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                                           ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 1433

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Wineberry, R. Fisher, McLean, Anderson, Nelson, Wang, Inslee, R. King and Todd

Read first time 1/25/89 and referred to Committee on State Government. Referred 2/17/89 to Committee on Appropriations.

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:

        Sec. 1.  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 notice of the special registration and voting procedure provided by section 2 of this 1989 act by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least five days before ((such)) the closing((, except as provided for special elections in accordance with section 3 of this 1980 act)) of the precinct files.

No person may vote at any primary, special election, or general election in a precinct polling place unless he or she has registered to vote at least thirty days before that primary or election.  If a person, otherwise qualified to vote in the state, county, and precinct in which he or she applies for registration, does not register at least thirty days before any primary, special election, or general election, he or she may register and vote by absentee ballot for that primary or election under section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 29.07 RCW to read as follows:

          After the closing of registration for voting at the polls under RCW 29.07.160, but not later than fifteen days before a primary, special election, or general election, an unregistered qualified elector may register in person in the office of the county auditor or at a voter registration location specifically designated for this purpose by the county auditor of the county in which the applicant resides, and apply for an absentee ballot for that primary or election.  The auditor or voter registrar shall register that individual in the manner provided in this chapter.  The application for an absentee ballot executed by the newly registered voter for the primary or election that follows the execution of the registration shall be promptly transmitted to the auditor with the completed voter registration form.