Election task force calls for earlier primary and improved elections procedures

For Immediate Release: March 3, 2005

The Election Reform Task Force today called for a number of improvements to the state�s election process, including moving the state�s primary election forward at least a month, requiring voters to supply identification at the polls and other reforms of the state�s election process.

The task force, headed by Secretary of State Sam Reed and former State Sen. Betti Sheldon, was appointed by Gov. Christine Gregoire in the wake of last November�s extremely close governor�s contest.

�We�ve heard from hundreds of voters across Washington,� said Reed. �They overwhelmingly support and expect bold changes to our voting process. Our recommendations will go a long way toward developing a system that is consistent, transparent and better prepared to prevent fraud and errors.�

�We believe these changes will help rebuild public trust in the system,� Sheldon said. �At the same time, we also made great efforts to avoid changes that might result in the disenfranchisement of any legitimate voter.�

�I want to thank the task force for this thoughtful report,� said Gregoire. �Their recommendations are timely and have great merit. I will be working with the task force co-chairs and the Legislature to move toward their implementation.�

The task force recommendations include the following:

• Moving the date of the primary election at least four weeks earlier to give election supervisors sufficient time to certify the primary results, mail the general election ballots and prepare for the general election.


• Requiring voter identification to get a ballot at the polling site. Voters without identification would be issued a provisional ballot.


• Improving voter registration records. To assure the voter rolls do not include illegitimate voters or duplications, the task force recommends a strong effort to bring a new statewide voter database online as soon as possible.


• Improving military ballots. Moving the primary date earlier would improve the ability of service men and women to participate in elections. The task force also recommends a system of deployment notification and ballot delivery tailored to those members called up and expected to be away from home on Election Day.


• Assuring statewide procedural consistency by giving the Secretary of State a stronger role to bring about a more consistent election process between counties.


• Providing clearer warnings and stronger enforcement of voter fraud. The Legislature should evaluate whether current penalties are enough of a deterrent to voter fraud and whether sufficient funding is provided to investigate and prosecute this type of fraud. The task force recommends clearer warnings in voter material and on the back of ballot envelopes.


• Setting a consistent date for certifying results. To minimize the perception of impropriety, the task force recommends that all counties certify their results on the same day.


• Modifying provisional ballots. Provisional ballots should be a different color than regular ballots and provisions made to halt such ballots from being read by the optical scanners at the polling sites.


• Providing for mandatory review or audit. The task force believes that, to restore trust in the elections systems, a strong, structured review or audit program should be conducted by the Secretary of State�s Office.

Other recommendations include training, the option of voting by mail, improving notice to voters whose mail-in ballots have not been counted because of signature or ballot irregularity, requiring any electronic voting result in a paper ballot and voter-verified paper audit trail, improving the election system in King County, publishing a statewide voter pamphlet for the primary election and state funding for even-year elections and recounts for statewide or congressional races.

Other members of the Election Reform Task Force are former Washington State University President Sam Smith and former State Sen. Larry Sheahan. The task force held hearings in Vancouver, Des Moines, Pasco, Spokane and Mount Vernon. In addition, the public provided comments to an Internet site.