BILL REQ. #:  S-0185.1 

Read first time 01/13/2005.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to indication of voter abstention; and amending RCW 29A.36.111.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.36.111 and 2004 c 271 s 128 are each amended to read as follows:
     Every ballot for a single combination of issues, offices, and candidates shall be uniform within a precinct and shall identify the type of primary or election, the county, and the date of the primary or election, and the ballot or voting device shall contain instructions on the proper method of recording a vote, including write-in votes and abstentions. Each position, together with the names of the candidates for that office and an opportunity for the voter to indicate abstention from voting on that office, shall be clearly separated from other offices or positions in the same jurisdiction. The offices in each jurisdiction shall be clearly separated from each other. No paper ballot or ballot card may be marked in any way that would permit the identification of the person who voted that ballot.