The State Constitution requires the Office of the Secretary of State to produce a voters’ pamphlet for each election where there is a statewide measure, statewide office or constitutional amendment on the ballot. Voters’ pamphlet costs have increased beyond the agency's base budget, and this funding will address the shortfall.

The Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS) owns two units in the Ninth & Lenora Building in Seattle. One unit houses the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), a program of the OSOS, and the other is office space recently vacated by the Seattle Public Library. This additional expenditure authority is provided to reflect an anticipated increase in rent and utility costs, hire an additional FTE to maintain both units, and complete building improvements and ongoing maintenance.

On May 7, 2018, the King County Council approved funding for prepaid postage on ballot return envelopes for all King County voters. Following this approval, the Secretary of State requested emergency funding to provide prepaid postage to the remaining 38 counties to ensure voters across the state had equal access to voting. This funding will reimburse King County for prepaid postage costs incurred in calendar year 2018.