SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 773

BYHouse Committee on Constitution, Elections & Ethics (originally sponsored by Representatives Holm, Nealey, Haugen, Barnes, Holland, Dellwo, Jesernig, P. King, Winsley and Betrozoff)

Allowing county auditors to investigate and cancel invalid voter registration.

House Committe on Constitution, Elections & Ethics

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 24, 1987

Majority Report:     Do pass.

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Halsan, Vice Chairman; McCaslin, Nelson, Newhouse.

Senate Staff:Jon Carlson (786-7459)

                March 24, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 24, 1987

BACKGROUND:

A registered voter maintains his or her registered status by voting at any election within a two-year period or at the most recent presidential election.  The county auditor is required to cancel the voter registration record of any voter who fails to meet these requirements.  In addition, there are instances when the auditors need to remove from the registration files the names of those voters who no longer reside at the addresses on their registration cards.

SUMMARY:

The county auditor must inquire into the validity of the registration of a voter if any of the following is returned by the postal service as undeliverable:  a vote-by-mail ballot, a notification to the voter following reprecincting of the county, a notification of selection to serve on jury duty, or the initial voter identification card.

The auditor is to initiate the inquiry by sending a written notice by first class mail to the challenged voter at the address indicated on the voter's permanent registration record.  The notice must contain the nature of the inquiry, provide a suitable form for reply, and contain a warning that the auditor must receive a response within 45 days of the mailing or the individual's voter registration is cancelled.  Upon receipt of the voter's response, the auditor must consider the inquiry satisfied and make any corrections requested by the voter on the registration record.

The auditor is to cancel the registration of a voter who fails to respond to the notice of inquiry within the 45 day period and must notify the voter of the cancellation by mail.  If a voter responds no later than 45 days of the mailing of the cancellation notice, the auditor may reinstate the voter.

If a person's voter registration is cancelled under this procedure and the person, within a period of four years following the cancellation, applies for an absentee ballot or offers to vote at the polling place, the person is permitted to vote a challenged ballot.  If, in considering the challenged ballot, the canvassing board determines that the voter's registration is improperly cancelled, the ballot is counted and the voter's registration is reinstated.

Fiscal Note:    requested

Senate Committee - Testified:   no one