SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5143

BYSenators Pullen, Madsen, Talmadge and Moore

Discussing ballot pages and the placement of candidates' names on them.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 31, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Pullen, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Sam Thompson (786-7754); Desley Brooks (786-7443)

                  March 9, 1989

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 8, 1989

BACKGROUND:

A voting device for ballot cards may not contain the names of candidates for precinct committee officer for more than one precinct.  Separate voting devices must be used for each precinct.  In practice, there are lines of voters at polling places for the voting devices of some precincts, while the voting devices of other precincts may be used only intermittently.  It is suggested that voting devices should contain the names of candidates for precinct committee officer for all precincts that vote together, enabling a voter to use any of several voting devices.

SUMMARY:

The requirement of a separate voting device for each precinct is eliminated.  Also eliminated is the requirement that a voting device list the names of candidates for precinct committee officer for only one precinct.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Robert Bruce, King County Superintendent of Elections (pro); Tim Likness, Clark County Elections Department (pro)