BILL REQ. #:  H-3965.1 

Read first time 01/22/2004.   Referred to Committee on State Government.

     AN ACT Relating to using the address of a primary place of business as the address of a residence for voting purposes; amending RCW 29A.08.010, 29A.08.210, and 29A.08.230; adding a new section to chapter 29A.08 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 29A.08 RCW to read as follows:
     "Residence for voting purposes" means either the place at which an applicant for voter registration resides or the primary place of business of an applicant, if that applicant's residence is within the same county as the business. In order to provide the address of a primary place of business as the address of a residence for voting purposes, at least a majority of the business must be owned by the applicant.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.08.010 and 2003 c 111 s 201 are each amended to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter: "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 name, complete residence address, complete business address if the business address is being used as the residence for registration purposes, date of birth, and 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. 3   RCW 29A.08.210 and 2003 c 111 s 216 are each amended to read as follows:
     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 address of the applicant's residence for voting purposes. If the applicant is providing the address of a primary place of business as the applicant's residence for voting purposes, the applicant shall also provide the address of the applicant's home residence;
     (5) The mailing address of the applicant if that address is not the same as the address in subsection (4) of this section;
     (6) The sex of the applicant;
     (7) A declaration that the applicant is a citizen of the United States;
     (8) The applicant's signature; and
     (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.
     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. 4   RCW 29A.08.230 and 2003 c 111 s 218 are each amended to read as follows:
     For all voter registrations, the registrant shall sign the following oath:

     "I declare that the facts on this voter registration form are true. I am a citizen of the United States, I am not presently denied my civil rights as a result of being convicted of a felony, I will have lived in Washington at ((this)) the residence address provided for thirty days immediately before the next election at which I vote, and maintained my business at the primary business location indicated if I am registering my business as my residence for voting purposes, and I will be at least eighteen years old when I vote."

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   This act takes effect July 1, 2004.