Title: An act relating to voter registration.

Brief Description: Modifying voter registration timelines.

Sponsors: By Representatives Alexander, Nixon, Haigh, Darneille and P. Sullivan.

Brief History:

State Government Operations & Accountability: 2/1/06 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/8/06, 98-0.
Passed Senate: 3/3/06, 48-0.
Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ACCOUNTABILITY

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Green, Vice Chair; Nixon, Ranking Minority Member; Clements, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hunt, McDermott, Miloscia, Schindler and Sump.

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

Background:

An elector may not register to vote or, if registered, may not transfer his or her registration within 30 days of an election, and participate in that election, if he or she plans to vote at a precinct polling site. An elector may register or transfer his or her registration within 15 days of an election and participate in that election, if he or she does so in person at the office of the county auditor or at a voter registration location specifically designated for this purpose. If the registration is made or transferred between 15 and 30 days of an election, the elector must vote by absentee ballot.

Summary of Bill:

The option by which an elector may transfer his or her registration within 15 days of an election is removed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: This bill attempts to help with the accuracy of the registration process. If someone is transferring a registration within 30 days of an election it is possible that they could receive a ballot for both registrations. The Washington Association of County Auditors supports this bill. This bill is about elections integrity. Voters have the right to vote and the responsibility for notifying the auditor of a change of address. Thirty days before the election is when the auditor's run the voter list. If a person transfers his or her registration within the 30 days, it is possible for the person to receive two ballots. The onus is on the county auditor to call or email another county auditor to find out if a ballot was returned. This process is very labor intensive. The Office of the Secretary of State supports the bill. It cleans up the process. Ballots are put in the mail at the same time people are transferring their registrations.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Alexander, prime sponsor; Kim Wyman, Thurston County Auditor; and Shane Hamlin, Office of the Secretary of State.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.