H-1027.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1563

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Smith, Koster, Dunn, Sherstad, Carrell, Zellinsky, D. Sommers, L. Thomas, B. Thomas, Hickel, Talcott, Bush, Wensman and Scott

Read first time 01/30/97.  Referred to Committee on Government Administration.

Requiring voters to show identification when voting at polling places.

    AN ACT Relating to requiring voters to show identification when voting at polling places; and amending RCW 29.51.060 and 29.10.125.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 29.51.060 and 1990 c 59 s 41 are each amended to read as follows:

    If any person appears to vote at any primary or election as a registered voter in the jurisdiction where the primary or election is being held, the precinct election officers shall require the voter to  show identification to the precinct election officers that the precinct election officers feel is sufficient to identify the person as being the registered voter under whose name the person is trying to vote and to sign his or her name and current address subject to penalties of perjury in one of the precinct lists of registered voters.  If the person registered using a mark or can no longer sign his or her name, the election officers shall require the person offering to vote to be identified by another registered voter.  Identification may be shown by means of a Washington state driver's license, identicard issued by the department of licensing under RCW 46.20.117, United States passport, or United States military identification.  A precinct election officer may challenge a person's right to vote under RCW 29.10.125.

    As soon as it is determined that the person is qualified to vote, one of the precinct election officers shall enter the voter's name in a second poll book.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 29.10.125 and 1987 c 288 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    Registration of a person as a voter is presumptive evidence of his or her right to vote at any primary or election, general or special.  A person's right to vote may be challenged at the polls only by a precinct election officer.  A challenge may be made only upon the belief or knowledge of the challenging officer that the voter is unqualified, except that a precinct election officer may make a challenge if the person, when attempting to vote under RCW 29.51.060, fails to show identification that the precinct officer feels is sufficient to identify the person as being the registered voter under whose name the person is trying to vote.  The challenge must be supported by evidence or testimony given to the county canvassing board under RCW 29.10.127 and may not be based on unsupported allegations or allegations by anonymous third parties.  The identity of the challenger, and any third person involved in the challenge, shall be public record and shall be announced at the time the challenge is made.

    Challenges initiated by a registered voter must be filed not later than the day before any primary or election, general or special, at the office of the appropriate county auditor.  A challenged voter may properly transfer or reregister until three days before the primary or election, general or special, by applying personally to the county auditor.

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