S-2273               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 3014

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senator Williams)

Read first time 3/1/85.

AN ACT Relating to voting; and adding a new section to chapter 29.10 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  There is added to chapter 29.10 RCW a new section to read as follows:

          (1) The county auditor may make inquiry into the validity of the registration of any elector.  Such inquiry shall be made only if the county auditor has  reason to believe that the information contained on an individual's voter registration record is incorrect.

          The county auditor shall initiate his or her inquiry by sending by first-class mail a written notice to the challenged voter at the address indicated on the voter's permanent registration record.  The county auditor shall not request any restriction on the forwarding of such notice by the postal service.  The notice shall contain the nature of the inquiry and provide a suitable form for reply.  The notice shall also contain a warning that the county auditor must receive a response within twenty days from the date of mailing or the individual's voter registration will be canceled.

          (2) Not later than the twentieth day after the mailing of the inquiry, the voter, in person or in writing, may state that the information on the registration card is correct, may request a change in the information on the card, or may reregister.  Upon receipt of the statement or request, or upon reregistration, the county auditor shall consider the inquiry satisfied.  If the voter fails to make the statement or request or to reregister, the county auditor shall cancel the voter's registration.

          (3) Any person protected by Article VI, section 4 of the state Constitution whose voter registration is canceled under this section may vote by absentee ballot as prescribed in chapter 29.39 RCW.