Wash. Rev. Code » Title 29A · Chapter 29A.08
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.08.520 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) For a felony conviction in a Washington state court, the right to vote is automatically restored as long as the person is not serving a sentence of total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections. For a felony conviction in a federal court or any state court other than a Washington state court, the right to vote is automatically restored as long as the person is no longer incarcerated. A person who has been convicted of a felony and is either sentenced to a term of total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections or otherwise incarcerated as provided for in this subsection must reregister to vote prior to voting.
(2) At least once a month, the secretary of state shall compare the list of registered voters to a list of persons who are not eligible to vote as provided in subsection (1) of this section. If a registered voter is not eligible to vote as provided in this section, the secretary of state or county auditor shall confirm the match through a date of birth comparison and suspend the voter registration from the official state voter registration list. The secretary of state or county auditor shall send to the person at his or her last known voter registration address and at the department of corrections, if the person is serving a sentence of total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department, a notice of the proposed cancellation and an explanation of the requirements for restoring the right to vote and reregistering. To the extent possible, the secretary of state shall time the comparison required by this subsection to allow notice and cancellation of voting rights for ineligible voters prior to a primary or general election.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a sentence of total confinement does not include confinement imposed as a sanction for a community custody violation under RCW 9.94A.633(1).
[ 2021 c 10 s 1; 2013 c 11 s 19. Prior: (2009 c 369 s 27 repealed by 2013 c 11 s 95); 2009 c 325 s 1; 2005 c 246 s 15; 2004 c 267 s 126; 2003 c 111 s 233; prior: 1994 c 57 s 42. Formerly RCW 29.10.097.]

Notes:

Effective date—2021 c 10: "This act takes effect January 1, 2022." [ 2021 c 10 s 8.]
Effective date—2005 c 246: See note following RCW 10.64.140.
Effective dates—2004 c 267: See note following RCW 29A.08.010.
Severability—Effective date—1994 c 57: See notes following RCW 29A.16.040.
Restoration of civil rights: RCW 9.92.066, 9.94A.637, 9.94A.885, 9.95.260, chapter 9.96 RCW.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2009–2024 · leading case: State v. Donaghe, 256 P.3d 1171 (Wash. 2011).
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State v. Donaghe, 256 P.3d 1171 (Wash. 2011). · cites it 6× “Finally, the Court of Appeals, in a footnote, referenced the passage of RCW 29A.08.520 in 2009. Donaghe, 152 Wash.”
State v. Catling, 438 P.3d 1174 (Wash. 2019). · cites it 2× “RCW 29A.08.520. For those with a felony conviction, the right to vote cannot be permanently restored without a certificate of discharge or a certificate of restoration issued by the governor.”
State v. Donaghe, 172 Wash. 2d 253 (Wash. 2011). · cites it 5× “Finally, the Court of Appeals, in a footnote, referenced the passage of RCW 29A.08.520 in 2009. Donaghe, 152 Wn. App.”
Kelvin Leon Jones v. Governor of Florida, 950 F.3d 795 (11th Cir. 2020). “, except where the court has made a finding at an evidentiary hearing that the applicant is indigent”; and that “the person is current in all child support obligations”); Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.08.520 (provisionally restoring the right to vote for felons convicted in Washington…”
State v. Donaghe, 152 Wash. App. 97 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “*115 ¶37 The legislature has addressed this untenable situation in its recent amendments to RCW 29A.08.520. Laws of 2009, ch. 325, § 1.”
State v. Donaghe, 215 P.3d 232 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “¶ 37 The legislature has addressed this untenable situation in its recent amendments to RCW 29A.08.520. LAWS OF 2009, ch. 325, § 1.”
Camarata v. Kittitas Cnty., 346 P.3d 822 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). “Under RCW 29A.08.520(1), Camarata’s right to vote was automatically, provisionally restored at the time he filed the voter registration at issue here.”
State Of Washington v. Jesse Aaron Griener-jacobsen (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “RCW 29A.08.520(1). A Washington felon who has completed all requirements of his or her sentence, including payment of legal financial obligations, is entitled to receive from the sentencing court a certificate of discharge that restores to the offender all civil rights not…”
Gates v. United States (W.D. Wash. 2022). · cites it 2× “” RCW 29A.08.520. 25 26 1 To clarify, Mr. Gates is not asserting an affirmative defense that his civil rights had in fact been restored; instead, he says he thought they had been and therefore he lacked scienter.”
State Of Washington v. Stephen Thomas Lynch (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “(5) The discharge shall have the effect of restoring all civil rights not already restored by RCW 29A.08.520, and the certificate of discharge shall so state.”
State Of Washington, V. Marvin Lofi Leo (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “520(1) (right to vote is automatically restored for individuals with felony convictions) with former RCW 29A.08.520(1) (2013) (right to vote is provisionally restored for individuals with felony convictions).”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.08.520(1) — 6 cases
State v. Catling, 438 P.3d 1174 (Wash. 2019). “RCW 29A.08.520. For those with a felony conviction, the right to vote cannot be permanently restored without a certificate of discharge or a certificate of restoration issued by the governor.”
State v. Donaghe, 152 Wash. App. 97 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “*115 ¶37 The legislature has addressed this untenable situation in its recent amendments to RCW 29A.08.520. Laws of 2009, ch. 325, § 1.”
State v. Donaghe, 215 P.3d 232 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “¶ 37 The legislature has addressed this untenable situation in its recent amendments to RCW 29A.08.520. LAWS OF 2009, ch. 325, § 1.”
Camarata v. Kittitas Cnty., 346 P.3d 822 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). “Under RCW 29A.08.520(1), Camarata’s right to vote was automatically, provisionally restored at the time he filed the voter registration at issue here.”
State Of Washington v. Jesse Aaron Griener-jacobsen (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “RCW 29A.08.520(1). A Washington felon who has completed all requirements of his or her sentence, including payment of legal financial obligations, is entitled to receive from the sentencing court a certificate of discharge that restores to the offender all civil rights not…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.08.520(7) — 2 cases
State v. Donaghe, 152 Wash. App. 97 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “*115 ¶37 The legislature has addressed this untenable situation in its recent amendments to RCW 29A.08.520. Laws of 2009, ch. 325, § 1.”
State v. Donaghe, 215 P.3d 232 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “¶ 37 The legislature has addressed this untenable situation in its recent amendments to RCW 29A.08.520. LAWS OF 2009, ch. 325, § 1.”
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