SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5146

                    AS OF JANUARY 25, 1993

Brief Description:  Granting ongoing absentee status for voting armed service members.

SPONSORS: Senators Winsley, Sheldon and Oke

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Staff:  Barbara Howard (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: January 26, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Disabled voters or those over the age of 65 years may request to be granted "ongoing" absentee status, rather than having to ask the county auditor for an absentee ballot for each election.  Voting members of the armed forces are not accorded this privilege.

Ongoing absentee status is terminated upon written request of the voter, the voter's death or disqualification, cancellation of the voter's registration record, return of an ongoing absentee ballot as undeliverable or on January 1 of each odd-numbered year.  A separate statute requires the county auditor to offer renewal of the ongoing absentee voter status every two years.

SUMMARY:

Any voter who is a member of the armed forces may apply for status as an ongoing absentee voter.  The ongoing absentee status for the military voter is terminated on January 1 of each year.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested