Concerning transparency in election tabulation devices.

 H-1368.1

HOUSE BILL 1978

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Representatives Chase, Waters, Marshall, Schmidt, Volz, and Ley

Read first time 02/14/25. Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations.

AN ACT Relating to transparency in election tabulation devices; adding a new section to chapter 29A.12 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that transparency to the public is of utmost importance in maintaining confidence that the votes cast in our elections are counted accurately. In the most recent elections, there have been much criticism of the lack of accurate vote counts. A lack of faith in election results causes many enfranchised citizens to not participate in elections.

Businesses that manufacture hardware or software devices do not currently share their source codes with the public. The legislature finds that requiring election tabulation equipment vendors to make source codes available to members of the general public, upon request, will increase transparency in election results and increase voter confidence with election outcomes.