H-0088.1          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 1697

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Anderson, McLean, R. Fisher, Pruitt, Jones and Wineberry.

 

Read first time February 6, 1991.  Referred to Committee on State Government.Authorizing satellite offices for absentee voting.


     AN ACT Relating to voting; and adding a new section to chapter 29.36 RCW.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 29.36 RCW to read as follows:

     The county auditor may establish one or more temporary, satellite offices of the auditor's office at which any registered voter of the county may be issued and vote an absentee ballot by personal appearance.  Such a satellite office may be located in any stationary or mobile structure within the county.  It need not be located in a room separated from other activities in such a structure.  For example, it may be located, but is not limited to being located, in the principal pedestrian corridor of a retail shopping mall.

     The issuance of absentee ballots and the supervision of voting at such a satellite office shall be conducted in the same manner as absentee voting by personal appearance in the auditor's office except as provided by this section.  The auditor shall designate an election board to issue the absentee ballots and supervise the voting at each such satellite office.  The composition of the election board shall satisfy the political party representation and other requirements established by this title for election boards assigned to other polling places.

     Absentee ballot voting by personal appearance may be conducted at such a satellite office not earlier than the twentieth day before the primary or special or general election and not later than the day before the primary or election.  The hours and days during which a satellite office is operated in that period shall be established by the auditor.