BILL REQ. #:  S-4689.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/09/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to encouraging voter registration among youth; adding a new section to chapter 46.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 29A.04 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds there is an important state interest in increasing the level of voter participation among the youth of this state. The purposes of this act are to increase youth voter participation through increased voter registration, and to encourage the youth of the state of Washington to take pride in their civic responsibilities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.20 RCW to read as follows:
     The department of licensing shall, four times a year, furnish to the county auditors a list of holders of intermediate driver's licenses under RCW 46.20.075 who have attained age seventeen and one-half years or older, together with the addresses and dates of birth of the licensees. The sole purpose of this list is to provide to county auditors the information needed to comply with section 3 of this act. The department shall assess an additional fee of one dollar for each intermediate license to help defray costs of complying with section 3 of this act. The department may retain ten percent of each fee for administrative expenses, and shall remit the remainder to the auditor for the county in which the licensee resides.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 29A.04 RCW to read as follows:
     The county auditor shall prepare and update information concerning upcoming elections and polling places. The auditor shall, during the month in which the licensee's eighteenth birthday occurs, send that information and a voter registration card to each holder of an intermediate driver's license who resides in the county. The information shall contain a concise statement of who is eligible to vote.