Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
State Government Operations & Accountability Committee

HB 2753

Brief Description: Allowing electronic voter registration.

Sponsors: Representatives Haigh, Nixon, Hunt and Tom; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Permits and outlines the process for registering to vote by electronic means.   

Hearing Date: 1/20/06

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

Background:

To register to vote, an application must be submitted to the appropriate County Auditor. The application must include the applicant's name, residential address, date of birth, and a signature attesting that the information provided is true and confirmation that the applicant is a United States citizen. An applicant also must provide a Washington driver's license number or a Washington identification card number. If the applicant does not have a driver's licence or identification card, the last four digits of the applicant's social security number must be provided. If the registrant does not have a driver's license, identification card, or social security number, a unique voter registration number will be issued.

The Secretary of State (Secretary) must verify that either the driver's license number, identification card number, or the last four digits of the social security number match information maintained by the Washington Department of Licensing or the Social Security Administration.

Summary of Bill:

A person may register to vote by completing an electronic voter registration application provided on the Secretary's web site. In order to register electronically, the applicant must have a Washington state driver's license or a Washington identification card, and must agree to use the driver's license or state identification card signature for voter registration purposes. The applicant must give affirmative acceptance of the information as true and the required signature attesting to the truth of the information provided must be obtained from the Department of Licencing.

The applicant is considered registered to vote as of the date of submission of the electronic application.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.