HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HCR 4406

Estab. Jt. Sel. Committee/Absentee Voting       Public Hrg: 2/28/97

Brief Title

Reps. D. Schmidt/Scott/D. Sommers               Staff Contact: S. Lundin

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7127

BACKGROUND:

The processing of absentee ballots may commence 10 days prior to the date of the election or primary for which they are issued.

If the ballots will be tabulated without using electronic vote tallying machines, the inner security envelopes remain sealed and are placed in containers secured with numbered seals.  The remaining processing and tabulating occurs after the close of the polls on the day of the election or primary.

If the ballots will be tabulated with electronic vote tallying machines, the inner security envelope may be opened, the ballots removed, and all the Anormal procedural steps@ may be performed before the ballots are placed into containers secured with numbered seals.  Ballots are removed from the sealed containers and tabulated after the close of the polls on the day of the election or primary.

SUMMARY:

A joint select committee on absentee voting is established to review absentee voting procedures and security.  The committee consists of 13 members, as follows: (1) Four members of the House of Representatives, two from each caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (2) Four members of the Senate, two from each caucus, appointed by the President of the Senate; (3) one member appointed by the secretary of state; (4) one member appointed by the Washington Association of County Auditors; (5) one member appointed by the Republican State Central Committee; (6) one member appointed by the Democratic State Central Committee; and (7) one member of the general public appointed by joint action of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate.

The committee reports its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by adjournment of the 1998 regular session.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not Requested.