by Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard
February 10, 2026
Washington lawmakers moved a step closer Tuesday to make clear it is illegal to vote twice in an election, even if the ballots are cast in different jurisdictions.
A state appeals court in January overturned the felony conviction of a Lewis County resident found guilty of voting twice in November 2022 — once in Washington and once in Oregon. The ruling has created confusion about what counts as an individual election.
With no debate, the state Senate approved Senate Bill 6084 on a 47-1 vote. The legislation would define “election” and “same election” more precisely.
Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, the bill’s author, said time is of the essence given the “shocking ruling” from the lower court.
The bill is “critical to prevent confusion in the upcoming election,” he said on the Senate floor. Without it, there could be “significant election fraud.”
State law prohibits a person from voting more than once in any election in the state, or voting in the same election in this state and another state. The court majority found the law ambiguous.
The Lewis County man previously lived in Oregon and received a ballot from his old address. He also received a Washington ballot. He argued that because each ballot contained a different set of issues, they should be considered two separate elections, regardless of the fact that they occurred on the same day.
In its 2-1 decision, the appeals court concluded that because there were no overlapping candidates or issues on the two ballots cast by the man, these were separate elections. An election, they reasoned, refers to a choice among a specific slate of candidates or propositions, and not the process of voting on a particular day.
Lewis County prosecutors have appealed the ruling to the state Supreme Court. It is not known if the court will accept the case and, if it does, when it might act.
Cortes’ bill would add language to existing law to spell out that “election” refers to any general, primary, or special election.
“An election is the ‘same election’ if the election date is the same, regardless of the candidates, offices, issues, or measures on the ballot and regardless of the date on which ballots are mailed or returned,” reads the bill.
Backers say this added language solidifies the existing ban on a person casting more than one ballot in an election in Washington, or voting in Washington and in another state if the election date is the same. Voting more than once in an election is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Senate Bill 6084 now goes to the House for consideration. If enacted, the bill would take effect immediately.
The 60-day session is scheduled to end March 12.
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