H-1826.2  _______________________________________________

                 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4406

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives D. Schmidt, D. Sommers, L. Thomas, Wensman, Cairnes, Doumit, Dunshee, Smith, Reams, Dunn, Wolfe, Gardner and Dickerson

Read first time 02/18/97.  Referred to Committee on Government Administration.

Establishing a joint select committee on absentee voting.

    WHEREAS, The security and fairness of the electoral process is of paramount significance; and

    WHEREAS, The increasing popularity and convenience of absentee voting has dramatically altered the electoral process; and

    WHEREAS, Questions have arisen over the security associated with absentee voting and the appropriate procedures for absentee voting;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That a joint select committee on absentee voting be established to review absentee voting procedures and security; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee consist of thirteen members:  Four members of the House of Representatives, two from each caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; four members of the Senate, two from each caucus, appointed by the President of the Senate; one member appointed by the Secretary of State; one member appointed by the Washington Association of County Auditors; one member appointed by the chair of the Republican State Central Committee; one member appointed by the Democratic State Central Committee; and one member representing the general public appointed by joint action of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by adjournment of the 1998 regular legislative session.

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