Tag Archives: elections

Governor signs bipartisan Boehnke bill, fortifying Washington’s election security

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate

OLYMPIA… Washington is taking a giant leap forward in election security. Thanks to a groundbreaking bipartisan bill championed by Sen. Matt Boehnke, the state’s elections will be more secure and resilient against cyber threats than ever before. On Saturday, the governor proudly signed Senate Bill 5014, marking a historic moment supported by a unanimous vote from both chambers of the Legislature.

This new legislation sets bold standards for election infrastructure security and mandates the quick reporting of any cyber breaches, ensuring that voter data stays safe and public trust in Washington’s elections remains unshaken. “This is about safeguarding democracy, not scoring political points,” declared Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “Every voter deserves to know their information is protected and their vote is secure—this law guarantees that!”

By 2027, every county in Washington will be required to adopt cutting-edge cybersecurity measures, including the use of .gov domains for election offices, state-of-the-art ballot-tabulation systems, and the essential separation of election infrastructure from other county IT systems. Plus, election vendors, counties, and contractors will have to report any breaches or malicious cyber activity instantaneously to the secretary of state and attorney general.

“Washington is leading the way in election security!” Boehnke exclaimed. “Instead of waiting for a crisis, we’re gearing up now—with transparency, collaboration, and smart, forward-looking policy making the way!”

This visionary legislation has rallied a diverse coalition of cybersecurity experts, county auditors, and lawmakers across party lines. “This law shows that when it comes to safeguarding democracy, we can unite!” Boehnke added emphatically. “It’s not about ideology; it’s about doing what’s right for the people of Washington.”

In partnership with counties, Washington’s Secretary of State is working diligently until July 1, 2027, to bring this robust security infrastructure to life, allowing flexibility for those needing extra time. “The digital threats to our elections are real and evolving,” Boehnke warned. “Now, with this 21st-century framework, Washington is ready to tackle them head-on!”

The new law takes effect July 27.

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Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate

Legislation to bolster Washington’s election security clears key hurdle

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate

OLYMPIA… Sen. Matt Boehnke’s bill to strengthen Washington’s election security was endorsed yesterday by the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee, moving the proposal one step closer to a full House vote.

Senate Bill 5014 would expand the Secretary of State’s oversight of election equipment and platforms, require the disclosure of security breaches, and establish cybersecurity requirements for county election officials.

“These reforms are designed to protect voter integrity and ensure Washington’s election systems are safeguarded from cyber threats,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. ”With mail-in ballots, fortifying every step of the process is crucial to maintaining public confidence.”

The bill also requires state approval for election-related systems and mandates cybersecurity measures, including system partitioning, by July 1, 2027, unless an extension is granted.

“This legislation is intended to reinforce public trust and ensure Washington’s elections remain secure, transparent, and reliable. By implementing robust cybersecurity measures and oversight, we are safeguarding our democratic process for future generations.”

The 105-day legislative session began Jan. 13 and is scheduled to conclude on April 27. The last day to consider opposite house bills is April 16, by 5 p.m., except for initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, matters necessary to implement budgets, matters that affect state revenue, amendments, differences, and business related to the interim or closing the session.

For more information on Boehnke’s legislative work, visit mattboehnke.src.wastateleg.org.

 

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Senate unanimously passes Boehnke election-security bill

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate

OLYMPIA… The state Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation from Sen. Matt Boehnke that is intended to improve the security of Washington’s electoral process.

Senate Bill 5014 would strengthen election security by expanding the Secretary of State’s oversight of equipment and platforms used in elections. It also would require election officials to disclose security breaches and set cybersecurity requirements for county election officers.

“These changes are crucial to ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of our electoral process,” said Boehnke. “As we conduct elections entirely by mail-in ballots, safeguarding every step—from voter registration to ballot counting—is essential to maintain public confidence and uphold democratic principles.”

The 49-0 vote moves his bill to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Washington has several election-security policies already in place, such as voter-verification laws that require election staff to undergo signature-verification training from the Washington State Patrol; equipment-certification standards that require ballot tallying equipment to be certified by an independent testing lab; and post-election audits that compare manual counts with machine results.

“This is a good bipartisan bill that shows a strong collaborative effort. It’s about giving counties more resources and adding a layer of oversight at the state level to help combat threats and ensure the accuracy of local and state elections,” Boehnke said.

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