HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No.  HB 1286

Clarifying criteria for absentee ballot tabulation.

Brief Title                               Hearing Date:2/10/99

Reps. Schmidt, D., Romero and McMorris     Staff: Steve Lundin

Sponsor(s)                          State Government Committee

                                              Phone:  786-7127

BACKGROUND:

Absentee ballots may only be counted if:

oThe voter for whom the ballot was issued has signed the affidavit on the outer return envelope in which the ballot is placed.

oThe outer return envelope is post marked on or before the day of the primary or election for which it was received.  However, if the post mark is not legible, or an overseas voter or service voter casts the ballot, the date of the affidavit on the outer return envelope when the voter attests to have cast the ballot must be on or before the date of the primary or election for which the ballot was issued.

oThe ballot was received by the county auditor prior to certification of the election results.

Mail ballots are counted under the same conditions that absentee ballots are counted.

SUMMARY:

Absentee ballots are counted or tabulated, as follows:

oAn absentee ballot that is mailed in the United States may only be tabulated if it is post marked on or before the Saturday prior to the date of the primary or election for which it is issued and received by the county auditor by noon of the day the election results are certified.

oAn absentee ballot that is cast by an overseas voter or service voter may only be tabulated if the ballot has a date of mailing that is on or before the date of the primary or election for which it is issued and received by the county auditor by noon of the day the election results are certified.

oAn absentee ballot is tabulated if it is deposited at a polling site in the county in which it was issued, during normal voting hours of the primary of election for which it was issued.

oAn absentee ballot is tabulated if it is deposited with the county auditor who issued the ballot on or before the close of polling places on the date of the primary or election for which it was issued.

Instructions for using absentee ballots must describe the circumstances when an absentee ballot will be tabulated.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.