Election season is just not solely a time for voters to consider who they need to symbolize them in authorities. It’s additionally a time to consider the voting course of.
Overseeing that essential enterprise is among the many features of the secretary of state. Three candidates are difficult incumbent Secretary Steve Hobbs — Marquez Tiggs, Dale Whitaker and Damon Townsend. Hobbs stands out above the remaining and ought to be reelected.
When Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Hobbs as secretary in 2021, the previous state senator inherited a well-run division from longtime Secretary Kim Wyman.
Since then, Hobbs, a Democrat, has held his floor amid assaults from some on the far proper who’ve taken a cue from former President Donald Trump by questioning the integrity of Washington’s vote-by-mail system.
To fight such ways Hobbs expanded voter training throughout the state by letting voters know extra about what occurs to their ballots as soon as they’re positioned in a drop field.
In Might 2023, Hobbs’ workplace employed Logically, a British AI firm, to watch what persons are saying on social media, together with X, Fb, Rumble and Reality Social. Though among the mechanics of the no-bid contract are troublesome, the desire to fight misinformation is laudable. The trouble is to alert Hobbs’ workplace to misinformation about elections, mined from public posts, so staffers can counter with correct info. It’s neither spying nor censorship, as critics recommend.
“As secretary of state, I must know what persons are saying. I want to have the ability to counter a false narrative earlier than it tendencies,” Hobbs advised The Occasions editorial board.
Hobbs additionally was instrumental within the passing of Senate Invoice 5152 that prohibits political campaigns from utilizing false photos, movies or audio with out a disclosure that the fabric has been manipulated. “Deepfake” marketing campaign materials, because it known as, can trick voters into considering what they see and listen to is definitely true. Campaigns in Washington focused by deepfakes can now go to court docket to hunt an injunction and sue for damages. Hobbs additionally requested a invoice that enables folks to register to vote on-line with the final 4 digits of a Social Safety quantity as an alternative of a driver’s license or state ID quantity.
Elections are the muse of preserving democracy, nationally and regionally. Washington wants a secretary of state who is devoted to preserving a good voting system and to make it extra accessible. Hobbs is finest fitted to this problem.
