SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   EHB 1041

                             AS OF MARCH 19, 1991

Brief Description:  Authorizing facsimile filing of election documents.

SPONSORS:Representatives Anderson, McLean, Cantwell, Ferguson, Broback, Tate, Basich, May, Miller, Vance and Mitchell; by request of Secretary of State.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Staff:  Martin Lovinger (786-7443)

Hearing Dates:

BACKGROUND:

The Election Code requires a variety of election-related documents to be filed with the county auditor and the Secretary of State within certain prescribed deadlines.  There is no procedure for filing these documents by facsimile transmission.

SUMMARY:

The following may be filed with the Secretary of State or county auditor by electronic facsimile transmission:  declarations of candidacy, certification of candidates and measures by the secretary, candidates' pamphlet statements, arguments for and against ballot measures, requests for absentee ballots, county canvass reports, requests for recounts, and directives by the secretary for mandatory recounts.  The secretary may, by rule, authorize other election-related documents to be filed in this manner.

The document must be filed in a timely manner, must be legible, and must otherwise satisfy the requirements of law regarding form and content.  If the original document must be signed and a copy is filed by facsimile transmission, the original must be subsequently filed as well.  The secretary must identify the deadlines for filing these original, signed copies and may also require originals of other documents be filed following the filing of copies by facsimile transmission.  The secretary must adopt rules implementing this filing procedure.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available