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Bill

HB 1146

Improving access and removing barriers to voting in jails and state hospitals.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Beth Doglio and 10 co-sponsors

Washington bill expands voting access for jail detainees and state hospital patients by requiring facilities to provide registration and ballot access to eligible voters.

Referred to Appropriations.
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Bill Summary · HB 1146

Legislative bill overview

HB 1146 aims to expand voting access for individuals detained in jails and hospitalized in state mental health facilities by removing administrative and procedural barriers. The bill addresses a gap in Washington voting law where incarcerated individuals awaiting trial (presumed innocent) and involuntarily committed patients are currently unable to vote despite retaining voting rights under state law.

Why is this important

Thousands of Washingtonians in jails and state hospitals are legally eligible to vote but face practical obstacles—including lack of voter registration access, limited mail ballot distribution, and inability to vote in person. This directly affects electoral representation and participation rights for vulnerable populations who have not been convicted of crimes that strip voting rights.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and jail/hospital burden: County jails and state hospitals express concerns about administrative workload and resource requirements to facilitate voting registration and ballot access during normal operations
  • Election security vs. access trade-offs: Opponents may argue that voting in custodial settings raises security or ballot integrity concerns that outweigh access benefits
  • Scope definition: Disagreement over which facilities qualify and whether the mandate applies equally to local jails versus state-run hospitals, potentially creating inconsistent implementation across counties

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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