Sen. Cyrus Habib, D-Bellevue, the sponsor of the Washington State Voting Rights Act (SB 5668), issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed companion legislation (HB 1745) on Thursday:

“For the fourth straight year, the House of Representatives has moved our state closer to ensuring voting rights for all. The Washington State Voting Rights Act is a responsible and balanced solution that gives communities across our state an equal voice in local decisions on electoral issues.

“Fairness and participation in government is a founding principle of the United States. Since the birth of our country, millions of Americans have been denied the right to vote and have fought to right this injustice. The people who make up our government, whether it’s at the local, county, state or federal level, should have the ability to accurately reflect and represent their constituency.

“I encourage my colleagues in the Senate, in both parties, to consider the Washington State Voting Rights Act to make sure that all voices in the State of Washington have equal power. We have an opportunity to stand on the right side of history by passing this piece of legislation.”