SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6873

                     As of April 27, 2000

Title:  An act relating to reporting of election returns.

Brief Description:  Clarifying procedures for reporting of election returns.

Sponsors:  Senators Gardner and Horn.

Brief History:

  Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  County auditors may combine, unite, or divide precincts during any special election, primary, or general election.

Immediately after ascertaining the official results of a state primary or general election, the county election officer must make an abstract of the number of registered voters in each precinct and of all the votes cast in the county at such primary or general election for and against state measures and for each candidate.  The abstract must be transmitted to the Secretary of State no later than the next business day following the certification by the county canvassing board.

Not later than March 31 of the year following each general election, the county election officer must provide to the Secretary of State a report of the number of absentee ballots cast in each precinct for and against state measures and for each candidate.  Absentee ballot results may be incorporated into votes cast at the polls for each precinct or may be reported separately on a precinct-by-precinct basis.  If absentee ballots are not incorporated into votes cast at the polls, the county election officer may aggregate the results from more than one precinct if the officer finds that reporting a single precinct=s absentee ballot results would jeopardize the secrecy of the person=s ballot.

Summary of Bill:  The county auditor=s authority to combine, unite, or divide precincts during a general election is eliminated.

The county auditor must report all election returns at any general election by individual precinct. 

Returns of absentee ballots and ballots cast at the polls from the same precinct may be reported  together or separately. 

Absentee ballot reports are included in an abstract which must be transmitted to the Secretary of State no later than the next business day following the certification by the county canvassing board.

The results of ballots cast at the polls (as well as absentee ballots) may be aggregated from more than one precinct by the county election officer to protect the secrecy of a person=s ballot.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.