WA People
BILL · 2005–06 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5499

SB 5499: Election reform

Clarifying and standardizing various election procedures.

Summary

  • Processing absentee ballots may begin upon receipt.
  • Changes the vote differential required for a statewide mandatory hand recount from 150 votes to 1,000 votes.
  • Requires signature verification training for election workers.
  • Changes the certification of the general election from 15 to 21 days after the general election.
  • Changes criminal penalties relating to destroying voter registrations and double voting.
  • Requires county auditors to reconcile election numbers and make the report available to the public.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SSB 5499), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted (partial veto) Enacted with partial veto · Chapter 243, Laws of 2005
  1. IntroducedJan 26, 2005
  2. Out of committeeFeb 21, 2005
  3. Passed SenateMar 11, 2005
  4. Passed HouseApr 14, 2005
  5. Partly vetoedMay 3, 2005
  6. LawMay 3, 2005
Prime sponsor
Jim Kastama (D-25)
Introduced
January 26, 2005 in the Senate
Last action
May 3, 2005
Session law
Chapter 243, Laws of 2005
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5499, ESSB 5499

AN ACT Relating to election reform;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Jim Kastama (D-25)

10 co-sponsors (10 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Jean Berkey D-38Darlene Fairley D-32Craig Pridemore D-49Rosa Franklin D-29Mary Margaret Haugen D-10Paull Shin D-21Jeanne Kohl-Welles D-36Mark Doumit D-19Marilyn Rasmussen D-2Karen Keiser D-33

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 11, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
26 Yea 21 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat25100
Republican12002
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 14, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
56 Yea 39 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat54101
Republican23802
How each member voted

Yea (56)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Recommended by the Conference Committee

Passed April 22, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
97 Yea 1 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat56000
Republican41100
How each member voted

Yea (97)

Nay (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final passage as recommended by the conference committee

Passed April 23, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
30 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat26000
Republican41900
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote
10 other recorded votes (amendments, procedural motions)

Senate · Amendment 213 by Morton (page 1, line 2)

March 11, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
23 Yea 25 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat12500
Republican22001
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Amendment 224 by Benton (page 8, line 19)

March 11, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
22 Yea 25 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat12500
Republican21002
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Amendment 268 by Carrell (page 8, line 19)

March 11, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
22 Yea 25 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat12500
Republican21002
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Amendment 244 by Roach (page 12, line 3)

March 11, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
22 Yea 25 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat12500
Republican21002
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Amendment 228 by Benton (page 16, line 2)

March 11, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
22 Yea 25 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat12500
Republican21002
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 509 by Ericksen (page 1, line 2)

April 14, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
43 Yea 53 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat25301
Republican41001
How each member voted

Nay (53)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 511 by Kristiansen (page 2, line 20)

April 14, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
43 Yea 53 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat25301
Republican41001
How each member voted

Nay (53)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 510 by Ericksen (page 3, line 35)

April 14, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
44 Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat35201
Republican41001
How each member voted

Nay (52)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 514 by Bailey (page 6, line 30)

April 14, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
46 Yea 50 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55001
Republican41001
How each member voted

Nay (50)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 513 by Schindler (page 8, line 26)

April 14, 2005
Version voted on: ESSB 5499
46 Yea 50 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55001
Republican41001
How each member voted

Nay (50)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/24/2005. (ESSB 5499)
  2. Chapter 243, 2005 Laws PV. (ESSB 5499)
  3. Governor partially vetoed. (ESSB 5499)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5499)
  5. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5499)
  6. Passed final passage as recommended by conference committee; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5499)
  7. Conference committee report adopted. (ESSB 5499)
  8. President signed. (ESSB 5499)
  9. Passed final passage as recommended by conference committee; yeas, 97; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5499)
  10. Conference committee report adopted. (ESSB 5499)
  11. House insists on its position and asks Senate for a conference. (ESSB 5499)
  12. Conference committee appointed. Senators Kastama, Berkey, Roach. (ESSB 5499)
  13. Conference committee request granted. (ESSB 5499)
  14. Conference committee appointed. Representatives Haigh, Hunt, Nixon. (ESSB 5499)
  15. Senate refuses to concur in House amendments. Asks House to recede from amendments. (ESSB 5499)
  16. Committee amendment not adopted. (ESSB 5499)
  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 3. (ESSB 5499)
  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5499)
  19. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5499)
  20. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5499)
  21. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5499)
  22. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5499)
  23. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5499)
  24. APP - Majority; do pass with amendments(s) by State Government Operations & Accountability. (ESSB 5499)
  25. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5499)
  26. SGOA - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5499)
  27. SGOA - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5499)
  28. Referred to Appropriations. (ESSB 5499)
  29. First reading, referred to State Government Operations & Accountability. (ESSB 5499)
  30. Third reading, passed; yeas, 26; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 2. (ESSB 5499)
  31. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5499)
  32. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5499)
  33. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5499)
  34. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  35. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5499)
  36. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  37. GO - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5499)
  38. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5499)
  39. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5499)
  40. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  41. Minority; do not pass.
  42. GO - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  43. First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections.

SB 5499 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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