Verification of applicant's identity.
(1) If the applicant is provisionally registered pursuant to WAC
434-324-040, the county auditor may use other government resources and public records to confirm the applicant's driver's license or state identification card number, valid tribal identification card, or the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number. The county auditor may also attempt to contact the applicant by phone, email or other means to obtain identification information.
(2) If, after these attempts, the county auditor is still unable to verify the applicant's identity, the county auditor must send the applicant an identification notice at the time of registration that includes a postage prepaid, preaddressed form by which the applicant may verify or send additional information. The identification notice must include:
(a) A statement explaining that because the applicant's identity cannot be verified with the information provided on the application, they have been provisionally registered to vote.
(b) A statement explaining that if this additional information is not provided, the applicant's ballot will not be counted.
(c) A statement explaining that federal law requires the applicant to provide their driver's license number, state identification card number, valid tribal identification card number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, or a copy of one of the following forms of identification, either before or when they vote:
(i) Valid photo identification;
(ii) A valid enrollment card of a federally recognized tribe in Washington;
(iii) A current utility bill, or a current bank statement;
(iv) A current government check;
(v) A current paycheck; or
(vi) A government document, other than a voter registration card, which shows both the registrant's name and current address.
(3) If the applicant responds with updated driver's license, state identification card, valid tribal identification card, or Social Security information, or with a copy of one of the alternative forms of identification, the flag on the voter registration record must be removed, allowing the applicant's ballot to otherwise be counted the first time they vote after registering.
(4) If the applicant fails to respond with adequate documentation to verify the applicant's identity, the applicant's voter registration record must remain flagged. The applicant must be notified at the time of each election that the ballot will not be counted unless adequate verification of identity is provided.
(5) A provisional registration must remain on the official list of registered voters for at least two general elections for federal office. If, after two general elections for federal office, the voter still has not verified or provided information to verify identity, the provisional registration shall be canceled.
(6) The county auditor shall mail an identification notice to a primary-only voter, as defined in WAC
434-232-010, no earlier than 90 days before the primary that they are eligible to participate in.
(7) The county auditor shall not mail an identification notice to a participant in the future voter program established under RCW
29A.08.170 until the participant becomes a registered voter.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
29A.04.611. WSR 23-15-018, § 434-324-045, filed 7/7/23, effective 8/7/23; WSR 22-10-041, § 434-324-045, filed 4/27/22, effective 5/28/22; WSR 20-13-043, § 434-324-045, filed 6/10/20, effective 7/11/20; WSR 14-06-040, § 434-324-045, filed 2/26/14, effective 3/29/14. Statutory Authority: RCW
29A.04.611,
29A.04.620, and
29A.04.630. WSR 11-24-064, § 434-324-045, filed 12/6/11, effective 1/6/12. Statutory Authority: RCW
29A.04.611. WSR 09-18-098, § 434-324-045, filed 9/1/09, effective 10/2/09; WSR 09-12-078, § 434-324-045, filed 5/29/09, effective 6/29/09; WSR 09-03-110, § 434-324-045, filed 1/21/09, effective 2/21/09; WSR 07-24-044, § 434-324-045, filed 11/30/07, effective 12/31/07; WSR 07-02-100, § 434-324-045, filed 1/3/07, effective 2/3/07.]