Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 29A.92 · 19 active provisions
The legislature finds that electoral systems that deny race, color, or language minority groups an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice or impair their ability to otherwise participate in any state of the political process are inconsistent with the right to free and equal elections as provided by Artic…
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. In applying these definitions and other terms in this chapter, courts may rely on relevant federal case law for guidance.(1) "At large election" means any of the following methods of electing members of the gove…
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no political subdivision responsible for election administration may abridge the rights of voters who are members of a protected class or classes by implementing, imposing, or enforcing any election policy or practice, or taking any action or failing to take any…
(1) No method of electing the governing body of a political subdivision may be imposed or applied in a manner that impairs the ability of members of a protected class or classes to have an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice as a result of the dilution of the votes of the members of a protected class…
(1) A political subdivision that conducts an election pursuant to state, county, or local law, is authorized to change its electoral system, including, but not limited to, implementing a district-based election system, or increasing the number of elected officials on a county commission as authorized by RCW 29A.92.115,…
(1)(a) Prior to the adoption of its proposed plan, the political subdivision must provide public notice to residents of the subdivision about the proposed remedy to a potential violation of this chapter. If a significant segment of the residents of the subdivision have limited English proficiency and speaks a language…
(1) A voter who resides in the political subdivision, an organization whose roster of members and volunteers includes a voter who resides in the political subdivision, or a tribe located at least in part in the political subdivision who intends to challenge a political subdivision's electoral system under this chapter…
(1) The political subdivision shall work in good faith with the person, organization, or tribe providing the notice to implement a remedy that resolves the potential violation or violations identified in the notice and provides the protected class or classes identified in the notice an equal opportunity to elect candid…
(1) Any voter who resides in the political subdivision, organization whose roster of members and volunteers includes a voter who resides in the political subdivision, or tribe located at least in part in the political subdivision may file an action under this chapter if, 90 days after a political subdivision receives n…
(1)(a) After exhaustion of the time period in RCW 29A.92.080, any voter who resides in a political subdivision, organization whose roster of members and volunteers includes a voter who resides in the political subdivision, or tribe located at least in part in the political subdivision where a violation of this chapter…
(1) In an action filed pursuant to this chapter, the trial court shall set a trial to be held no later than one year after the filing of a complaint, and shall set a discovery and motions calendar accordingly.(2) For purposes of any applicable statute of limitations, a cause of action under this chapter arises every ti…
(1) After finding a violation of this chapter or upon stipulation of the parties, the court may order appropriate remedies that are tailored to address the violation including, but not limited to, the imposition of a district-based election system or expansion of the number of elected county commissioners if authorized…
(1) A county may reasonably increase the number of elected commissioners to remedy a potential violation of RCW 29A.92.030 if the protected class or one of the protected classes subject to alleged vote dilution is Indian tribal status.(2) After finding a violation of RCW 29A.92.030 or upon stipulation of the parties, t…
(1) No action under this chapter may be brought by any person against a political subdivision that has adopted a remedy to its electoral system after an action is filed that is approved by a court pursuant to RCW 29A.92.070 or implemented a court-ordered remedy pursuant to RCW 29A.92.110 for four years after adoption o…
(1) In any action to enforce this chapter, the court may allow the prevailing plaintiff or plaintiffs, other than the state or political subdivision thereof, reasonable attorneys' fees, all nonattorney fee costs as defined by RCW 4.84.010, and all reasonable expert witness fees, including all such reasonable fees and c…
The provisions of RCW 29A.92.005 through 29A.92.030, 29A.92.060 through 29A.92.130, 29A.92.021, and 29A.92.900 are not applicable to cities and towns with populations under one thousand or to school districts with K-12 full-time equivalent enrollments of less than two hundred fifty.
This chapter supersedes other state laws and local ordinances to the extent that those state laws or ordinances would otherwise restrict a jurisdiction's ability to comply with this chapter.
In further recognition of the protections for the right to vote provided by the Constitution of the state of Washington, statutes, rules and regulations, and local laws, town charters, and ordinances related to the right to vote shall be construed liberally in favor of:(1) Protecting the right to cast an effective ball…
This chapter may be known and cited as the Washington voting rights act of 2018.