Washington State Republican Party Chairman Jim Walsh said forcing voters to write their party affiliation on the outside of their mail-in ballots is a “questionable design decision” after some Washingtonians have expressed concerns. insisted.
Walsh told Fox News Digital on Friday that the requirement to declare one’s political party is “codified in law” and applies only to primaries, not general elections.
“The design of the certificate or declaration on the outside of the envelope is not state law, but a guideline and an administrative decision made by the Washington State Secretary of State in conjunction with local county-level election officials,” he said. . He said.
Walsh added, “It’s not statutory. It’s just a questionable design decision made by the Secretary of State in conjunction with local county election officials.”
RNC files election integrity lawsuit in Mississippi over vote-counting deadline
Empty envelopes of opened mail-in ballots for the 2020 presidential primary are stacked on a table at the King County Election Center in Renton, Washington. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images/File)
Walsh said state Republicans have been trying since 2016 to change the law to require voters to declare their party affiliation “so people can choose to be independent,” but they have been blocked by the Democratic-led Legislature.
One There was no need to reveal my political party manifesto on the outside.”I don’t feel very good about this. ”
Cartoonist Scott Adams reposted it and wrote, “How can this be real?” Then X’s owner Elon Musk responded, “What!?”
Virginia Drops Last Remaining Charges Against D.C. Area Elections Official
Another voter wrote: “Question – why do I have to write my party affiliation on the outside of the envelope I vote in?”
A third user of It’s thrown before it can be thrown,” he wrote. I counted! ”
“We’re not big fans of the law, but we understand it’s the law, and we comply with both state law and some national and party rules,” Walsh told Fox News Digital about the filing requirement. “I understand that there is a need,” he said. party.
He said the “spirit of the law” was to prevent citizens from “abusing the system and trying to be a member of one party and vote in the other party’s primaries,” but the declaration He said he felt there was a potential for real security concerns with the order in place. outside of the ballot.
A voter places a mail-in ballot in a mailbox in Everett, Washington. (St. Petersburg)
To show voters the correct way to mark their ballots, the Washington State Secretary of State’s office cited examples of complaints voters wrote on their ballots in 2016, including one that read, “Actually, I’m an independent.” But if it makes you happy: “Don’t tell me what I should be…Voters are furious” “I feel like I’m being forced to choose a party, and it’s not fair.” .”
The Secretary of State’s Office says on its website that a voter’s party declaration choice will be deleted after 60 days, and will be removed from the “Presidential Primary Election.” However, major political parties are asking voters to mark and sign the party manifesto. If you choose to participate, your choice of party will not affect how you vote in future elections. For your vote to be counted, you must mark and sign the party declaration form (box) on the envelope. ”
The office did not say why the declaration was placed on the outside of the ballot. FOX News Digital reached out to the Secretary of State’s Office.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
FOX News Digital also reached out to the Washington Democratic Party for comment.
The Washington presidential primary will be held on March 12th.
