Washington House approves bill to prevent disclosure of voter envelopes and signatures

A bill that would exempt voter information on ballot return envelopes, ballot declarations and signature correction forms from public disclosure passed 69-26 out of the state House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon.

Currently, images of election ballot return envelopes can be requested by members of the public under public records laws. Those images contain voter signatures, phone numbers and emails.

This bill, however, would protect that personal information from being disclosed.

Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane, a bill sponsor, said people expect their signatures to be exempted from public disclosure.

“We have other examples in state government where signatures … are restricted from the Public Records Act,” Volz said during the floor debate.