The county auditor shall issue a replacement ballot, as authorized by RCW
29A.40.070, if the request is received prior to 8:00 p.m. on election day. Requests may be made in person, in writing, by telephone, or electronically, by the voter, a family member, or a registered domestic partner.
The request for a replacement ballot does not update the voter's ballot type or style. The replacement ballot becomes the voter's current ballot and the original ballot is suspended. However, should the original ballot be received first, it shall be processed.
The county auditor shall reissue a new ballot when the registered voter has taken action to update their voter registration and the ballot type or style has changed. After the deadline for mail and online registration, a person who is already registered to vote in Washington must request a reissued ballot in person. The reissued ballot becomes the current ballot and all other ballots are suspended.
No additional ballot may be issued to a voter whose ballot has already been accepted. If the voter asserts they have not voted and requests a ballot, then a provisional ballot must be issued pursuant to WAC
434-262-032.
Each county auditor shall allow access to an electronic ballot system to both active and inactive voters for replacement ballots no later than the eighth day prior to election day.
If a voter appears in person at a county auditor's office before 8:00 p.m. election day and requests a ballot, the county auditor must determine if the voter is registered to vote in Washington.
(1) If the voter is registered in the same county, issue a replacement or reissued ballot.
(2) If the voter is registered in another county, and the voter does not wish to update their registration, access and print a replacement ballot from that county, if the electronic ballot system is available.
(3) If the voter is not registered within the state, the county auditor shall register the voter and issue a current ballot.
The current ballot shall be accepted for initial processing if the ballot meets all requirements for tabulation. If the auditor receives additional ballots from a voter, as indicated by the fact that the voter's cast ballot has been accepted, the additional ballots shall not be counted and shall be forwarded to the county canvassing board for informational purposes only.
(4) When a voter's ballot has been accepted, additional ballots are considered invalid and shall not be rejected by the county canvassing board.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
29A.04.611. WSR 19-12-115, § 434-250-080, filed 6/5/19, effective 7/6/19; WSR 18-10-003, § 434-250-080, filed 4/19/18, effective 5/20/18. Statutory Authority: RCW
29A.04.611,
29A.04.620, and
29A.04.630. WSR 11-24-064, § 434-250-080, filed 12/6/11, effective 1/6/12. Statutory Authority: RCW
29A.04.611. WSR 05-17-145, § 434-250-080, filed 8/19/05, effective 9/19/05.]