VETO MESSAGE ON SB 5275

                   May 11, 2001

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 23, Senate Bill No. 5275 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to ballots cast by mail;"

     Senate Bill No. 5275 reorganizes and clarifies the laws governing absentee and mail balloting.  Section 23 of the bill would have amended RCW 29.62.090, and clarified reporting requirements and submittal deadlines for official election results.  However, the legislature also sent to me Substitute House Bill No. 1644, which amends the same statute section in a slightly different way - most notably by providing for electronic transmission of election results.

     Because I signed Substitute House Bill No. 1644 in its entirety on May 9, 2001, I have vetoed section 23 of Senate Bill No. 5275 in order to avoid a conflicting double amendment.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed section 23 of Senate Bill No. 5275.

     With the exception of section 23, Senate Bill No. 5275 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor