1290-S AMH LIIA VASA 053

SHB 1290 - H AMD 151

By Representative Liias

WITHDRAWN 03/08/2013

    On page 1, beginning on line 4, strike all of section 1 and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 29A.40 RCW to read as follows:

    The office of the secretary of state and the Washington state association of county auditors shall cooperatively:

    (1) Inventory the style, location, cost, and utilization of all existing off-site ballot drop boxes.

    (2) Create best practice standards for the placement and maintenance of ballot drop boxes.

    (3) Create a 2013 pilot project to test ballot drop boxes on the campuses of institutions of higher learning, as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.  Institutions of higher learning may request placement of permanent or temporary ballot drop boxes on or at these campuses for use during the 2013 primary and general elections and 2014 special elections. The office of the secretary of state shall fund the fabrication and installation of these pilot ballot drop boxes, not to exceed eight boxes in total, at locations to be determined by county auditors who volunteer to test a college campus ballot drop box.

    (4) The secretary of state shall coordinate an advisory committee including representatives from the Washington state association of county auditors and Washington student association.  This committee shall produce a report for the legislature no later than June 30, 2014 that includes the inventory and best practices for placement and use of ballot drop boxes, and the results of the college campus pilot project. The report shall also include recommendations for how to maximize ballot drop boxes, as well as recommendations for alternative strategies for twenty-four hour, postage-free ballot deposit."

EFFECT:   Removes the requirement that county auditors or other local election officials place at least one ballot drop box at each branch campus of a public institution of higher learning.  Requires the Office of the Secretary of State and county auditors to create a college campus ballot drop box pilot project.  Requires the Secretary of State to fund the fabrication and installation of up to eight pilot campus ballot drop boxes.  Requires the Secretary of State to coordinate a statewide advisory committee including county auditors and representatives from the Washington Student Association, instead of requiring each county auditor to establish and maintain a separate advisory committee with both student and administration representatives. Replaces the requirement that each county auditor report on the number, type, and location of the county's ballot drop boxes within 90 days of the effective date of the act with a requirement that the advisory committee produce a report to the legislature with an inventory and best practices no later than June 30, 2014.

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