BILL REQ. #:  S-3563.1 

Read first time 01/12/12.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to simplifying motor voter registration; amending RCW 29A.08.340 and 46.20.155; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature recognizes that voter participation is the foundation of our democracy. The legislature also recognizes that young people register to vote at much lower rates than any other age group. Therefore, the legislature intends to enhance voter participation by simplifying motor voter registration.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.08.340 and 2003 c 111 s 225 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((A person may register to vote, transfer a voter registration, or change his or her name for voter registration purposes when he or she applies for or renews a driver's license or identification card under chapter 46.20 RCW.
     (2) To register to vote, transfer his or her voter registration, or change his or her name for voter registration purposes under this section, the applicant shall provide the information required by RCW 29A.08.210.
     (3) The driver licensing agent shall record that the applicant has requested to register to vote or transfer a voter registration.)) Applications for a driver's license and a state identicard shall also serve as an application for voter registration purposes.
     (2) The voter registration component of the driver's license application and the application for a state identicard must contain the minimum information required under RCW 29A.08.810 necessary to place the applicant on the voter registration rolls.
     (3) An applicant for a driver's license or a state identicard may decline in writing to be registered to vote.
     (4) A change of address form submitted to the department of licensing shall serve as notification of change of address for voter registration purposes unless the registrant states on the form that the change of address is not for voter registration purposes.
     (5) Applications for voter registrations received under this section shall be electronically transferred to the secretary of state and shall be considered a registration by mail.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.20.155 and 2009 c 369 s 42 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((Before issuing an original license or identicard or renewing a license or identicard under this chapter, the licensing agent shall determine if the applicant wants to register to vote or transfer his or her voter registration by asking the following question:

     "Do you want to register to vote or transfer your voter registration?"

     If the applicant chooses to register or transfer a registration, the agent shall ask the following:

     (1) "Are you a United States citizen?"
     (2) "Are you or will you be eighteen years of age on or before the next election?"

     If the applicant answers in the affirmative to both questions, the agent shall then submit the registration or transfer. If the applicant answers in the negative to either question, the agent shall not submit a voter registration application.)) The department, in cooperation with the secretary of state, must develop an application form for a driver's license and a state identicard that meets the requirements of RCW 29A.08.340 and 29A.08.810.
     (2) The department shall establish a procedure that substantially meets the requirements of subsection (1) of this section when permitting an applicant to renew a license or identicard by mail or by electronic commerce.