BILL REQ. #:  S-3410.1 

Read first time 01/12/10.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to election notices; amending RCW 29A.08.140 and 29A.32.260; adding a new section to chapter 29A.52 RCW; and repealing RCW 29A.52.311 and 29A.52.351.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.08.140 and 2009 c 369 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In order to vote in any primary, special election, or general election, a person who is not registered to vote in Washington must:
     (a) Submit a registration application no later than twenty-nine days before the day of the primary, special election, or general election; or
     (b) Register in person at the county auditor's office in his or her county of residence no later than eight days before the day of the primary, special election, or general election. A person registering under this subsection will be issued an absentee ballot.
     (2) A person who is already registered to vote in Washington may update his or her registration no later than twenty-nine days before the day of the primary, special election, or general election to be in effect for that primary, special election, or general election. A registered voter who fails to transfer his or her residential address by this deadline may vote according to his or her previous registration address.
     (((3) Prior to each primary and general election, the county auditor shall give notice of the registration deadlines by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least thirty-five days before the primary or general election.))

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.32.260 and 2003 c 111 s 818 are each amended to read as follows:
     As soon as practicable before the primary, special election, or general election, the county auditor, or if applicable, the city clerk of a first-class or code city, as appropriate, shall mail the local voters' pamphlet to every residence in each jurisdiction that has included information in the pamphlet. The county auditor or city clerk, as appropriate, may choose to mail the pamphlet to each registered voter in each jurisdiction that has included information in the pamphlet, if in his or her judgment, a more economical and effective distribution of the pamphlet would result. ((If the county or city chooses to mail the pamphlet to each residence, no notice of election otherwise required by RCW 29A.52.350 need be published.))

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 29A.52 RCW to read as follows:
     Notice for any state, county, district, or municipal primary or election, whether special or general, must be given not more than fifteen nor less than five days prior to the date of closing of the registration roles to online or mail-in registrations by the county auditor or the officer conducting the election as the case may be. Notice must be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation and must contain, at a minimum, the last date to register online or through the mail, the last date to transfer or update an existing registration, the last date to register in-person for first time voters, information on where a person can register, the type of election, the date of the election, whether the election will be conducted entirely by mail or with polling places, a list of all jurisdictions involved in the election including positions and short titles for ballot measures appearing on the ballot, and the times and dates of any public meetings associated with the election. The notice shall also include where additional information regarding the election may be obtained. This is the only notice required for a state, county, district, or municipal primary or special or general election. If the county or city chooses to mail a local voters' pamphlet as described in RCW 29A.32.210 to each residence, the notice required in this section need only include the last date to register online or through the mail, the last date to transfer or update an existing registration, the last date to register in-person for first time voters, information on where a person can register, and the times and dates of any public meetings associated with the election.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 29A.52.311 (Notice of primary) and 2004 c 271 s 145; and
     (2) RCW 29A.52.351 (Notice of election) and 2004 c 271 s 175.