Hobbs says officials should protect eligible voters rather than create uncertainty
Steve HobbsWashington secretary of state
Hobbs criticizes adding uncertainty about voter eligibility while delayed postmarks already cause ballot rejections.
“At a time when thousands of Washington voters already face ballot rejections due to delayed postmarks, our focus should be on ensuring every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote, not creating additional uncertainty about their eligibility,”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
DOJ seeks to segregate Washington ballots; Hobbs's office disputes its evidence
Federal prosecutors ask Washington to set aside ballots from more than 400 alleged noncitizens pending verification. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs challenges the data, timing and legal basis for the request.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Hobbs disputes the request's timing and the reliability of the matching process and invokes voter privacy and due process.
Before the quotation
The release describes increased ballot rejections from late postmarks in Washington's August primary.
After the quotation
Hobbs says protecting voting rights and private information remains the priority and that his office will not release information protected by law.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the federal request, Hobbs criticizes creating additional uncertainty about eligible voters' right to vote.
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More from this case
Read the full caseWashington's elections office says DOJ's system flags legitimate citizens
Washington Secretary of State
“The system the DOJ uses frequently flags legitimate U.S. citizens as noncitizens, jeopardizing their legal right to vote.”Read statement
DOJ says sharing its list of flagged voters protects each citizen's vote
United States Department of Justice
“Our purpose in sharing this data with the Secretary of State is to protect the sanctity of each citizen’s vote,”Read statement
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- Hobbs says officials should protect eligible voters rather than create uncertainty
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The Dispute Index. "Hobbs says officials should protect eligible voters rather than create uncertainty". First published: 2026-10-28. Last updated: 2026-10-28. https://disputeindex.com/events/7050-hobbs-criticizes-adding-uncertainty-about-voter-eligibility-while