The bill aims to officially recognize the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November as "election day" in Washington State, emphasizing the importance of free and fair elections as a cornerstone of democracy. It highlights the state's commitment to protecting voting rights and promoting civic engagement, which has resulted in high voter participation rates. To formalize this recognition, the bill amends RCW 1.16.050 to include election day among the state legal holidays, specifically adding it to the list of recognized days without removing any existing holidays.

Additionally, the bill encourages various governmental and educational entities to acknowledge election day and participate in educational programming that promotes democracy and voting. This initiative aims to foster greater awareness and participation in the electoral process among Washingtonians. The new legal language inserted into the current law includes the definition of election day and the encouragement for civic engagement activities related to it.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 1.16.050
Substitute Bill: 1.16.050