BILL REQ. #:  Z-0910.1 

Prefiled 1/6/2006. Read first time 01/09/2006.   Referred to Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability.

     AN ACT Relating to voting equipment; and amending RCW 29A.12.080, 29A.12.101, 29A.46.020, and 29A.46.110.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.12.080 and 2003 c 111 s 308 are each amended to read as follows:
     No voting device shall be approved by the secretary of state unless it:
     (1) Secures to the voter secrecy in the act of voting;
     (2) Permits the voter to vote for any person for any office and upon any measure that he or she has the right to vote for;
     (3) Permits the voter to vote for all the candidates of one party ((or in part for the candidates of one or more other parties));
     (4) Correctly registers all votes cast for any and all persons and for or against any and all measures;
     (5) Provides that a vote for more than one candidate cannot be cast by one single operation of the voting device or vote tally system except when voting for president and vice president of the United States; and
     (6) Except for functions or capabilities unique to this state, has been tested((,)) and certified((, and used in at least one other state or election jurisdiction)) by an independent testing authority designated by the United States Election Assistance Commission.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.12.101 and 2004 c 271 s 109 are each amended to read as follows:
     The secretary of state shall not approve a vote tallying system unless it:
     (1) Correctly counts votes on ballots on which the proper number of votes have been marked for any office or issue;
     (2) Ignores votes marked for any office or issue where more than the allowable number of votes have been marked, but correctly counts the properly voted portions of the ballot;
     (3) Accumulates a count of the specific number of ballots tallied for each precinct, total votes by candidate for each office, and total votes for and against each issue of the ballot in that precinct;
     (4) Produces precinct and cumulative totals in printed form; and
     (5) Except for functions or capabilities unique to this state, has been tested((,)) and certified((, and used in at least one other state or election jurisdiction)) by an independent testing authority designated by the United States Election Assistance Commission.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.46.020 and 2004 c 267 s 302 are each amended to read as follows:
     "Disability access voting period" means the period of time starting twenty days before an election until ((one day before)) the day of the election.

Sec. 4   RCW 29A.46.110 and 2004 c 267 s 304 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((At the discretion of the county auditor,)) In-person disability access voting ((may take place during the period)) must be available starting twenty days before the day of a primary or election and ending the day ((before)) of the election. During this period, the county auditor must make available a voting system that provides access to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, consistent with the requirements of RCW 29A.12.160. The auditor shall maintain a system or systems to prevent multiple voting. ((The end of the disability access voting period in each county will be determined by the auditor's need and ability to print and distribute poll books to the polls in order to prevent multiple voting.))