Z-0564.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1594

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Ruderman, D. Schmidt, Poulsen, Miloscia, Dunshee and Kagi; by request of Secretary of State

Read first time 01/29/1999.  Referred to Committee on State Government.

Studying on-line voting.

    AN ACT Relating to a study of on-line voting; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The secretary of state shall assemble a task force to conduct a study of the issues and challenges presented by incorporating on-line and Internet technologies in the voting process.  These issues may include the use of on-line technology within existing systems and the requirements for authorization of collection, storage, and processing of electronically generated and transmitted digital messages to permit any eligible person to vote in any election, including applying for and casting an absentee ballot.

    In conducting the study, the secretary of state shall do all of the following:

    (1) Create, and be assisted by, an advisory committee, who serves at the pleasure of the secretary of state, composed of county election staff, technical experts, and such other individuals whom the secretary deems to have expertise in these issues, to research the issues and challenges presented by incorporating on-line and Internet technologies into the voting process;

    (2) Determine and define the appropriate security measures required and minimum standards for certification of systems, and make recommendations concerning statutes and rules to be adopted in order to implement the system;

    (3) Consider the impact of an on-line or Internet voting system on voter participation rates, public accessibility, potential external influences during the elections process, and other issues related to the conduct and administration of elections.

    The secretary of state shall report in writing to the legislature no later than March 1, 2000, on the results of the study required by this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  At the secretary's discretion, the office of the secretary of state, in conjunction with one or more county auditors, may permit limited elections for the purposes of validating the accuracy, integrity, and security of on-line or Internet voting.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  Sections 1 and 2 of this act expire June 30, 2001.

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