State Bill Would Count Unaffiliated Votes in Presidential Primaries

Secretary of State Kim Wyman announced Thursday that earlier in the week she requested legislation to allow for greater voter participation in presidential primaries.

According to a release from the Washington Secretary of State's office, House Bill 1265 gives voters an option on the presidential primary ballot to not declare a party affiliation. 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 idea 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.