For Bill Information, please click HERE.   Official Text and Analysis.

Creates a state voting rights act that protects the equal opportunity to participate in election for minority groups. Creates a cause of action and authorizes courts to order appropriate remedies for a violation of the act, including redistricting with a political subdivision. Authorizes local governments to change their election system to remedy violations of the act. The substitute bill extends the notice period to 180 days before legal action may be initiated, and allows subdivisions to propose a different remedy that complies with the Act. Any special candidate filing period required under the Act is limited to three days. Courts are directed to use federal case law for guidance in interpreting provisions of the Act. Fees may not be awarded where no action is filed.

Corrects internal reference citations.

Removes the requirement that elected positions with twoyears remaining in their terms are subject to a new election adoptedor ordered under the act.

Removes fire, port, and public utility districts from the political subdivisions covered under the act; (2) Excludes cities and towns under 2,000 people as well as school districts with less than 500 students from the act; (3) Removes language that a protected class need not be compact or concentrated in order for a court to find a violation; (4) Requires a court to analyze elections where five or more candidates are members of a protected class, instead of one candidate.

Creates a cause of action, based on language borrowedfrom the federal law, for members of a protected minority group whoare denied an equal opportunity to participate in the politicalprocess of a political subdivision.

Creates a state voting rights act that protects the equal opportunity to participate in election for minority groups.

Establishes the Washington voting rights act of 2015 to: (1) Authorize district-based elections; (2) Require redistricting and new elections in certain circumstances; and (3) Establish a cause of action to redress lack of voter opportunity.

Adds a definition for “alternative proportional voting methods” that includes limited, cumulative, and single transferrable voting used in multi-member at-large elections.

Strikes all existing language;(2) Removes current restrictions for cities and counties to adopta district-based election system; and(3) Authorizes code cities, second-class cities, towns, andnoncharter counties to adopt alternative at-large voting methods,including limited voting, cumulative voting, and single transferablevoting.