BILL REQ. #:  S-1289.2 

Read first time 02/21/2005.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to voter registration; amending RCW 29A.08.115, 29A.08.115, 29A.08.210, and 29A.08.220; adding a new section to chapter 29A.84 RCW; prescribing penalties; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.08.115 and 2003 c 111 s 207 are each amended to read as follows:
     Every registration assistant shall keep registration supplies at his or her usual place of residence or usual place of business. A person or organization collecting voter registration application forms must transmit the forms to the secretary of state or a designee at least once weekly. A person or organization collecting voter registration application forms may not make a photocopy or any other replication of the voter registration form unless authorized to do so under the provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.08.115 and 2004 c 267 s 108 are each amended to read as follows:
     A person or organization collecting voter registration application forms must transmit the forms to the secretary of state or a designee at least once weekly. A person or organization collecting voter registration application forms may not make a photocopy or any other replication of the voter registration form unless authorized to do so under the provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.08.210 and 2003 c 111 s 216 are each amended to read as follows:
     An applicant for voter registration shall complete an application providing the following information concerning his or her qualifications as a voter in this state:
     (1) The address of the last former registration of the applicant as a voter in the state;
     (2) The applicant's full name;
     (3) The applicant's date of birth;
     (4) The address of the applicant's residence for voting purposes;
     (5) The mailing address of the applicant if that address is not the same as the address in subsection (4) of this section;
     (6) The sex of the applicant;
     (7) A declaration that the applicant is a citizen of the United States;
     (8) The applicant's signature; and
     (9) Any other information that the secretary of state determines is necessary to establish the identity of the applicant and prevent duplicate or fraudulent voter registrations.
     This information shall be recorded on a single registration form to be prescribed by the secretary of state.
     If the applicant fails to provide the information required for voter registration, the auditor shall send the applicant a verification notice. The auditor shall not register the applicant until the required information is provided. If a verification notice is returned as undeliverable or the applicant fails to respond to the notice within forty-five days, the auditor shall not register the applicant to vote.
     The following warning shall appear in a conspicuous place on the voter registration form:

     "If you knowingly provide false information on this voter registration form or knowingly make a false declaration about your qualifications for voter registration you will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, or by a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both imprisonment and fine."

     Voter registration applications purchased and printed after the effective date of this section shall also contain the following warning in a conspicuous place on the form:

     "To ensure proper and timely processing of this voter registration application, personally place the completed form in the mail or return it directly to the county auditor or secretary of state. Unauthorized duplication of voter registration forms is a class C felony punishable up to five years and/or ten thousand dollars."

     Voter registration forms already printed without the above warning may be used until stocks have run out.

Sec. 4   RCW 29A.08.220 and 2004 c 267 s 115 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The secretary of state shall specify by rule the format of all voter registration applications. These applications shall be compatible with existing voter registration records. An applicant for voter registration shall be required to complete only one application and to provide the required information other than his or her signature no more than one time. These applications shall also contain information for the voter to transfer his or her registration.
     Any application format specified by the secretary for use in registering to vote in state and local elections shall satisfy the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-31) and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-252) for registering to vote in federal elections.
     (2) All registration applications required under RCW 29A.08.210 and 29A.08.340 shall be produced and furnished by the secretary of state to the county auditors and the department of licensing.
     (3) No election official, including county auditors and their staff or assistants, may mark or otherwise alter a blank voter registration form with the purpose of identifying the individual or organization to whom the forms were given.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 29A.84 RCW to read as follows:
     Any person who knowingly photocopies or otherwise duplicates a completed voter registration form without authorization is guilty of a class C felony punishable under RCW 9A.20.021. This section does not apply when the person duplicating the form is the same person listed on the voter registration form.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   Section 1 of this act expires January 1, 2006.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   Section 2 of this act takes effect January 1, 2006.