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State Government

Bill changing uniform business organizations code signed into law

Bill changing uniform business organizations code signed into law

A bill requested by Secretary of State Wyman and her Corporations Division has been signed into law by Gov. Inslee Monday. Senate Bill 5040 makes revisions and clarifying changes to the uniform business organizations code. The Office of Secretary of State’s Corporations Division worked with the Washington State Bar Association on crafting language for the bill, which provides a technical clean-up for a new law passed in 2016. “The uniform business organizations code was adopted last year with the goal…

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CFD donors pledge $5 million for 14th straight year

CFD donors pledge $5 million for 14th straight year

Talk about an impressive streak. For the 14th straight year, state and higher education employees and retirees have given more than $5 million annually through the Washington State Combined Fund Drive. In 2016, nearly 16,400 Combined Fund Drive donors pledged $5.3 million to local, national and global charities. The CFD disbursed funds to more than 1,700 charities last year, including 71 that received at least $10,000. The Combined Fund Drive is Washington’s workplace giving program for active and retired public…

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Presidential Primary bill will encourage more voter participation, says Wyman

Presidential Primary bill will encourage more voter participation, says Wyman

It’s time for Washington to move its Presidential Primary earlier in the year so the state has a more relevant role in choosing the Democratic and Republican nominees, Secretary of State Kim Wyman told a House panel. Wyman testified Wednesday afternoon before the House State Government, Elections and Information Technology Committee on Senate Bill 5333, a bipartisan proposal prime-sponsored by Sen. Mark Miloscia, chair of the Senate State Government Committee. The Senate passed the measure 34-15 earlier this session. The…

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From the WA State Digital Archives: 1939 bill-signing photo

From the WA State Digital Archives: 1939 bill-signing photo

Gov. Clarence Martin signs a bill into law in 1939 as Secretary of State Belle Reeves (seated on left) and female legislators watch. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives) We’ve reached that point of the legislative session when Gov. Jay Inslee starts signing bills into law. In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re sharing a Washington State Digital Archives photograph from 1939 that depicts a bill-signing ceremony. This shot shows Gov. Clarence Martin signing into law House Bill 300,…

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WA state politics forum draws crowd

WA state politics forum draws crowd

Secretary Wyman (left) with Cornell Clayton, Todd Donovan, Sen. Hans Zeiger, Maria Chavez and Nicholas Lovrich after the forum ended.  A panel discussion on the state of politics in our Washington attracted a standing-room-only crowd at a public forum Friday on the Capitol Campus. The public forum was co-hosted by the Office of Secretary of State and Washington State University’s Foley Institute. The symposium included a panel discussion on the latest developments in Washington state politics, including the state’s political…

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State Archives does its part to get rid of paper in state government

State Archives does its part to get rid of paper in state government

Some of the shelves at the State Records Center in Tumwater. As you enter the Washington State Archives’ State Records Center at the south end of Tumwater, the first thing you notice are the rows of shelves of cardboard boxes that literally rise to the ceiling 40 feet up. When you see those super-tall shelves in that enormous building, it reminds you of the final scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark when the crate carrying the coveted yet deadly…

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OSOS legislative package includes Presidential Primary date change, other election reforms

OSOS legislative package includes Presidential Primary date change, other election reforms

Secretary of State Kim Wyman is proposing a date change for Washington’s Presidential Primary, as well as other reforms of the state’s elections system as part of her package of requested bills to the Legislature this year. Wyman is asking legislators to make a few modifications to the state’s Presidential Primary, including moving its date from the fourth Tuesday in May to the second Tuesday in March. “The lateness of Washington’s Presidential Primary last year made it clear that we…

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Gov. Inslee & Secretary Wyman certify 2016 election

Gov. Inslee & Secretary Wyman certify 2016 election

Secretary Wyman and Gov. Inslee certify the 2016 General Election returns. (Photos courtesy of Patrick McDonald) Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Gov. Jay Inslee have certified the returns for the 2016 General Election, including a record number of ballot measures and hotly contested races from the White House to local offices. The election drew record voter registrations of nearly 4.3 million and the most ballots ever counted in the state, over 3.36 million.  The turnout was nearly 79 percent,…

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2016 Election: Record 3.36m ballots counted

2016 Election: Record 3.36m ballots counted

Washington counties have certified the returns in the hotly contested 2016 elections that attracted record voter registrations of nearly 4.3 million and the most ballots ever counted in the state, over 3.36 million.  The turnout was nearly 79 percent, a strong showing nationally. The spike in voter engagement reflects the four-year cycle of elections, with the presidential-gubernatorial always generating the most interest and turnout. Voters’ plates were full this year. Besides the heavily publicized race for president, voters were choosing…

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WA 2016 Election: The count goes on

WA 2016 Election: The count goes on

As Washington’s vote tally continues through the week, voters were re-electing most incumbents and siding with Hillary Clinton in her losing White House bid. Before Wednesday’s updates, more than 2 million votes had been counted, better than 48 percent of the record 4.24 million ballots that were sent out last month.  Counties reported receiving 2.7 million ballots by mail or drop box, a 63 percent return rate, as of Election Day, not counting evening drop box pickups. Heavy mail volumes…

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