Civic Engagement Program (CEP)

The Washington Office of the Secretary of State recognizes the importance of fostering active civic engagement among all communities within the state, including Communities of Color. Effective civic engagement ensures that all voices are heard in the democratic process, leading to a more inclusive and representative governance.

The Communities of Color outreach program is dedicated to providing culturally competent civic education in partnership with community organizations, advocacy groups, cultural associations, and elected leaders at the county and municipal levels. Working together, the CEP program and partners looks to:

• Increase voter registration and turnout among Communities of Color.
• Provide accessible and culturally relevant civic education resources.
• Forster partnerships with community organizations and leaders to amplify outreach efforts.
• Promote diversity and inclusion in public offices and leadership roles.

 Email at [email protected]

The Tribal Engagement Outreach Program is dedicated to ensuring that all Federally recognized Tribes, Tribal communities, and Tribal organizations within Washington State have equitable access to resources, representation, and opportunities to shape civic life. The Civic Engagement Program’s goal is to work directly with these sovereign nations, and organizations that serve them, to expand access to civic knowledge, strengthen civic identity, and ensure every eligible voter understands their rights.

Native Americans continue to face barriers to civic participation due to racism and a long history of exclusion from public decision-making despite the United States enacting the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, and the Nationality Act of 1940, which reaffirmed Native American's birthright citizenship. In 2019, Washington State became the first state in the country to pass a voting rights act specifically for Native Americans. Senator John McCoy (Dist. 38) an enrolled Tulalip Tribal member, sponsored and championed the Native American Voting Rights Act, which aimed to improve voting access for Indigenous communities across the state. Sen. McCoy stated that "Voter participation is not a partisan issue; it is the foundation of our democratic system and must be protected by all sides. Democrats and Republicans should be able to work together to ensure that our electoral system works in the interest of all Americans."

Leslie Burnett Locke (she/her) leads the outreach efforts to Tribal nations and communities within Washington State. Leslie joins the office after spending time working for elected officials and after completing her law degree with specialized courses in Tribal law.

Register to Vote

Drop Box and Voting Center Locations (available for April 28, 2026 Special Election)

 Email at [email protected]

 Book time to meet with her

The Rural Communities outreach program is dedicated to ensuring that all of Washington's rural communities have equitable access to resources, representation, and opportunities to shape civic life.

In partnership with libraries, colleges, community organizations, and others within the OSOS, we support the following projects:

1. Rural Civic Engagement Workshops
2. The Civic Storytelling Project
3. The Civic Toolkit Project
4. Civic Engagement Office Hours (during the 2026 Legislative Session)

Michael Bowman came to the Office of the Secretary of State in April 2024 after spending the previous 15 years in higher education, with faculty appointments at The Evergreen State College in Olympia and Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Michael is committed to collaborative, place-based, and culturally-sustaining civic education and engagement.

 Email Michael at [email protected]

 Book time to meet with him

The Criminal Justice outreach program supports Washingtonians who are incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, or otherwise impacted by the legal system. Many justice-impacted individuals face barriers to civic participation, limited access to clear information, and a long history of exclusion from public decision-making. The Civic Engagement Program works directly with these communities and the organizations that serve them to expand access to civic knowledge, strengthen civic identity, and ensure every eligible voter understands their rights.

In partnership with county jails, county and local agencies/offices, juvenile facilities, reentry organizations, libraries, social-service providers, and community-based advocates, CEP supports efforts such as in-custody civic workshops, jail-based voter registration, and tailored civic curriculum for reentry and community settings. This includes delivering Civics 101 and Civics Academy content inside facilities and in the community and collaborating with Elections to clarify Washington’s voting-rights laws for justice-impacted voters.

Recent efforts include statewide voter-rights mailings to formerly incarcerated Washingtonians, expanded jail-voting outreach in partnership with county and community stakeholders, and ongoing collaboration with reentry organizations to strengthen community-led civic engagement initiatives. Findings from the University of Washington Evans School’s study of jail voting, commissioned by OSOS, also informed by HB 1146, the agency-requested bill aimed at strengthening consistency and access for voters in county jails.

David Lund leads the Criminal Justice outreach effort. With lived experience in the justice system and a professional background in advocacy, direct service, and public policy, David works to ensure that every person has a clear, accessible path to participate in Washington’s civic landscape.

Voting in Washington’s County Jails: Challenges, Obstacles, and Recommendations is a report produced by the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary of State. The findings have informed both CEP outreach and HB 1146, the agency-request legislation designed to strengthen access and establish more consistent civic practices in county jails. CEP uses these findings to support counties and community partners working to expand civic access for people in custody.

Link to HB 1146

 Email David at [email protected]

  Book time to meet with him

What is civic engagement?

Civic engagement means to identify, learn about, and address issues of public concern with the aim to improve the quality of life in a community through political and nonpolitical actions.

Why is civic engagement important?

We believe that every person in Washington has a right to civic engagement. Our mission is to ensure that they have the maximum possible opportunities and knowledge to exercise that right.

I am a leader or member of a community-based organization or nonprofit. Can I get in touch with your program to discuss how you might support our efforts to get our members civically engaged?

Absolutely! Email us directly at [email protected].

What kind of stuff does the CEP do?

We’re glad you asked! In the last year, the CEP has accomplished quite a lot. Here’s a few of the highlights:

-Civic Engagement Workshops – CEP held nine workshops related to civic values, civic storytelling, and civic participation at the local, state, and federal level in collaboration with Voter Information Services and with community organizations, libraries, and Department of Corrections Reentry Centers.

-Criminal Justice Voter Outreach – more than 27,000 letters were sent to formerly incarcerated voters to inform them of their voting rights, which yielded nearly 1,000 new voters in the November 2024 general election.

-Relationship Building and Community Engagement – in 2024, CEP built initial relationships with 76 community organizations, libraries, and state agencies and local governments and participated in community-led civic engagement events.

-“Library of Things” Civic Backpack Program – in collaboration with Washington State Libraries, local libraries, and the Washington Youth Arts Leadership Program of ArtsWA, CEP is developing a “Library of Things” Civic Backpack Program. The backpacks will include objects, materials, and activities to encourage civic literacy and creative participation in civic life.