HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2035

BYRepresentatives R. Fisher, Anderson, Jacobsen and P. King 

Permitting individuals or voter registration officers to complete applications to register to vote.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

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

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 12, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Election Code requires a registration officer to interrogate an applicant for voter registration concerning the applicant's qualifications as a voter.  The registration officer must then record the information on a voter registration form.

SUMMARY:

Either the applicant or a voter registration officer may fill out a voter registration form concerning the applicant's qualifications as a voter.

Fiscal Note:      Requested March 1, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    John Pearson, Office of the Secretary of State; and Fred Saeger, Washington Association of County Elected Officials

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (1) The bill is important for facilitating agency-based registration; it will reduce the amount of time that an applicant and others might spend waiting in line.  (2) An applicant is likely to make fewer errors in recording the information than would be made by a registration officer.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 94; Absent 2; Excused 2.

Absent:     Representatives P. King and R. King

Excused:    Representatives Brough and Wineberry