Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: The purpose of these rule changes is to implement the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act. This legislation takes effect after the 2010 Primary Election but before the 2010 General Election.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 434-208-070; and amending WAC 434-208-060, 434-235-010, 434-235-020, 434-235-030, and 434-235-040.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 29A.04.611.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.

     Reasons for this Finding: The federal MOVE Act passed congress in October 2009 and takes effect for the 2010 general election. These rules could not be adopted earlier in the year because they did not apply for the August 2010 primary.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 4, Repealed 1; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 1, Amended 5, Repealed 1;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: September 2, 2010.

Steve Excell

Assistant Secretary of State

OTS-3266.3

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 08-15-052, filed 7/11/08, effective 8/11/08)

WAC 434-208-060   Electronic filings.   (1) In addition to those documents specified by RCW 29A.04.255, the secretary of state or the county auditor shall accept and file in his or her office electronic transmissions of the following documents:

     (((1))) (a) The text of any proposed initiative, referendum, or recall measure and any accompanying documents required by law;

     (((2))) (b) Any minor party or independent candidate filing material for president and vice-president, except nominating petitions;

     (((3))) (c) Lists of presidential electors selected by political parties or independent candidates;

     (((4))) (d) Voted ballots((, provided the voter agrees to waive the secrecy of his or her ballot)) and signed affidavits received no later than 8:00 p.m. on election day, as long as hard copies are received prior to certification of the election. Consistent with WAC 434-250-080, it is the first ballot and affidavit received that may be processed and counted. Voted ballots received electronically no later than 8:00 p.m. on election day are timely even if the postmark on the return envelope is after election day;

     (((5))) (e) Resolutions from cities, towns, and other districts calling for a special election; and

     (((6))) (f) Voter registration forms.

     (2) If payment of a fee is required, acceptance of an electronic filing is conditional until the fee is received.

     (3) If the original document must be signed, acceptance of an electronic filing is conditional until receipt of the original document. Except for mail ballots, the original document must be received no later than seven calendar days after receipt of the electronic filing.

     (4) No initiative, referendum, or recall petition signatures may be filed electronically.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. 08-15-052, § 434-208-060, filed 7/11/08, effective 8/11/08; 06-23-094, § 434-208-060, filed 11/15/06, effective 12/16/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.610. 04-15-089, § 434-208-060, filed 7/16/04, effective 8/16/04. Statutory Authority: 2002 c 140 § 3. 02-15-156, § 434-208-060, filed 7/23/02, effective 8/23/02. 98-08-010, recodified as § 434-208-060, filed 3/18/98, effective 3/18/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 29.04.230. 92-18-087, § 434-08-060, filed 9/2/92, effective 10/3/92.]

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 434-208-070

Electronic filings not accepted.

OTS-3529.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-20-074, filed 10/1/07, effective 11/1/07)

WAC 434-235-010   Scope.   (1) This chapter implements the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973ff, and the provisions for service and overseas voters in Title 29A RCW.

     (2) Uniformed service voter is defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973ff-6(1) as:

     (a) A member of a uniformed service on active duty who, by reason of such active duty, is absent from the place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote;

     (b) A member of the merchant marine who, by reason of service in the merchant marine, is absent from the place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; or

     (c) A spouse or dependent who, by reason of the active duty or service of the member, is absent from the place of residence where the spouse or dependent is otherwise qualified to vote.

     (3) Service voter is defined in RCW 29A.04.163 as any elector of the state of Washington who:

     (a) Is a member of the armed forces under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973ff-6 while in active service;

     (b) Is a member of a reserve component of the armed forces;

     (c) Is a student or member of the faculty at a United States military academy;

     (((c))) (d) Is a member of the merchant marine of the United States((;

     (d) Is a program participant as defined in RCW 40.24.020)); or

     (e) Is a member of a religious group or welfare agency officially attached to and serving with the armed forces of the United States.

     (4) Overseas voter is defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973ff-6(5) as:

     (a) An absent uniformed services voter who, by reason of active duty or service is absent from the United States on the date of the election involved;

     (b) A person who resides outside the United States and is qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the United States; or

     (c) A person who resides outside the United States and (but for such residence) would be qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the United States.

     (5) Overseas voter is defined in RCW 29A.04.109 as any elector of the state of Washington outside the territorial limits of the United States ((or the District of Columbia)).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. 07-20-074, § 434-235-010, filed 10/1/07, effective 11/1/07.]

OTS-3195.3

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 09-18-098, filed 9/1/09, effective 10/2/09)

WAC 434-235-020   Voter registration.   (1) A uniformed, service, or overseas voter may register to vote by providing:

     (a) A voter registration application issued by the state of Washington;

     (b) A federal post card application issued by the federal voting assistance program;

     (c) A federal write-in absentee ballot issued by the federal voting assistance program;

     (d) A national mail voter registration form issued by the election assistance commission; or

     (e) An absentee ballot with a valid signature on the return envelope oath.

     (2) Pursuant to RCW 29A.40.010, a uniformed, service, or overseas voter does not have be registered in order to request an absentee ballot. Consequently, a uniformed, service, or overseas voter may request a ballot and be registered after the registration deadlines of RCW 29A.08.140 have passed.

     (a) If the voter is not currently registered, the county auditor must register the voter immediately. The voter must be flagged in the voter registration system ((accordingly)) as a service or overseas voter.

     (b) A uniformed, service, or overseas voter must use his or her most recent residential address in Washington, or the most recent residential address in Washington of a family member.

     (c) If the county auditor is unable to precinct the voter due to a missing or incomplete residential address on the application, the county auditor must attempt to contact the voter to clarify the application. If, in the judgment of the county auditor, there is insufficient time to correct the application before the next election or primary, the county auditor must issue the absentee ballot as if the voter had listed the county auditor's office as his or her residence. A special precinct for this purpose may be created. Upon its return, the ballot must be referred to the county canvassing board. The only offices and issues that may be tabulated are those common to the entire county and congressional races based on the precinct encompassing the auditor's office. ((Such registrations are only valid for the primary or election for which the ballot was issued. If the actual precinct is not determined before the next primary or election, the registration must be canceled.))

     (d) A voter who registers to vote by signing the return envelope of the absentee ballot is not required to provide a driver's license number, Social Security number or other form of identification as required in RCW 29A.08.107.

     (3) The county auditor must offer a uniformed, service, or overseas voter the option of receiving blank ballots by e-mail or postal mail. This requirement is satisfied if the uniformed, service, or overseas voter registers on an application that offers electronic ballot delivery as an option, or if the voter expresses a preference when registering, updating a registration, or requesting a ballot. The county auditor must attempt to contact the voter by phone, e-mail, postal mail, or other means. If the voter does not indicate a preference or does not respond, the county auditor must send ballots by postal mail.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. 09-18-098, § 434-235-020, filed 9/1/09, effective 10/2/09; 07-20-074, § 434-235-020, filed 10/1/07, effective 11/1/07.]

     (a) Any manner authorized by WAC 434-250-030;

     (b) A federal post card application issued by the federal voting assistance program; or

     (c) A federal write-in absentee ballot issued by the federal voting assistance program.

     (2) Pursuant to RCW 29A.40.070, absentee ballots issued to registered uniformed, service, or overseas voters must be mailed at least thirty days prior to the election or primary. Requests for absentee ballots received after that day must be processed immediately.

     (3) The county auditor ((may)) must issue an absentee ballot by mail, e-mail, or fax((, or other means as)) if specifically requested by the voter. A ballot does not have to be mailed if it is e-mailed or faxed to the voter. If an e-mail is returned as undeliverable and the voter has not provided an alternate e-mail address, then the ballot must be sent by postal mail.

     (4) ((Pursuant to RCW 29A.40.061, the county auditor shall provide the appropriate web site information with the absentee ballot.)) Ballot materials must include the mailing address, phone number, fax number, e-mail address, and web site of the county auditor's office to enable a voter to contact the elections office for additional information about the election. Ballot materials must include instructions on how to confirm that the voted ballot has been received by the elections office. This information must be provided in a format that the voter can keep after the voted ballot has been returned.

     (5) If the county auditor is unable to issue an absentee ballot due to insufficient information, the county auditor must attempt to contact the voter to clarify the request. If the county auditor is unable to obtain sufficient information to issue the absentee ballot, the county auditor must attempt to notify the voter of the reason that the ballot was not issued.

     (6) Pursuant to RCW 29A.40.150, return envelopes must be printed to indicate that they may be returned postage-free.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. 09-18-098, § 434-235-030, filed 9/1/09, effective 10/2/09; 07-20-074, § 434-235-030, filed 10/1/07, effective 11/1/07.]

     (2) ((The absentee ballots referred to in this section must be received prior to certification of the election or primary.)) The date on the envelope associated with the voter's signature, rather than the postmark on the envelope, determines the validity of the ballot. The signature on the oath must be dated no later than election day. ((An absentee ballot returned electronically is invalid until the original is received.))

     (3) Voted ballots returned by fax or e-mail must meet the requirements of RCW 29A.40.150 and WAC 434-208-060.

     (4) The county auditor must provide statistics on voting by uniformed, service and overseas voters in the certification report required by RCW 29A.60.235 and in response to requests by the federal election assistance commission.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. 07-20-074, § 434-235-040, filed 10/1/07, effective 11/1/07.]

     (1) Register to vote using a paper or on-line application;

     (2) Confirm a registration;

     (3) Request a ballot or replacement ballot;

     (4) Update a residential address or mailing address;

     (5) Contact the elections office by phone, fax, e-mail, mailing address, and physical address;

     (6) Find information about the next election;

     (7) Confirm via phone, e-mail or web site that a voted ballot has been received; and

     (8) Find election results.

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