SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6180

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.

As Passed Senate, February 14, 2012

Title: An act relating to reducing costs and inefficiencies in elections.

Brief Description: Reducing costs and inefficiencies in elections.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Swecker, Nelson and Sheldon; by request of Secretary of State).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections: 1/24/12, 2/02/12 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/14/12, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, TRIBAL RELATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6180 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Pridemore, Chair; Prentice, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Chase and Nelson.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: The Secretary of State (Secretary) has a wide range of duties to the citizens of this state, one of which is the facilitation and oversight of the election process. These electoral duties encompass elections for federal, statewide, and local offices, as well as initiatives and referenda submitted for voter approval. The various responsibilities of the Secretary in this regard include, but are not limited to, the following:

Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill: The Secretary is required to make the most recent version of state election laws, and the pertinent administrative rules, available on the office website for access by county auditors and the public.

The types of acknowledgement notices an auditor is required to send to registered voters is reduced and simplified. Auditors no longer need to send a voter an individualized acknowledgement notice for every voter registration transaction, but the act continues to require that auditors send notice of the disposition a voter's registration in more than one state and/or voting in more that one state.

With respect to the vote tallying system testing required at least three days before each state primary or general election, county auditors, rather than the Secretary, are primarily responsible for conducting the testing of the programming of the vote tallying systems.

Statutory provisions governing the form and content of both state and local voters's pamphlets, and the Secretary's duties with respect to such pamphlets, are revised to include:

No primary may be held for any single position in a local, nonpartisan office if no more than two candidates have filed for the position.

In cases where there is a problem with the signature match between the ballot declaration and the voter registration document, the auditor has the option of notifying the voter either by telephone, electronic mail, or first class mail.

In the event voters are affected by a change of electoral jurisdiction due to a boundary change, the auditor must:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately, except for sections 8 and 10 which take effect January 1, 2013.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: This bill is a costs savings measure put forward by the Secretary of State. This measure will streamline many of our functions and end duplicative efforts.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Katie Blinn, Secretary of State.