HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 1508

Maintaining list of absentee ballots                 Public Hrg:  2/11/97

Brief Title                                     1/14/98

Reps. Wensman/D. Schmidt/Cooper                 Staff Contact: S. Lundin

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7127

BACKGROUND:

Voters may cast their ballots under several different procedures.  The most common procedure is for voters to appear at designated polling sites and cast their ballots.  Increasingly voters are using an alternative procedure and cast their ballots using absentee ballots.  A voter may obtain an absentee ballot for a single primary or election or may become an ongoing absentee voter and automatically obtain an absentee ballot for each subsequent primary or election.

At any primary, general or special election, any political party or committee may designate a person for each polling place to check a list of registered voters to determine who has and has not voted.  That person may not be a precinct election officer, and the party or committee must provide the list of voters.

SUMMARY:

The county auditor is required to maintain a list of absentee ballots that have been returned.  The county auditor begins that list on the first day that absentee ballots may be processed.  The list must be updated at the end of each business day up to and including the Monday before the election or primary.  The list must be made available to the public to view.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.