Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SSB 6269 (2024) established the alternative verification options pilot project, allowing county auditors to test methods other than signature verification to verify that the person who returned a ballot was the intended voter. RCW 29A.40.111 establishes that the secretary of state has rule-making authority related to the approval process, standards, and procedures of the pilot project. This rule-making process will establish those additional rules for standardized pilot projects.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Dave Piersma, P.O. Box 40229, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-902-4172, fax 360-664-4619, email dave.piersma@sos.wa.gov, website sos.wa.gov/elections; or Victoria Donahue, P.O. Box 40229, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-5788, fax 360-664-4619, email victoria.donahue@sos.wa.gov, website sos.wa.gov/elections.