WSR 26-04-092

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

SECRETARY OF STATE

[Filed January 30, 2026, 10:09 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Elections—Voter intent.

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: The purpose of this proposal is to clarify and refine voter intent determinations to standardize how certain marks on ballots are interpreted.

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.

January 23, 2026

Amanda Doyle

Chief of Staff