HB 1116 recognizes the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day in Washington state law. The bill adds Election Day to the list of days the legislature formally recognizes, and it directs state government, local governments, schools, institutions of higher education, and cultural organizations to observe the day through educational programming related to democracy and voting. It also requires the Secretary of State to create Election Day programming and materials that public entities may use in planning observances.
The bill does not create a new paid state holiday or require closures of government offices. Instead, it establishes Election Day as a recognized day and encourages civic engagement activities. The measure also amends existing holiday-related statutes to insert Election Day into the state’s list of recognized days, while preserving existing rules on paid holidays for employees and the treatment of other recognized commemorative days.
The bill’s impact on state law is primarily symbolic and educational, but it also makes a formal statutory change by adding Election Day to RCW provisions governing state legal holidays and recognized days. It affects state agencies, local governments, schools, higher education institutions, and cultural organizations by inviting them to participate in Election Day observances and use materials developed by the Secretary of State. It also clarifies that Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November for purposes of the new section.
The general sentiment reflected in the bill text and voting history is strongly positive. The bill passed the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations unanimously and later passed the House Appropriations Committee unanimously as a substitute bill, suggesting broad support and little opposition in committee. The bill’s findings emphasize free and fair elections, voter participation, and civic values, framing the measure as a democracy-promoting initiative.
There is little visible contention in the available record. The main policy distinction is that the bill recognizes Election Day without making it a paid legal holiday, which may matter to those seeking time off to vote or participate in civic activities. However, the bill explicitly avoids changing the number of paid holidays and preserves existing employer-employee arrangements, indicating that any disagreement would likely center on whether recognition alone is sufficient versus creating a full holiday.
Impact
HB 1116 amends Washington’s holiday and recognition statutes in RCW Chapter 1A to add Election Day as a formally recognized day and to encourage related educational programming. It does not require state offices to close or create a new paid legal holiday, but it does direct the Secretary of State to develop optional materials for public entities. The bill affects state agencies, local governments, schools, higher education institutions, and cultural organizations, and it preserves existing rules governing paid holidays and employee leave.
Sentiment
The available voting record indicates strong bipartisan or at least unanimous committee support, with 6-0 approval in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations and 31-0 approval in the House Appropriations Committee on a substitute bill. The bill’s findings and structure reflect a broadly favorable sentiment toward voting access, civic education, and democratic participation. No committee testimony is provided, but the recorded votes suggest minimal resistance.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the bill’s choice to recognize Election Day without making it a paid state holiday. Supporters appear to favor the symbolic recognition and educational emphasis, while those wanting stronger action might prefer a paid holiday or mandated time off to vote. The bill also carefully preserves existing holiday and leave arrangements, which reduces labor or administrative conflict but may limit its practical effect for workers who need time to participate in elections.
Revised for 1st substitute: Concerning prohibitions on electioneering within buildings containing the division of elections for county auditor offices, including any adjacent county owned and operated parking lots routinely used for parking at the buildings.