BILL REQ. #:  Z-0973.1 

Read first time 01/23/12.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to activities prohibited at a voting center or ballot drop location; amending RCW 29A.84.510; and prescribing penalties.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.84.510 and 2011 c 10 s 69 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) During the voting period that begins eighteen days before and ends the day of a special election, general election, or primary, no person may((,)):
     (a) Within fifty feet of a voting center or ballot drop location:
     (((a))) (i) Suggest or persuade or attempt to suggest or persuade any voter to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure;
     (((b))) (ii) Circulate cards or handbills of any kind;
     (((c))) (iii) Solicit signatures to any kind of petition; or
     (((d))) (iv) Engage in any practice which interferes with the freedom of voters to exercise their franchise or disrupts the administration of the voting center((.)) or ballot drop location; or
     (((2) No person may)) (b) Obstruct the doors or entries to a building in which a voting center or ballot drop location is located or prevent free access to and from any voting center or ballot drop location.
     (2) Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or municipal law enforcement officer shall prevent such ((obstruction)) prohibited activity, and may arrest any person ((creating)) engaging in such ((obstruction)) prohibited activity.
     (3) Any violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor, punishable to the same extent as a gross misdemeanor that is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021, and the person convicted may be ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.