Current voting access is unacceptable. Low voter turnout, gerrymandering, and voter suppression are all threatening our democracy. To achieve fair elections and government policies that reflect the will of the people and not the power of money me must first improve voting access for all.
Fix Democracy First is a member of WA Voting Justice Coalition (WVJC) and the Washington Voting Rights Act Coalition (WVRA), whose mission is to expand and protect voter access to all Washington State residents.
FDF worked with the WVJC and WVRA coalitions to help pass several voting access bills since 2018 including:
- Automatic Voter Registration – WA eligible residents will be automatically registered to vote when interacting with certain state agencies, like the DMV.
- Same-Day Voter Registration – WA eligible residents will be able to register to vote up until 8 pm on Election Day.
- Pre-Registration for 16 & 17 year-olds – Allows all 16 & 17 year old eligible residents to pre-register to vote
- WA Voting Rights Act – Allows underrepresented communities to petition local governments to provide solutions
- WA Native American Voting Rights Act – Enables the use of non-traditional mailing addresses and locations for mail-in ballots for those living on native lands without a recognized street address
- Postage Paid for All Ballots – No stamps needed to mail your ballot
- Ended Prison Gerrymandering – Those incarcerated will be counted for the district they lived prior to being incarcerated, not the location of the prison
- Notification of Voting Rights for Previously Incarcerated Persons - Requires the Dept. of Corrections to provide inmates with felony conviction information on how to restore their right to vote along with a voter registration form
- Youth VOTE Act of 2020 – Allows 17 year-olds to vote in primary if 18 by general election and opens voting hubs on all 4-year college campuses in Washington State
- Voting Rights Restoration for Formerly Incarcerated Persons - In coalition with the WA Voting Rights Restoration Coalition, we helped pass a bill that allows people who have been formerly incarcerated for a felony to get their voting rights back as soon as released from prison. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2022.
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