Washington state GOP Chairman and state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, has introduced House Joint Memorial 4007, calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to audit and review the Washington state Department of Licensing's (DOL) implementation of the state's voter registration laws, according to a news release from his office.
"This official request to President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi is an essential step in protecting election integrity and encouraging good, transparent government in Washington state," Walsh stated in the news release.
If approved, HJM 4007 would request that President Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi review how voter registration is managed when individuals obtain a driver's license or state ID.
Under Washington's motor voter law, which is part of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993, individuals can register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver's license or ID.
In 2018, Washington expanded the system by passing the Automatic Voter Registration Act, requiring certain state agencies, including the DOL, to automatically register individuals to vote unless they opt out.
HJM 4007 seeks to ensure that voter registration is handled securely and complies with both state and federal laws, Walsh stated in the news release.
"Election integrity is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy," Walsh stated. "The people of Washington deserve confidence that our voter registration system is secure and functioning as intended. This review is about ensuring accountability, accuracy, and transparency in our elections."
Washington operates as an all mail-in voting state, meaning the accuracy of the voter registration database is critical to maintaining fair and secure elections, Walsh said in the release. Under the current system, the DOL, the Washington Secretary of State's Office and local election officials share responsibility for verifying and maintaining voter rolls.
However, conflicting reports from these agencies about voter registration procedures have raised questions about whether proper safeguards are in place to prevent errors, the news release states.
"In the state Legislature, we've repeatedly heard testimony from bureaucrats at the Department of Licensing and the Secretary of State's Office that essentially point fingers at each other for who's responsible for making only qualified citizens register to vote in Washington," Walsh stated in the release. "The Governor's Office, the State Attorney General's Office and other state agencies have occasionally joined in that finger-pointing. What we've learned is that actually no one in state government is responsible for enforcing the relevant election law. This has to stop!"
HJM 4007 also requests that, if any issues are identified, the U.S. Department of Justice provide recommendations for corrective actions to bring Washington's voter registration system into full compliance with the law.
If approved by the state Legislature, HJM 4007 will be transmitted to the president, the U.S. attorney general, congressional leadership and each member of Washington's congressional delegation.
The 105-day 2025 legislative session is scheduled to conclude on April 27.
