Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House passes expanded Washington Voting Rights Act after hours of amendments and heated debate
Summary
The House passed a substantially amended House Bill 17 10 to add state preclearance and other changes to the Washington Voting Rights Act after extensive floor debate and dozens of amendment votes. Supporters said it protects voters from dilution; opponents warned it could impose costly mandates on local jurisdictions.
The Washington House on Thursday passed House Bill 17 10, a package of changes to the state Voting Rights Act that creates a state-level preclearance process and new enforcement mechanics after a lengthy floor session marked by dozens of amendment votes.
Representative Mena, the bill sponsor, urged the chamber to approve the measure, saying it would protect ‘‘every Washingtonian’s sacred and constitutionally guaranteed right to vote’’ and restore a ‘‘fair playing field’’ for communities that have faced voting barriers. ‘‘This is about protecting the little guy,’’ she said on the floor.
Supporte…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
