HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1035

BYRepresentatives Haugen, S. Wilson, Anderson, May, McLean, Winsley, Wineberry and Morris

Providing additional qualifications for precinct election officers.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Anderson, Vice Chair; McLean, Ranking Republican Member; R. King, Morris, Rector, Sayan and Silver.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 10, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Before each primary or election, the county auditor must appoint precinct election officers.  The persons appointed must be from lists of persons submitted to the auditor by the chairs of the county central committees of the major political parties.

SUMMARY:

No person may serve as a precinct election officer for a precinct during a primary or election if the person is a candidate for an office, other than precinct committee officer, for which voters in the precinct are entitled to cast ballots.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Hal Booth, Camano Island Homeowners' Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (1) Voters who need assistance in finding out how to cast write-in votes have to ask for that assistance from the precinct election officers.  In a recent election, one of the officers was a candidate against whom a write-in campaign was being waged.  (2) The appearance of fairness to the voter requires the changes proposed by the bill.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 93; Nays 0; Absent 1; Excused 4.

Absent:     Representative Betrozoff

Excused:    Representatives O'Brien, Peery, Silver and Wineberry