HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5693

As Amended by the House

BYSenators Vognild, Newhouse, Halsan, Conner, Wojahn, Bottiger and Johnson

Insuring employees adequate time to vote.

House Committe on Constitution, Elections & Ethics

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (4)

      Signed by Representatives Fisher, Chair; Pruitt, Vice Chair; Fisch and Leonard.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Amondson and Barnes.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 16, 1987

BACKGROUND:

State law requires polling places to be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at all primaries and elections.

SUMMARY:

Every employer shall arrange employees' working hours on the day of a primary or election so that all employees will have a reasonable time of up to two hours available for voting during the hours the polls are open.  This requirement applies only if there is insufficient time for an absentee ballot to be secured once an employee is informed of his or her work schedule on the day of the primary or election.

If an employee's work schedule does not give the employee two such hours as required, not including meal or rest breaks, the employer shall permit the employee to take a reasonable time of up to two hours from work for voting purposes.  In such a case, the employer shall add this time to the time for which the employee is paid.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Rick Broch, Association of Washington Pulp and Paper Workers; Tawnya Trevino, Washington State Labor Council; Bert Lysen, United Food Workers Local 1105; John Pearson, Office of the Secretary of State.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Gary Lowe, Washington Association of Counties; Patrick Halstead, Class I Railroads.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (1) The bill will ensure that all workers will have the right to vote; in some industries, if a person leaves the work place during working hours it is considered a voluntary quitting of the job.  (2) The bill will increase voter turnout; it is similar to laws in effect in 29 other states.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (1) The bill does not demonstrate how its provisions relate to the absentee ballot system.  On some transportation jobs, employees could be 1,000 miles away from a polling place but would have known in advance and so would have voted by absentee ballot.  (2) There is no means for an employee to present proof that he or she voted.  (3) No provisions are made for emergency situations.