Section 434-235-020 - Voter registration(1) A 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) A ballot with a valid signature on the ballot declaration.(2) Pursuant to RCW 29A.40.010 and 29A.40.091, a service or overseas voter does not have to be registered in order to request a ballot. Consequently, a service or overseas voter who is not already registered in Washington may request a ballot and register after the registration deadlines of RCW 29A.08.140 have passed. A service or overseas voter who is already registered to vote in Washington may not transfer or update a registration after the deadlines in 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 as a service or overseas voter.(b) A 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. (i) 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 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. 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.(ii) After the election or primary, the county auditor must place the voter on inactive status and send the voter a confirmation notice to obtain the voter's correct residential address.(d) A service or overseas voter is not required to provide a driver's license number, Social Security number or other form of identification as required by RCW 29A.08.107.(3) The county auditor must offer a service or overseas voter the option of receiving blank ballots by email or postal mail. This requirement is satisfied if the 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, email, 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.(4) The county auditor shall keep the voter on service or overseas status until the county auditor receives verification the voter no longer qualifies as a service or overseas voter under WAC 434-235-010.(5) Status as a service or overseas voter is voter registration information and may only be disclosed if listed as public information in RCW 29A.08.710.Wash. Admin. Code § 434-235-020
Amended by WSR 14-06-040, filed 2/26/14, effective 3/29/2014Amended by WSR 19-01-102, Filed 12/18/2018, effective 1/18/2019Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611, 29A.04.620, and 29A.04.630. 11-24-064, § 434-235-020, filed 12/6/11, effective 1/6/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611, 29A.04.255. 11-05-008, § 434-235-020, filed 2/3/11, effective 3/6/11. 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.