FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 6398

                           C 58 L 98

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Regulating voting system tests.

Sponsors:  Senators McCaslin and Winsley; by request of Secretary of State.

Senate Committee on Government Operations

House Committee on Government Administration

Background:  New election equipment must pass an acceptance test, set by the Secretary of State, to show that it is identical to equipment certified by the secretary and is operating correctly.

Programming of election equipment is tested by the secretary, before each state primary or general election, and certified by the secretary, county auditor, and political party observers.

Manuals of recommended procedures for operating election equipment are published by the secretary.

Summary:  An acceptance test need not be set by the Secretary of State or show that equipment is identical, only that it is the same as that which is certified.

The secretary is authorized to adopt rules for testing programming, which is certified by the county auditor and political party observers.

The secretary has discretion to publish procedures that restrict or define operation of election equipment.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 47 0

House     88 0

Effective:  June 11, 1998