HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 804

BYHouse Committee on Constitution, Elections & Ethics (originally sponsored by Representatives Wineberry, Fisher, Brooks, Beck, Ebersole, Hargrove, Appelwick, P. King, Pruitt, Jacobsen, Fisch, Taylor and Rasmussen)

Establishing voter registration programs in high schools.

House Committe on Constitution, Elections & Ethics

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (7)

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

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 13, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The county auditor is the chief registrar of voters for the county.  The auditor is required by law to appoint certain persons as deputy registrars and is authorized to appoint others. The auditor must appoint a deputy registrar for each common school.  The secretary of state is the chief election officer of the state.

SUMMARY:

The superintendent of Public Instruction, with the assistance of the secretary of state and the Auditors Association, shall develop a voter registration and registration education program for high school students.  The principal of each high school is encouraged to use the program.  The superintendent shall disseminate information on the program to all high schools in the state.  The secretary shall design and provide a standard notice informing students of the availability of voter registration. The notice shall be posted in each high school.

Fiscal Note:    Requested February 13, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Jennifer Helget, Office of the Secretary of State; Chuck Sauvage, Common Cause.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Young people have the lowest voter registration rate of any segment of society.  If an education and registration program is established, perhaps more will register and participate in elections at an early age. Those who participate while young are likely to continue to be active voters as they get older.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.