News

Love, Equally: The Journey to Marriage Equality was created in 2023 by Legacy Washington, a program within the Washington State Archives and Office of the Secretary of State, to recognize the people, history, and stories who stood at the forefront of LGBTQ civil rights in Washington state.

The Corporations and Charities Division of the Office of the Secretary of State is moving to a new location to better serve its customers. 

Both the research library in Tumwater, Washington, and the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) in Seattle will be closed to the public beginning on July 1 and continue to be closed until further notice.

The Productivity Board, a state employee incentive program of the Office of the Secretary of State, voted unanimously to recognize three state employees with cash awards for their ideas to reduce costs or generate revenue for the state.   

Since its inception in 2005, the Local Records Grant Program has provided more than $4.5 million to hundreds of government entities throughout the state. This year, towns, cities, counties, school districts, health departments, prosecutor’s offices, and library districts will share in $506,112.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first arrival of Southeast Asian refugees in Washington, a new book from Legacy Washington, “New Land: Southeast Asian Refugees Finding Home in Washington,” recounts the early days of the humanitarian effort and the stories from those who continue to be a part of Washington’s legacy. 

The Office of the Secretary of State delivered 47 at-risk of layoff letters over the past two weeks to Washington State Library (WSL) employees. This is the first step toward anticipated layoffs in Washington state’s process and a direct result of diminished state and federal funding.  

Candidate Filing Week begins on Monday, May 5 at 8 a.m. online and at county elections offices across the state, but mailed declarations are being accepted now. Declarations of Candidacy and full payment must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 9.  

“We mourn the sudden passing of Washington Senator Bill Ramos. He was a fierce champion of election security and access, and we worked closely with Bill in his years in the State House of Representatives and in his most recent election to the State Senate."

Washington state employees increased their donation levels of non-perishable food, books, and money during the Washington State Combined Fund Drive’s 2025 Well Fed, Well Read campaign.