By Bill Lucia | Editor
The number of ballots rejected due to late postmarks in this year’s primary increased compared to 2024 — rising to 20,267 from 16,131, despite lower turnout this year. This comes as the U.S. Postal Service is not always postmarking mail-in ballots on the day they’re received due to reduced service and distant processing centers. State officials have cautioned voters that if they’re returning ballots by mail, they should do so at least a week out from election day or otherwise use a drop box.
Also in today’s edition…
Legal fees push the ethics violation penalty for a state representative north of $50,000.
New Jersey asks the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a dispute over how states can regulate online prediction markets like Kalshi.
And, a federal judge strikes down a “climate Superfund” law.
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Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs speaks about the importance of returning ballots early alongside U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, right, and leaders from the Seattle King County NAACP and the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County on Wednesday, in Seattle. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)
By Jake Goldstein-Street
Concerns about delays in the Postal Service delivering ballots come as tensions are high between Washington and the Trump administration, which is trying to exert more federal control over mail-in voting. A Postal Service spokesperson noted Wednesday that voters can return ballots in person at a post office location and request a manual postmark at no cost. In the August primary, the rise in ballots with late postmarks was most noticeable in rural counties, according to state election data. Overall, rejected ballots equaled a small fraction of the nearly 2 million ballots cast.
By Jerry Cornfield
A state ethics panel has ordered Democratic state Rep. Tarra Simmons to pay roughly $52,000 in penalties and fees for multiple violations of Washington ethics laws. Three weeks ago, the Legislative Ethics Board ruled the Bremerton lawmaker committed three violations of conflict of interest and special privilege laws and levied $15,000 in fines. The final order adds $37,457.98 to cover staff costs, including state attorneys. Simmons has 90 days to pay the full amount, but is planning to appeal the board’s ruling.
Previously: Washington state lawmaker hit with $15K fine in ethics case | by Jerry Cornfield
By Nikita Biryukov
New Jersey asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to review an appellate ruling that found a federal 2010 law bars states from regulating sports bets offered on prediction markets, arguing the high court should step in because lower courts have split on this issue.
In its filing, the state argued a recent 2-1 decision from the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals would effectively kill all state regulation of sports betting — including for casinos. That decision found sports bets offered by platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket can only be regulated by the federal government.
“Companies like Kalshi claim to offer legal sports betting in all 50 States, but they refuse to follow the gambling laws,” said New Jersey Attorney General Jen Davenport. “These companies have no right to offer their sports bets without following state law, which is why dozens of States across the ideological spectrum have opposed them.”
Meanwhile… Kalshi said yesterday the company would comply with a court-ordered deadline to use so-called geofencing to restrict access to its platform here in Washington. A company spokesperson said that the geofence would be in place by 11:59 p.m. last night. Wagers on sports, politics, entertainment, culture, tech and science are among those that will be blocked under a recent state court ruling here.
Previously: Kalshi ordered to sharply curtail operations in WA | by Jake Goldstein-Street
By Alex Brown
A federal judge ruled this week that New York cannot enforce its “climate Superfund” law, which sought to charge fossil fuel companies $75 billion over 25 years to help the state deal with the costs of climate change. Chief Judge Brenda Sannes of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York ruled that the state law is preempted by the federal Clean Air Act and called the issues covered by the New York legislation “simply beyond the limits of state law.”
ICYMI
Ferguson won’t try to oust WA wildlife commissioners at center of misconduct probe | by Jerry Cornfield
WA officials decry Trump administration’s reported ramp-up in voter fraud investigations | by Jake Goldstein-Street
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