Subject of Possible Rule Making: Statewide voter registration database.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 29A.08.651 and 29A.04.611.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The official statewide voter registration database is a new voter registration system mandated by state and federal law that must be implemented by the Secretary of State by January 1, 2006. All voter registration records will be entered into this system and will be continually updated and screened for felons, deceased voters, and duplicate registrations. Each county will have an election management system that will exchange information with the statewide voter registration database. Guidance for this exchange of information and additional procedures are necessary for implementation.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Elections Assistance Commission, Registrar of Vital Statistics, Social Security Administration, Department of Licensing, Washington State Patrol, Administrative Office of the Courts, Department of Health, and Department of Corrections.

     Process for Developing New Rule:       Negotiated rule making.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Paul Miller, Elections Division, P.O. Box 40237, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 725-5783.

July 6, 2005

Steve Excell

Assistant Secretary of State

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