HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1529
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
State Government & Tribal Affairs
Title: An act relating to voter registration.
Brief Description: Modifying voter registration provisions.
Sponsors: Representatives Appleton, Chandler, Armstrong, Kenney, Moeller, Ormsby and Seaquist; by request of Secretary of State.
Brief History:
State Government & Tribal Affairs: 1/16/08, 1/22/08 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Liias, Miloscia and Ormsby.
Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).
Background:
Voter Registration Identity Verification
A voter who registers by mail and indicates that he or she does not have a driver's license,
state identification card, or Social Security number, must provide one of a list of approved
documents for identification purposes.
If one of the allowed forms of identification is not provided at the time of voting, a
provisional ballot will be issued. The ballot may only be counted if the voter's signature on
the outside envelope matches the signature in the voter registration records.
Voter Registration Drives
A person or organization that collects voter registration applications must transmit the forms
to the Secretary of State (Secretary) or a county auditor at least weekly.
Maintenance of Voter Registration Rolls
The Secretary is required to conduct a quarterly review to update records of all registered
voters on the statewide voter registration database to make additions and corrections. The
quarterly review includes a comparison of lists maintained by the Department of Corrections,
the Washington State Patrol, and the Office of the Administrator of the Courts. Periodically,
the Secretary must remove the names of deceased voters from the database based on
information prepared by the registrar of vital statistics.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
Voter Registration Identity Verification
A voter who registers by mail and does not have a driver's license, state identification card, or
Social Security number must vote a provisional ballot. The appropriate identification must
be provided no later than the day before certification of the primary or election in order for
the ballot to be counted.
Voter Registration Drives
A person or organization that collects voter registration applications must transmit the forms
to the Secretary or a county auditor within five days rather than weekly.
Maintenance of Voter Registration Rolls
The requirement that the Secretary conduct a quarterly review and update the voter
registration database is removed. Reviews based on a comparison of lists maintained by the
Department of Corrections, the Washington State Patrol, and the Office of the Administrator
of the Courts shall be conducted twice a year. Updates to remove the names of deceased
voters from the database must be performed monthly rather than periodically.
Technical Clarifications and Repealed Statutes
Technical changes are made to clarify the process for registering to vote or transferring
registration from one county to another within 30 days of an election. All provisions relating
to out-of-state voters are removed.
Statutes related to: (1) the definition of out-of-state voter; (2) late registration procedures
between 15 and 30 days before an election; (3) transmittal of information pertaining to the
completion of all requirements of a felony conviction; and (4) required consultation with the
information services board for the voter registration database, are each repealed.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill clarifies that a person or organization collecting voter registration
application forms must transmit the forms to the Secretary or a county auditor within five
days of receipt of a completed form.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The Secretary of State asks that the bill be moved forward. It has some
important policy changes as well as some technical corrections.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Appleton, prime sponsor; and Shane Hamlin, Office of the Secretary of State.