SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6709

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Government Operations & Elections, February 6, 2004

Title: An act relating to encouraging voter registration among youth.

Brief Description: Promoting voter registration among youth.

Sponsors: Senators Roach, Kastama, Fairley, McCaslin, Stevens, Schmidt, Shin, Berkey, Horn, Kline, Jacobsen, Keiser, McAuliffe, Winsley, B. Sheldon and Eide.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/6/04 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6709 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Stevens, Vice Chair; Fairley, Horn, Kastama and McCaslin.

Staff: Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background: To hold an intermediate drivers' license, a person must be at least 16 years of age. The intermediate license includes the person's date of birth and address. The fee charged by the Department of Licensing is $5 per year for each year the license is issued. To register to vote, a person must be 18 years of age.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The county auditor must send to a holder of an intermediate drivers' license in the month of the person's 18th birthday, a voter registration card and information about upcoming elections and polling places. The information necessary to send the card and information comes from the Department of Licensing and is sent initially when the driver becomes 17 1/2 years of age or older.

The Department of Licensing must assess an additional fee of $1 for each intermediate drivers' license, 10 cents of which going to the department and 90 cents of which going to the county auditor.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute bill requires information to come from the Department of Licensing only when the intermediate license holder is 17 1/2 years old or older.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This is such a good idea that the Secretary of State is already doing something very similar. Percentage of voter turnout unfortunately correlates with voters' age. With the income stream of this bill, more outreach to young voters could be accomplished. It seems that the auditors potentially would have to keep records from the time the intermediate driver is 16, but as far as costs go, the fee amount and distribution is adequate to cover costs of both agencies.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Sam Reed, Secretary of State (pro); Kim Wyman, WA Assn. of Auditors (pro); Hal Lymus, Secretary of State (pro); Derek Goudriaan, DOL.