FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1996

                                  C 261 L 89

BYRepresentatives McLean, R. Fisher, Ballard, Rector, Rayburn, Miller, Brumsickle, Holland, Sayan, Prince, Anderson and Winsley

Revising voter registration cancellation procedures.

House Committe on State Government

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Whenever certain governmental information is sent to a registered voter and is returned by the postal service as being undeliverable, the county auditor must inquire into the validity of the registration of that voter.  The auditor must send a notice to the person at the address indicated on the voter's registration record.  If the auditor does not receive a response within 60 days, the auditor must cancel that voter's registration and notify the person of this cancellation.  However, if the person responds to the notice of cancellation within 45 days, the auditor must reinstate the person's voter registration.

If a person whose registration has been cancelled in this manner offers to vote at any time within four years of the cancellation, the person must be issued a questioned ballot and the validity of the person's registration and ballot must be determined by the canvassing board.

SUMMARY:

Procedures are altered for inquiring into the validity of a voter's registration following the return of certain governmental information sent to the voter but returned by the postal service as being undeliverable.  The period during which a voter must respond to the initial inquiry sent by the county auditor is shortened from 60 days to 45 days.  A person whose registration has been cancelled for failure to respond to the county auditor may cast a questioned ballot at the next ensuing election, rather than at any time in the next four years.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 94   0

      Senate    37    10

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989