5499-S AMS BENT GORR 010

03/10/2005 PULLED

SSB 5499 - S AMD TO S AMD (KAST HESS 012)117

By Senator Benton

On page 14, after line 15, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. A new section is added to chapter 29A.60 RCW to read as follows:

Before a county auditor may make a final certification of election returns, the county auditor shall reconcile by precinct the number of ballots counted from the precinct and the number of voters credited with having cast a counted ballot. The number of ballots counted and the number of voters who cast those ballots will always be equal in a properly administered election. The county auditor shall report by precinct any variance between the number of ballots and the number of voters. If the total number of ballots without voters, or voters without ballots, exceeds the winning margin in an election or primary, the election or primary as to that position is void. No certificate of election may be issued. A revote for that position must be held within sixty days."

Renumber the sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

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EFFECT: (1)Requires that before a county auditor certifies election returns, they must reconcile the number of ballots counted with number of voters credited with having cast a counted ballot;

(2) Requires a revote if the total number of ballots without voters exceeds the winning margin in an election or primary;

(3) Requires a revote be held within 60 days.