OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Washington State Republican Party is joining an effort to end the state’s vote-by-mail system.
As part of that process, State Rep. and GOP Chairman Jim Walsh filed an initiative (IL26-126) on May 20 that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Walsh believes that the passage of the initiative will restore trust and integrity to Washington elections.
Beyond the citizenship requirement, Walsh and the state GOP are also joining a movement that began in Oregon to end the state’s vote-by-mail system.
The effort also aims to return to one-day in-person voting with hand-counted ballots, require voter ID, and declare Election Day as a national holiday.
None of those issues are addressed in the submitted initiative which will be presented for discussion during the 2026 Legislative session.
