Concerned about the accuracy of Washington’s voter registration system, Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, has introduced House Joint Memorial 4007, calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to audit and review the Washington State Department of Licensing’s implementation of the state’s voter registration laws.

“This official request to President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi is an essential step in protecting election integrity and encouraging good, transparent government in Washington state,” said Walsh. “People across Washington are raising concerns about how our elections are managed. They believe there is a problem, and how the state’s motor voter law is implemented plays a major part. The Department of Licensing’s current process does not have strong enough safeguards to ensure only eligible voters are added to the rolls.”

If approved, HJM 4007 would request that President Trump and U.S. Attorney General Bondi review how voter registration is managed when individuals obtain a driver’s license or state ID. Under Washington’s motor voter law, which is part of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 — also known as the “Motor Voter Act” — individuals can register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or ID. In 2018, Washington expanded this system by passing the Automatic Voter Registration Act, requiring certain state agencies, including the DOL, to automatically register individuals to vote unless they opt out.

While these policies are meant to streamline voter registration, concerns have been raised that the current system does not do enough to verify whether an individual is eligible to vote before being added to the voter rolls. HJM 4007 seeks to ensure that voter registration is handled securely and complies with both state and federal laws.

“Election integrity is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy,” Walsh continued. “The people of Washington deserve confidence that our voter registration system is secure and functioning as intended. This review is about ensuring accountability, accuracy, and transparency in our elections.”

Washington operates as an all-mail-in voting state, meaning the accuracy of the voter registration database is critical to maintaining fair and secure elections. Under the current system, the DOL, the Secretary of State’s Office, and local election officials share responsibility for verifying and maintaining voter rolls. However, conflicting reports from these agencies about voter registration procedures have raised questions about whether proper safeguards are in place to prevent errors.

“In the state Legislature, we’ve repeatedly heard testimony from bureaucrats at the Department of Licensing and the Secretary of State’s Office that essentially point fingers at each other for who’s responsible for making only qualified citizens register to vote in Washington,” said Walsh. “The Governor’s Office, the State Attorney General’s Office, and other state agencies have occasionally joined in that finger-pointing. What we’ve learned is that actually no one in state government is responsible for enforcing the relevant election law. This has to stop.”

HJM 4007 also requests that, if any issues are identified, the U.S. Department of Justice provide recommendations for corrective actions to bring Washington’s voter registration system into full compliance with the law.

“This is about making sure our systems work as they should,” Walsh said. “An audit of how voter registrations are processed will provide clarity and help ensure that we are following both state and federal election laws correctly.”

If approved by the Legislature, HJM 4007 will be transmitted to the President, the U.S. Attorney General, congressional leadership, and each member of Washington’s congressional delegation.

The 105-day 2025 legislative session is scheduled to conclude on April 27.