HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 2306

Verifying citizenship at voter registration          Hrg. Date:  1/15/98

Brief Title

Rep.Smith                                                     Staff Contact: S. Lundin

Sponsor                                     Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7127

BACKGROUND:

1.   Voter registration requirements.

Various voter registration programs exist.

When a person is registered to vote, only certain information is required to be provided, which includes the applicant=s name, complete residential address, date of birth, and a signature attesting to the truth of the information that is provided.  Voter registration forms must include a warning that the provision of false information constitutes a class C felony.

Each applicant is required to sign an attestation that he or she: (1) Is a citizen of the United States; (2) has not been denied civil rights as a result of being convicted for a felony; (3) will have lived in the state for at the provided address for at least 30 days prior to the next election; and (4) is at least 18 years of age.

2.   National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 establishes various requirements for registering persons to vote at any election where federal offices are considered.  Registration by mail must be allowed. A person must be offered the opportunity to register to vote when he or she applies for a driver=s license, public assistance or disability services.

Among other requirements, only the Aminimal amount of information@ may be required when a person registers to vote that is necessary to prevent duplicate voter registration and to enable the registrar to Aassess the eligibility of the applicant and to administer voter registration.@

                                                     Continued

HB 2306 - Page 2

SUMMARY:

Voter registration forms are altered to require applicants to indicate their citizenship.  An application to vote is not complete unless the applicant=s citizenship is indicated as being United States citizenship.

The state=s motor voter registration law is altered to require the licensing agent to ask the following as a single question:

AAre you a United States citizen and do you want to register to vote or transfer your voter registration?@

The agent must provide the applicant with a voter registration form if the applicant responds in the affirmative to this inquiry.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

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

Savings clause is included.