BILL REQ. #:  H-3124.1 

Prefiled 12/15/11. Read first time 01/09/12.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to voter registration for sixteen and seventeen year olds; amending RCW 29A.08.210, 29A.08.330, and 46.20.155; adding a new section to chapter 29A.08 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature recognizes the importance of fostering lifelong civic participation. Young voters remain underrepresented in the United States electorate. Nationally, fifty-nine percent of eligible eighteen to twenty-nine year olds are registered to vote, compared to seventy-one percent in the general population. Registration supports voter turnout among young adults: Eighty-three percent of registered eighteen to twenty-nine year olds in the United States voted in 2008. Studies show that young adults who vote are likely to continue to do so throughout adulthood. The legislature recognizes that these representational disparities in registration rates and voting rates within the youth electorate will improve by enacting election policies that engage all young citizens. Therefore, the legislature declares that this act, allowing eligible youth at least sixteen years of age to register to vote, is intended to increase voter turnout in young adults.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 29A.08 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A person who is at least sixteen years of age and who meets all requirements to vote except age may register to vote with the office of the secretary of state.
     (2) The voter's registration will be held from entry in the statewide voter registration database until such time as the voter will be eighteen years of age and eligible to vote in the next election.
     (3) A confirmation notice will be sent to the voter's address at the time the voter's registration is entered into the statewide voter registration database.
     (4) The secretary of state is authorized to adopt rules to implement this section.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.08.210 and 2009 c 369 s 16 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 former address of the applicant if previously registered to vote;
     (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) The applicant's Washington state driver's license number, Washington state identification card number, or the last four digits of the applicant's social security number if he or she does not have a Washington state driver's license or Washington state identification card;
     (8) A check box allowing the applicant to indicate that he or she is a member of the armed forces, national guard, or reserves, or that he or she is an overseas voter;
     (9) ((A)) Two check boxes allowing the applicant to confirm ((that he or she)) one of the following:
     (a) The applicant is at least eighteen years of age or will be eighteen years of age by the next election;
     (b) The applicant is at least sixteen years of age, meets all requirements to vote except age, and understands that the registration will be held until such time as the applicant is eligible to vote at the next election;
     (10) Clear and conspicuous language, designed to draw the applicant's attention, stating that the applicant must be a United States citizen in order to register to vote;
     (11) A check box and declaration confirming that the applicant is a citizen of the United States;
     (12) The following warning:
     "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, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both."
     (13) The oath required by RCW 29A.08.230 and a space for the applicant's signature; and
     (14) 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.

Sec. 4   RCW 29A.08.330 and 2009 c 369 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The secretary of state shall prescribe the method of voter registration for each designated agency. The agency shall use either the state voter registration by mail form with a separate declination form for the applicant to indicate that he or she declines to register at this time, or the agency may use a separate form approved for use by the secretary of state.
     (2) The person providing service at the agency shall offer voter registration services to every client whenever he or she applies for service or assistance and with each renewal, recertification, or change of address. The person providing service shall give the applicant the same level of assistance with the voter registration application as is offered to fill out the agency's forms and documents, including information about age and citizenship requirements for voter registration.
     (3) The person providing service at the agency shall determine if the prospective applicant wants to register to vote or transfer his or her voter registration by asking the following question:

     "Do you want to register to vote or transfer your voter registration?"

     If the applicant chooses to register or transfer a registration, the service agent shall ask the following:

     (a) "Are you a United States citizen?"
     (b) "Are you ((or will you be eighteen)) at least sixteen years of age ((on or before the next election))?"

     If the applicant answers in the affirmative to both questions, the agent shall then provide the applicant with a voter registration form and instructions and shall record that the applicant has requested to register to vote or transfer a voter registration. If the applicant answers in the negative to either question, the agent shall not provide the applicant with a voter registration form.
     (4) If an agency uses a computerized application process, it may, in consultation with the secretary of state, develop methods to capture simultaneously the information required for voter registration during a person's computerized application process.
     (5) Each designated agency shall transmit the applications to the secretary of state or appropriate county auditor within three business days.

Sec. 5   RCW 46.20.155 and 2009 c 369 s 42 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Before issuing an original license or identicard or renewing a license or identicard under this chapter, the licensing agent shall determine if the applicant wants to register to vote or transfer his or her voter registration by asking the following question:

     "Do you want to register to vote or transfer your voter registration?"

     If the applicant chooses to register or transfer a registration, the agent shall ask the following:

     (1) "Are you a United States citizen?"
     (2) "Are you ((or will you be eighteen)) at least sixteen years of age ((on or before the next election))?"

     If the applicant answers in the affirmative to both questions, the agent shall then submit the registration or transfer. If the applicant answers in the negative to either question, the agent shall not submit a voter registration application.
     (2) The department shall establish a procedure that substantially meets the requirements of subsection (1) of this section when permitting an applicant to renew a license or identicard by mail or by electronic commerce.