SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6187

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1994

Brief Description:  Permitting relief for election officers.

SPONSORS: Senators Drew, Winsley, Spanel and Haugen; by request of Secretary of State

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, McCaslin, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: January 26, 1994; January 28, 1994

BACKGROUND:

In all precincts that do not vote by mail, at least ten days prior to any primary or election, general or special, the county auditor appoints one inspector and two judges of election for each precinct.  These appointees are the precinct election officers who comprise the election board.  One or more clerks may also be appointed in precincts which do not use voting machines.

There shall be but one set of election officers in each precinct.  Most precincts using paper ballots are exempt.  These precincts may have two or more sets of precinct election officials appointed.  One or more sets shall be designated as the counting board or boards.  One set shall be designated as the receiving board.

Each appointee shall represent a major political party.  The political party representation of each set of precinct election officers shall be equal whenever possible, but in no event shall a single political party be represented by more than a majority of one at each polling place.

The compensation paid to the officers of election shall be fixed by the board of commissioners of each county, within specified guidelines.

SUMMARY:

More than one set of election officers may be appointed for each precinct, but only one set shall be present in each precinct at any one time.

The county auditor may appoint relief or replacement precinct election officers at any time during the election day so long as they are of the same political party as the officer they are relieving or replacing.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 17, 1994

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill allows senior citizens who are poll workers to get relief from their 16 to 18 hour days so they can have lunch, split shifts or take breaks.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Ralph Munro, Secretary of State