HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 1563

Voters show identification/polling places            Public Hrg: 2/19/97 

Brief Title                                     1/14/98

Reps. Smith/Koster/Dunn                              Staff Contact: S. Lundin

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7127

BACKGROUND:

A person desiring to vote at a polling place gives his or her name to the precinct election officers and signs his or her name and address in the poll book.   This person is issued a ballot or permitted to enter a voting booth and vote, unless challenged as not being qualified to vote.   A precinct election officer enters the voter=s name in a second poll book.

Registration of a person as a voter is presumptive evidence of his or her right to vote.

Provisions exist for registered voters to challenge the right of a person to vote.  If the challenge is made 30 or more days before an election or primary, the county auditor holds a hearing on the matter and makes the decision prior to the election or primary.  If the challenge is made less than 30 days before an election or primary, including a challenge made by a precinct elections officer at the polling site, the challenged voter votes using a challenged ballot that is secured apart from other cast ballots and a hearing on the matter and determination is made by the county canvassing board after the election.  Only a precinct elections officer may challenge a person=s right to vote at a polling site.

SUMMARY:

A precinct election officer must require that each person appearing at the polling site who announces his or her intent to vote, show identification that the precinct election officer feels is sufficient to identify the person as being the registered voter.  Identification may be shown by means of a Washington State driver=s license, identicard issued by the Department of Licensing, United States passport, or United States military identification.

Failure to present sufficient identification constitutes grounds for a precinct elections officer to challenge the right of a person to vote.

                                                     Continued

HB 1563 - Page 2

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

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