Title of Rule: Definition of a canvassing board, WAC 434-240-010(5).

     Purpose: To delete the definition in WAC 434-240-010(5).

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 29.04.210.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 29.04.210.

     Summary: Definition of a canvassing board.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: This rule is no longer necessary and contains an outdated reference to another WAC.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Bill Huennekens, 520 Union Avenue S.E., Olympia, (360) 902-4169; Implementation and Enforcement: Dean Logan, 520 Union Avenue S.E., Olympia, (360) 902-4180.

     Name of Proponent: Office of the Secretary of State, governmental.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: Delete WAC 434-240-010(5) because it is no longer necessary and contains an outdated reference.

     Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: It deletes a definition.

July 23, 2002

Steve Excell

Assistant Secretary of State

OTS-5830.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-07-028, filed 3/12/02, effective 4/12/02)

WAC 434-240-010   Definitions.   As used in this chapter:

     (1) An "elector" of the state of Washington is any person who qualifies under state or federal law as an overseas voter, service voter, or out-of-state voter and who:

     (a) Is not currently a registered voter in Washington or any other state;

     (b) Will be at least eighteen years of age at the time of the next election;

     (c) Is a citizen of the United States;

     (d) Is a legal resident of the state, county, and precinct for at least thirty days preceding the election at which he or she offers to vote;

     (e) Is not currently being denied his or her civil rights by being convicted of a crime for which he or she could have been sentenced to the state penitentiary;

     (2) "Out-of-state voters," "overseas voters," "protected records voters," and "service voters" are electors of the state of Washington and are not registered voters of Washington or any other state; electors of the state of Washington who are spouses or dependents of service voters shall be considered to be either out-of-state voters or overseas voters;

     (3) "Service voters" are electors of the state of Washington who are outside the state during the period available for voter registration and who are members of the armed forces while in active service, are students or members of the faculty at a United States military academy, are members of the merchant marine of the United States, are members of a religious group or welfare agency officially attached to and serving with the armed forces of the United States, or are certified participants in the address confidentiality program authorized by chapter 40.24 RCW.

     (4) "Canvassing" is that process of examining, in detail, a ballot, groups of ballots, election subtotals, or grand totals in order to determine the final official returns of a primary, special, or general election and in order to safeguard the integrity of the election process;

     (5) (("Canvassing board" or "county canvassing board" is that body charged by law with the duty of canvassing absentee ballots, of ruling on the validity of special or challenged ballots, of verifying all unofficial returns as listed in the auditor's abstract of votes, and of producing the official county canvass report; it shall be composed of the county auditor, prosecuting attorney, and chairperson of the board of the county legislative authority, or their representatives, designated pursuant to the provisions of WAC 434-240-210;

     (6))) "Territorial limits of the United States" means the fifty United States and the District of Columbia;

     (((7))) (6) "Ongoing absentee ballot" is a ballot provided to voters who have requested in writing to automatically receive an absentee ballot for each ensuing election for which he or she is entitled to vote, and provided to voters who are certified participants in the address confidentiality program, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 40.24 RCW;

     (((8))) (7) "Hospital absentee ballot" is that absentee ballot provided to voters confined to a health care facility on the day of a primary or election;

     (((9))) (8) "Special absentee ballot" is that ballot provided to registered voters and electors in state primary and general elections who indicate on their application that they believe they will be residing or stationed or working outside the continental United States at the time of the election and that they will be unable to vote and return a regular absentee ballot during the time period provided by law;

     (((10))) (9) "Regular absentee ballot" is that absentee ballot provided to voters or electors who request an absentee ballot and who do not either request or qualify for an ongoing absentee ballot, hospital absentee ballot, or special absentee ballot;

     (((11))) (10) "Secure storage" are those locations provided for the storage of all material connected with the absentee ballot process, including ballots, and shall be under the direct control of the county auditor. Secure storage shall employ the use of numbered seals and logs or any other security measures which will detect any inappropriate access to the secured materials when such materials are not being prepared or processed by the county auditor or persons authorized by the county canvassing board;

     (((12))) (11) "Challenged ballot" is that ballot issued to any voter whose registration has been challenged pursuant to the provisions of chapter 29.10 RCW and this chapter;

     (((13))) (12) "Special ballot" is that ballot issued to a voter by precinct election officers pursuant to WAC 434-253-043.

     (((14))) (13) "County auditor" shall be as defined by RCW 29.01.043, and with respect to the processing of absentee ballots and applications, the term includes any employee of the county auditor who is directed in writing to perform those duties on behalf of the county auditor.

     (((15))) (14) "Mail ballot precinct" is any precinct containing less than two hundred active registered voters at the closing of voter registration under RCW 29.07.160 in which the county auditor has determined to conduct the voting by mail ballot.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 29.04.210, 29.36.150. 02-07-028, § 434-240-010, filed 3/12/02, effective 4/12/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 29.04.080, 29.04.210, 29.36.150 and 29.79.200. 97-21-045, recodified as § 434-240-010, filed 10/13/97, effective 11/13/97. Statutory Authority: 1991 c 23. 91-20-074, § 434-40-010, filed 9/26/91, effective 10/27/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 29.36.150. 88-03-019 (Order 88-1), § 434-40-010, filed 1/12/88.]

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