BILL REQ. #:  S-4041.1 

Read first time 01/12/2006.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to eliminating Saturday counting of ballots; amending RCW 29A.60.160; reenacting and amending RCW 29A.60.160; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.60.160 and 2005 c 243 s 15 and 2005 c 153 s 11 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     Except for an election conducted under the instant runoff voting method for the pilot project authorized by RCW 29A.53.020, (([and])) and except for Sundays and legal holidays, the county auditor, as delegated by the county canvassing board, shall process absentee ballots and canvass the votes cast at that primary or election ((on a daily basis in counties with a population of seventy-five thousand or more, or)) at least every third day ((for counties with a population of less than seventy-five thousand)) after a primary or election and before certification of election results, if the county auditor is in possession of more than twenty-five ballots that have yet to be canvassed. The county auditor, as delegated by the county canvassing board, may use his or her discretion in determining when to process the remaining absentee ballots and canvass the votes during the final four days before the certification of election results in order to protect the secrecy of any ballot. In counties where this process has not been delegated to the county auditor, the county auditor shall convene the county canvassing board to process absentee ballots and canvass the votes cast at the primary or election as set forth in this section.
     Except for an election conducted under the instant runoff voting method for the pilot project authorized by RCW 29A.53.020, each absentee ballot previously not canvassed that was received by the county auditor two days or more before processing absentee ballots and canvassing the votes as delegated by or processed by the county canvassing board, that either was received by the county auditor before the closing of the polls on the day of the primary or election for which it was issued, or that bears a postmark on or before the primary or election for which it was issued, must be processed at that time. The tabulation of votes that results from that day's canvass must be made available to the general public immediately upon completion of the canvass.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.60.160 and 2005 c 243 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:
      Except Sundays and legal holidays, the county auditor, as delegated by the county canvassing board, shall process absentee ballots and canvass the votes cast at that primary or election ((on a daily basis in counties with a population of seventy-five thousand or more, or)) at least every third day ((for counties with a population of less than seventy-five thousand)) after a primary or election and before certification of election results, if the county auditor is in possession of more than twenty-five ballots that have yet to be canvassed. The county auditor, as delegated by the county canvassing board, may use his or her discretion in determining when to process the remaining absentee ballots and canvass the votes during the final four days before the certification of election results in order to protect the secrecy of any ballot. In counties where this process has not been delegated to the county auditor, the county auditor shall convene the county canvassing board to process absentee ballots and canvass the votes cast at the primary or election as set forth in this section.
     Each absentee ballot previously not canvassed that was received by the county auditor two days or more before processing absentee ballots and canvassing the votes as delegated by or processed by the county canvassing board, that either was received by the county auditor before the closing of the polls on the day of the primary or election for which it was issued, or that bears a postmark on or before the primary or election for which it was issued, must be processed at that time. The tabulation of votes that results from that day's canvass must be made available to the general public immediately upon completion of the canvass.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Section 1 of this act expires July 1, 2013.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   Section 2 of this act takes effect July 1, 2013.