Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government & Tribal Relations Committee

HB 1545

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Concerning curing ballots to assure that votes are counted.

Sponsors: Representatives Mead, Hudgins, Morgan, Ramos, Gregerson, Wylie, Appleton, Bergquist, Doglio, Jinkins and Pollet.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires that records of returned ballots that have declarations with missing or mismatched signatures be continually updated as ballots are canvassed or voters are contacted to cure deficiencies.

  • Provides that those records are public records that must be disclosed no later than 48 hours after an update is made.

Hearing Date: 2/1/19

Staff: Jason Zolle (786-7124).

Background:

Washington permits voting by mail. County auditors must send each voter a ballot with instructions about how to mark and return the ballot to the auditor.

Ballots delivered to voters must include a space for the voter to sign a declaration under penalty of perjury recognizing that:

The county auditor or county canvassing board processes returned ballots. If the auditor has more than 500 ballots left to canvass, the ballots must be canvassed daily—or in a county with fewer than 75,000 people, at least every third day. Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays do not count, however.

When the county processes returned ballots, it is required to verify that the voter's signature on the ballot declaration matches the signature of that voter in the county's registration files. Canvassing personnel receive training on statewide standards for signature verification.

If the ballot declaration is unsigned or the signature does not match the voter's registration, the county auditor must notify the voter by mail of the correct procedures to cure the defect. If the auditor does not receive the ballot until there are fewer than three days remaining before the county canvassing board's final meeting, the auditor must notify the voter by telephone. The auditor also must telephone the voter if the voter has not responded to the mailed notice by three days before the board's final meeting.

A record must be kept of all returned ballots that have declarations with missing or mismatched signatures. The record must list the date on which the voter was contacted or the notice was mailed, as well as the date on which the voter submitted updated information (if the voter does so). This record of noncompliant ballots and voter contact is a public record under the Public Records Act (PRA) and may be disclosed to interested parties upon written request.

Summary of Bill:

The record of returned ballots that have declarations with missing or mismatched signatures must be updated each day that the county canvasses ballots, each time a voter is contacted or a notice is mailed, and each time a voter submits updated information. This record of noncompliant ballots and voter contact is a public record under the PRA and must be disclosed no later than 48 hours after an update is made.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.