Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government

 

HB 1111

 

Brief Description:  Adjusting time limits for absentee ballot requests.

 

Sponsors:  Representative Bush.

 

Brief Summary of Bill

 

$Changes the last day an absentee ballot may be requested from the day before the election to 15 days before the election.

 

 

Hearing Date:  2/2/01

 

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786‑7191).

 

Background: 

 

In addition to voting at the polls, voters may vote by absentee ballot.  Any registered in‑state voter, out‑of‑state voter, overseas voter, or service voter may request an absentee ballot for any general, special, or primary election.  Generally, the period within which a voter must request an absentee ballot runs from 45 days before the election until the day of the election.  An absentee voter admitted to a hospital five days or earlier before an election may request an absentee ballot on the day of the election.  A voter may request a special absentee ballot up to 90 days before an election if the voter believes he or she will 1) be out of the country, and 2) be unable to vote by normal mail within the period provided for regular absentee ballots.

 

Summary of Bill: 

 

The general period within which a voter must request an absentee ballot runs from 45 days before the election until 15 days before the election.  This provision does not apply to hospital voters, or voters requesting special absentee ballots.

 

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

 

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

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.