The bill amends several sections of the Washington voter registration law, specifically addressing the process for challenging a voter's registration. It establishes that a challenge must be based on personal knowledge of specific criteria, including felony convictions, mental incompetency, and residency issues. New provisions require challengers to verify their claims by searching the official voter registration database of another state and confirming that the challenged voter is registered elsewhere. Additionally, the bill introduces new criteria for challenges, such as the age and citizenship status of the voter, and mandates that challenges must be filed within a specified timeframe before elections.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the county auditor in handling challenges, including the requirement to attempt resolution before a hearing and to notify both the challenger and the challenged voter of the hearing details. It also stipulates that if a challenge is sustained based on certain allegations, the voter's registration may be canceled, while allowing for corrections to be made if the challenge pertains to residency discrepancies. The bill emphasizes the importance of due diligence in the challenge process and ensures that all related documents are public records, while also providing protections for voters whose registrations are inactive.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 29A.08.810, 29A.08.820, 29A.08.835, 29A.08.840
Engrossed Bill: 29A.08.810, 29A.08.820, 29A.08.835, 29A.08.840