FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5227

C 391 L 19

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning deadlines for receipt of voter registrations by election officials.

Sponsors: Senators Kuderer, Hunt, Takko, Nguyen and Billig.

Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections

House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations

Background: Registering to Vote. Persons who are age eighteen or older and who are United States citizens that have lived in the state, county, and precinct for 30 days immediately preceding an election are entitled to vote. The National Voter Registration Act requires states to provide the opportunity to register to vote for federal elections.

Washington adopted the Motor Voter Act, requiring the Department of Licensing (DOL) to provide voter registration services. In addition to DOL, the following agencies and programs offer voter registration:

• the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Community Services Division;

• the DSHS Aging and Long-Term Support Administration;

• the DSHS Division of Vocational Rehabilitation;

• the DSHS Developmental Disabilities Administration;

• the DSHS Aging and Disabilities Service Administration;

• the Department of Services for the Blind;

• the Health Care Authority; and

• the Health Benefit Exchange.

Voter Registration Deadlines. To register to vote a person must submit an application via mail, or an online registration, or at a state agency no later than eight days before the day of the next primary, special, or general election, or in person at their county auditor's office by 8:00 p.m. on the night of the election.

A person may update voter registration by 8:00 p.m. on the night of the election for the change to be effective for that election. A voter who does not transfer the voter's residential information by that deadline may still vote, but will vote in races affecting the voter's previous address.

Summary: A person updating their voter registration by changing their address by any method other than in person at the county auditor's office must do so no later than eight days before the day of the next primary, special, or general election for the change to be effective for that election.

Any initial voter registration or update must be received by a staff member of the Secretary of State or county auditor eight days before the next election to be timely.

Votes on Final Passage: