This article is a reprint with permission from the League of Women Voters Washington Evergreen Voter April 2, 2026 edition..
With voting rights under assault across the country, democracy advocates in Washington state – including members of the League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVWA) and other organizations – have reason to celebrate following two new developments.
The Legislature passed -- and the governor signed -- a suite of bills that offer added protection for voters.
In addition, a new policy position from LWVWA calling for better protection of the rights of immigrants might soon receive approval at the national League level, which would empower members in more than 800 local Leagues across the country to advocate for the well-being of newcomers.
Alison McCaffree, LWVWA’s Democracy Issue Chair, said the Washington League identified
SB 5892 and
SB 6035 and
HB 1710 and
HB 1916 as priorities. Each bill strengthens a certain stage of the voting process: registering to vote, keeping personal information private, reviewing changes to election law, and suing because of discrimination.
“We worked hard for the passage of these bills and are pleased that the League played a role in their successes,” said McCaffree. “We thank our members for their letters, emails and calls to lawmakers. We were proud to partner with the Washington Voting Justice Coalition on these efforts and look forward to many more successes in the future.”
More details are available about the Washington League’s progress to national adoption of its position on Welcoming Immigrants. The position itself is outlined
more fully on the LWVWA website as well.