229, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-902-4172, fax 360-664-4619, email dave.piersma@sos.wa.gov, website sos.wa.gov/elections; or Victoria Donahue, P.O. Box 40229, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-5788, fax 360-664-4619, email victoria.donahue@sos.wa.gov, website sos.wa.gov/elections.

December 19, 2025

Amanda Doyle

Chief of Staff