SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   EHB 1071

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,

                                MARCH 25, 1991

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to the appointment of precinct election officers.

SPONSORS:Representatives Anderson, McLean, R. Fisher, Moyer, Dorn, Chandler, Sheldon, Bowman, Winsley, Broback, Edmondson, Paris, Holland, D. Sommers, May, Wynne, Brumsickle, Nealey, Miller, P. Johnson, Casada, Wood, Forner and Mitchell.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Roach, Vice Chairman; Madsen, Matson, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Martin Lovinger (786‑7443)

Hearing Dates:March 25, 1991

BACKGROUND:

The election code requires the chair of each county central committee to submit a list of persons qualified to act as precinct election officers.  The list must be submitted at least 60 days before a primary or election.  The county auditor must appoint precinct election officers from these lists.  For a precinct's three-member election board, the auditor must appoint two officers from the political party whose candidate for President of the United States at the last presidential election received the highest number of votes in the county and one officer from the party whose candidate received the next greatest number of votes.

SUMMARY:

Lists of persons qualified to serve as precinct election officers must be submitted by the chairs of the county central committees to the county auditor by June 1 of each year.  The auditor may delete the names of persons from these lists if the persons:  indicate to the auditor that they cannot or do not wish to serve as such officers or cannot otherwise so serve; or lack the ability to conduct properly the duties of such an election officer after training has been made available to them by the auditor.  If the number of names on the list of a political party is not sufficient to supply the number of election officials needed from that party, the auditor must notify the chair of the county central committee of that party.  The chair has five days after notification to add names to the list.  Afterward, if the list is still not sufficient, the auditor may appoint properly trained persons not on the list, but only to the extent that the list is insufficient.

The auditor must appoint two precinct election officers from the political party which polled the highest number of votes in the county for its candidate for president in the last preceding presidential election and one from the party with the second highest number polled if the number of names on the parties' nomination lists for these positions is sufficient to satisfy this requirement.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Auditors find it difficult to locate sufficient election workers under current conditions which include 14 hours of work at minimum wage.  The provisions would allow greater leeway to find and train election officers.  Last minute rushes to fill spaces with anybody available can be avoided.  Placements will be more effective and efficient.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Alex McLean, sponsor; Vern Spatz, Grays Harbor County Auditor (pro); Bev Allenbaugh, Kittitas County Auditor