H-1026.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1844

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Smith, Koster, L. Thomas, Talcott, Sump, D. Schmidt, Bush, Lambert, Wensman, Mielke, Thompson, Buck, Crouse, Mitchell, Chandler, Ballasiotes, Radcliff, Hankins, B. Thomas, Parlette, McMorris, Schoesler, Backlund and Mulliken

Read first time 02/11/97.  Referred to Committee on Government Administration.

Requiring better identification for voter registration.

    AN ACT Relating to voter registration; and amending RCW 29.07.005, 29.07.070, 29.07.090, 29.07.140, and 29.08.070.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 29.07.005 and 1994 c 57 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

The definitions used in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Identification sufficient to identify the applicant" means 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.

(2) "Information required for voter registration" means the minimum information provided on a voter registration application that is required by the county auditor in order to place a voter registration applicant on the voter registration rolls.  This information includes the applicant's:  (a) Name((,)); (b) complete residence address((,)); (c) date of birth((,)); (d) place of birth and, if the place of birth was outside the United States, then either the applicant's naturalization number or the names and places of birth of both parents; and (e) a signature attesting to the truth of the information provided on the application.  All other information supplied is ancillary and not to be used as grounds for not registering an applicant to vote.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 29.07.070 and 1994 c 57 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

    Except as provided under RCW 29.07.260, an applicant for voter registration shall complete an application providing the following information concerning his or her qualifications as a voter in this state:

    (1) The address of the last former registration of the applicant as a voter in the state;

    (2) The applicant's full name;

    (3) The applicant's date of birth;

    (4) The applicant's place of birth and, if the place of birth is outside the United States, then either the applicant's naturalization number or the names and places of birth of both parents;

(5) The address of the applicant's residence for voting purposes;

    (((5))) (6) The mailing address of the applicant if that address is not the same as the address in subsection (((4))) (5) of this section;

    (((6))) (7) The sex of the applicant;

    (((7))) (8) A declaration that the applicant is a citizen of the United States; and

    (((8))) (9) Any other information that the secretary of state determines is necessary to establish the identity of the applicant and prevent duplicate or fraudulent voter registrations.

    This information shall be recorded on a single registration form to be prescribed by the secretary of state.

    If the applicant fails to provide the information required for voter registration, the auditor shall send the applicant a verification notice.  The auditor shall not register the applicant until the required information is provided.  If a verification notice is returned as undeliverable or the applicant fails to respond to the notice within forty-five days, the auditor shall not register the applicant to vote.

In addition, an applicant for voter registration shall show identification sufficient to identify the applicant.  If the applicant fails to show identification sufficient to identify the applicant, the registrar shall not accept the application for registration.

    The following warning shall appear in a conspicuous place on the voter registration form:

    "If you knowingly provide false information on this voter registration form or knowingly make a false declaration about your qualifications for voter registration you will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, or by a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both imprisonment and fine."

    Sec. 3.  RCW 29.07.090 and 1994 c 57 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

    At the time of registering, a voter shall sign his or her name upon a signature card to be transmitted to the secretary of state.  The voter shall also provide his or her first name followed by the last name or names and the name of the county in which he or she is registered and shall show identification sufficient to identify the applicant.

    Sec. 4.  RCW 29.07.140 and 1994 c 57 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The secretary of state shall specify by rule the format of all voter registration applications and shall specify by rule how identification sufficient to identify the applicant is determined.  The application form must include space for the registrar to acknowledge that the applicant has shown identification sufficient to identify the applicant.  These applications shall be compatible with existing voter registration records.  An applicant for voter registration shall be required to complete only one application and to provide the required information other than his or her signature no more than one time.  These applications shall also contain information for the voter to transfer his or her registration.

    Any application format specified by the secretary for use in registering to vote in state and local elections shall satisfy the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-31) for registering to vote in federal elections.

    (2) The secretary of state shall adopt by rule a uniform data format for transferring voter registration records on machine-readable media.

    (3) All registration applications required under RCW 29.07.070 and 29.07.260 shall be produced and furnished by the secretary of state to the county auditors and the department of licensing.

    (4) The secretary of state shall produce and distribute any instructional material and other supplies needed to implement RCW 29.07.260 through 29.07.300 and 46.20.155.

    (5) Any notice or statement that must be provided under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-31) to prospective registrants concerning registering to vote in federal elections shall also be provided to prospective registrants concerning registering to vote under this title in state and local elections as well as federal elections.

    Sec. 5.  RCW 29.08.070 and 1993 c 434 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    The secretary of state shall adopt an application form for registering by mail under RCW 29.07.140 and how the applicant shall show identification that is sufficient to identify the applicant.  An applicant registering to vote by mail shall be required to complete only one form and to provide the required information, other than his or her signature, no more than once, and shall be required to show identification that is sufficient to identify the applicant.  The form shall also contain instructions on its use, a notification of filing deadlines, a warning to the applicant of the penalty for knowingly supplying false information, and space for the county auditor to enter the voter's precinct identification, taxing district identification, and registration number.  The secretary of state shall develop the form in consultation with the county auditors.

                            --- END ---