Bill Would Count Unaffiliated Votes in Washington’s Presidential Primaries

OLYMPIA, Wash.-- Secretary of State Kim Wyman announced Thursday that she is calling for legislation that would allow for greater voter participation in presidential primaries.

According to a press release from the Washington Secretary of State’s office, House Bill 1265 would give voters in Washington the option to not declare a party affiliation, while still participating in the presidential primary. 

RELATED: Read the full proposed legislation here.

If approved, the legislation would allow unaffiliated votes, or those cast by voters who do not indicate their party preference, to qualify for the presidential primary and be counted.

Opponents of the plan say removing the party declaration would make it easier for a voter aligned with one party to vote in the other party’s primary election in order to skew the results.