Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
State Government & Tribal Relations Committee
SSB 5208
Brief Description: Updating the process for online voter registration by allowing voter applicants to provide the last four digits of social security number for authentication.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on State Government & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Trudeau, King, Hunt, Nobles, Randall, Keiser, Kuderer, Lovick, Salda?a, Hasegawa, Liias, Conway, Frame, Nguyen, Pedersen, Stanford, Valdez, Wellman and Wilson, C.; by request of Secretary of State).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Permits people to register to vote online by providing the last four digits of their social security number.
  • Permits people to register to vote online with a tribal identification card without regard for whether the Secretary of State (Secretary) can obtain their signature from the federal government or the tribe.
  • Requires people who register to vote online with a tribal identification card or social security number to submit a signature image to the Secretary or as part of the confirmation notice process.
  • Requires people who register to vote online to confirm their United States citizenship and review the registration oath online as part of the registration process.
Hearing Date: 3/10/23
Staff: Jason Zolle (786-7124).
Background:

Voter Registration.

The Governor and Secretary of State (Secretary) designate certain state agencies to provide voter registration services.  These designated agencies provide voter registration services for employees and the public in each office of the agency.

 

Applicants registering to vote must submit an application with their name, residential address, and date of birth, and they must check a box confirming their United States citizenship.  The applicant must also sign the application to attest to the truth of the information provided.

 

An applicant may register to vote online if the applicant has a Washington driver's license or state identification card.  The Secretary must obtain a digital copy of the driver's license or identification card from the Department of Licensing.  An applicant may also register online if they have a valid tribal identification card if the Secretary can obtain a copy of their signature from the federal government or the tribe.
Summary of Bill:

An applicant may register to vote online by providing the last four digits of their social security number.

 

An applicant may register to vote online with a tribal identification card without regard for whether the Secretary can obtain their signature from the federal government or the tribe.

 

An applicant who registers to vote online using a tribal identification card or social security number must submit a signature image to the Secretary or as part of the confirmation notice process.

 

An applicant who registers to vote online must confirm their United States citizenship by reviewing the registration oath online as part of the registration process.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 15, 2024.