H-1329              _______________________________________________

                                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 22

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By House Committee on Constitution, Elections & Ethics (originally sponsored by Representatives Fisher, Wang, Hine, Heavey, P. King, Wineberry and Belcher)

Read first time 1/30/87 and passed to Committee on Rules.

AN ACT Relating to elections; amending RCW 29.07.160; and adding a new section to chapter 29.07 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 29.07 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Although the registration files of all precincts are closed under RCW 29.07.160 against any new registrations or transfers of registrations for the thirty-day period immediately preceding a primary, special election, or general election, a qualified but unregistered elector may register to vote in that primary, special election, or general election during the first portion of that thirty-day period under this section.

          (2) A qualified but unregistered elector desiring to register to vote in a primary, special election, or general election after the close of precinct registration files for that primary, special election, or general election may register in person in the office of the county auditor of the county in which the elector resides or at a location designated by the auditor under subsection (3) of this section.  To vote in that primary, special election, or general election, such an elector shall register not later than the fifteenth day immediately preceding that primary, special election, or general election and may vote only by absentee ballot.  Any person who registers to vote in that primary, special election, or general election under this section shall, upon registration, immediately apply for an absentee ballot.  The person's registration form and application for an absentee ballot shall be promptly transmitted to the county auditor if the registration and ballot application are executed at any location other than the auditor's office.

          The registration of a person who is registered under this section shall be added to the appropriate precinct file following the primary, special election, or general election for which this procedure was used.

          (3) A county auditor may designate additional locations within the county where registration under this section may be accomplished.  For each designated location, the auditor shall also designate one or more deputy registrars who shall be the only persons permitted to register voters at that location.

        Sec. 2.  Section 29.07.160, chapter 9, Laws of 1965 as last amended by section 4, chapter 3, Laws of 1980 and RCW 29.07.160 are each amended to read as follows:

          The registration files of all precincts shall be closed against original registration or transfers for thirty days immediately preceding every primary, special election, and general election ((and primary)) to be held in such precincts((, respectively)).

          The county auditor shall give notice of the closing of ((said)) the precinct files for original registration and transfer and of the procedures for registering and voting by absentee ballot under section 1 of this 1987 act by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least five days before such closing((, except as provided for special elections in accordance with section 3 of this 1980 act)).

No person may vote in a precinct polling place at a primary, special election, or general election unless he or she has registered to vote at least thirty days before that primary or election.

This section does not prohibit later registration and voting by absentee ballot under section 1 of this 1987 act.