SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 554

BYHouse Committee on Constitution, Elections & Ethics (originally sponsored by Representatives Fisher, Miller, Fisch, Day, Allen, Pruitt, P. King, Heavey, Wang, Unsoeld, Dellwo, Leonard, Jacobsen, Wineberry, Jesernig, Nelson, Holm, Rasmussen, Hine, Cole, Belcher, Todd and Lux)

Implementing voter registration by mail.

House Committe on Constitution, Elections & Ethics

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):April 1, 1987; April 2, 1987

Majority Report:     Do pass.

     Signed by Senators Halsan, Chairman; Garrett, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Talmadge.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.

     Signed by Senators McCaslin, Pullen, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Sam Thompson (786-7754)

                April 3, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, APRIL 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Washington citizens who desire to become voters must register in person with a voter registrar.  They may be registered by the chief registrar, the county auditor, or by deputy registrars appointed by the auditor.  City and town clerks must be deputy registrars, and a registrar must be appointed for every common school and adequately staffed fire station.  The auditor may appoint other registrars as well.  Currently, there are over 12,000 in the state.  All deputy registrars, other than city or town clerks, are entitled to receive at least 20 cents for each citizen they register to vote. 

Voter registrars must interrogate applicants concerning their qualifications to vote.  Unless an applicant is known to the registrar, each applicant must produce certain identification.  All applicants must sign an oath to the effect that they meet voter eligibility requirements.

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia allow citizens to register to vote by mail.  It is suggested that Washington adopt such a system as an alternative to in-person registration.

SUMMARY:

APPLICATION BY MAIL OR DELIVERY. A qualified person may register to vote by delivering by mail or otherwise a completed registration form to the county auditor of the county in which the person resides.  If a person mails or delivers a registration form to a county auditor other than the auditor for the county in which the person resides, the form shall immediately be forwarded to the proper county auditor.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION & OATH. In addition to the information an in-person applicant for voter registration must supply, an applicant for registration by mail must provide his or her number from a valid Washington driver's license.  If the applicant does not have a valid driver's license, a social security number must be provided.  If the applicant has neither a driver's license or a social security number, the number from a valid Washington identicard must be supplied.  If the application does not furnish this information, the auditor may not process the form until the information is provided.  If a person cannot provide this information, the person may register to vote in person before a deputy registrar.

The applicant must sign a registration oath and a separate portion of the registration card, an initiative signature card, which contains certain specified information.  The registration form must contain a warning indicating that a person who knowingly supplies false information or knowingly makes a false declaration as to qualifications is guilty of a class C felony.

PROCESSING APPLICATIONS.  Upon receiving an application for registration by mail or delivery, the auditor will review the application to determine whether the information supplied is complete and correct.  If it is not, the auditor will send a notice of the deficiency to the applicant within 5 days of receiving the application.  If it is complete and correct, the applicant is considered registered as of the date the application was received by the auditor.  The auditor will record certain information and, within 15 days, send by first class mail to the applicant a voter registration card identifying his or her precinct, and other information that may be required by the Secretary of State.  The postal service must be instructed not to forward a voter registration card to any other address and to return undelivered cards to the auditor.

FORMS.  The Secretary of State will adopt an application form for registering by mail which must be compatible with other registration forms prescribed under law. The form must contain instructions and other specified information, and will be furnished without cost to the counties.  The auditor must keep a supply of the forms in his or her office for political parties and others interested in assisting registration, and make them available to the public.  The auditor will provide forms to city and town clerks, state offices, schools, fire stations, and other locations considered appropriate for extending registration opportunities to all areas of the county.

VIOLATIONS; REGISTRATION FEES REPEALED. Violations will be prosecuted under applicable sections of the crimes and penalties chapter of the Election Code.  Repealed is a provision of law entitling each deputy registrar, with certain exceptions, to receive a fee for each elector registered.

Fiscal Note:    none requested

Senate Committee - Testified:   Gary Zandell, Karen Flynn, Liz Luce, Washington State Association of County Auditors