The bill amends Washington State's irrigation district election laws to improve the voting process and clarify eligibility requirements. Key changes include allowing qualified district electors to vote by absentee ballot without prior certification of their inability to attend in person and granting the board of directors the authority to conduct elections solely by mail-in ballots, thus eliminating polling places. Additionally, it specifies that ballots must be returned in a security envelope within an outer envelope to ensure voter anonymity and extends the absentee ballot submission deadline from five to seven days after the election. The bill also adjusts the voting age requirement to 18 years old and clarifies that both spouses in a community property situation may vote.

Further amendments require districts to utilize their assessment rolls to notify qualified electors about elections and maintain a website with election information. It changes the meeting date for canvassing election returns from the first Monday to the second Wednesday after elections and outlines qualifications for write-in candidates. The bill establishes stringent election security requirements for districts with designated treasurers, including protocols for ballot handling and transparency during the canvassing process. It also introduces a written challenge process for voters and mandates the maintenance of election-related records for six months, with violations classified as gross misdemeanors to uphold electoral integrity.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 87.03.031, 87.03.032, 87.03.033, 87.03.045, 87.03.051, 87.03.071, 87.03.075, 87.03.085, 87.03.105
Bill as Passed Legislature: 87.03.031, 87.03.032, 87.03.033, 87.03.045, 87.03.051, 87.03.071, 87.03.075, 87.03.085, 87.03.105
Session Law: 87.03.031, 87.03.032, 87.03.033, 87.03.045, 87.03.051, 87.03.071, 87.03.075, 87.03.085, 87.03.105