SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2678

 

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Higher Education, February 26, 2002

 

Title:  An act relating to voter registration.

 

Brief Description:  Requiring institutions of higher education to put in place an active prompt on their web sites that link to the secretary of state's voter registration web site.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives Upthegrove, McDermott, Chase and Kagi.

 

Brief History: 

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/26/02 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

 

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Carlson, Horn, Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Parlette and B. Sheldon.

 

Staff:  Jean Six (786‑7423)

 

Background:  Certain state agencies are required to provide voter registration services for employees and the public.  The Secretary of State informs the public of the availability of voter registration and provides standard voter registration forms for use by these state agencies.

 

Institutions of higher education are required by federal law to provide voter registration services to students.

 

Summary of Bill:  Institutions of higher education are required to set up an active prompt on its course registration web site or other web site actively used by students that links the student to the Secretary of State's voter registration web site.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

 

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

 

Testimony For:  Students support having voter registration opportunities on-line.  Many freshmen are not registered to vote when they arrive on the college/university campus.  Because the 18-25 year old cohort has the lowest percentage voting record, on-line voter registration might help.  Issues of interest to the 18-25 year old age group might encourage young people to vote.  Students do not vote so candidates are not interested in making appearances.  Or, are students not voting because candidates pay no attention to their age group?

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  Stacey Valentin, WWU, WSL; Bill Huennekens, Secretary of State.