| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee | |
HB 1529
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Modifying voter registration provisions.
Sponsors: Representatives Appleton, Chandler, Armstrong, Kenney, Moeller, Ormsby and Seaquist; by request of Secretary of State.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/16/08
Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).
Background:
Voter Registration Identity Verification
A voter who registers by mail and indicates that he or she does not have a driver's license, state
identification card, or social security number, must provide one of a list of approved documents
for identification purposes.
If one of the allowed forms of identification is not provided at the time of voting, a provisional
ballot will be issued. The ballot may only be counted if the voter's signature on the outside
envelope matches the signature in the voter registration records.
Voter Registration Drives
A person or organization that collects voter registration applications must transmit the forms to
the Secretary of State (Secretary) or a county auditor at least weekly.
Maintenance of Voter Registration Rolls
The Secretary is required to conduct a quarterly review to update records of all registered voters
on the statewide voter registration database to make additions and corrections. The quarterly
review includes a comparison of lists maintained by the Department of Corrections, the
Washington State Patrol, and the Office of the Administrator of the Courts. Periodically, the
Secretary must remove the names of deceased voters from the database based on information
prepared by the registrar of vital statistics.
Summary of Bill:
Voter Registration Identity Verification
A voter who registers by mail and does not have a driver's license, state identification card, or
social security number must vote a provisional ballot. The appropriate identification must be
provided no later than the day before certification of the primary or election in order for the ballot
to be counted.
Voter Registration Drives
A person or organization that collects voter registration applications must transmit the forms to
the Secretary or a county auditor within five days rather than weekly.
Maintenance of Voter Registration Rolls
The requirement that the Secretary conduct a quarterly review and update the voter registration
database is removed. Reviews based on a comparison of lists maintained by the Department of
Corrections, the Washington State Patrol, and the Office of the Administrator of the Courts shall
be conducted twice a year. Updates to remove the names of deceased voters from the database
must be performed monthly rather than periodically.
Technical Clarifications and Repealed Statutes
Technical changes are made to clarify the process for registering to vote or transferring
registration from one county to another within 30 days of an election. All provisions relating to
out-of-state voters are removed.
Statutes related to: 1) the definition of out-of-state voter; 2) late registration procedures between
15 and 30 days before an election; 3) transmittal of information pertaining to the completion of
all requirements of a felony conviction; and 4) required consultation with the information
services board for the voter registration database, are each repealed.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill clarifies that a person or organization collecting voter registration application
forms must transmit the forms to the Secretary or a county auditor within five days of receipt of a
completed form.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.