Section 434-324-040. Data transfer to secretary and registration status.

(1) Following entry into the county election management system, all information in the application for voter registration must be transferred electronically to the secretary for identity verification. The secretary must assign the application a state identification number.

(2) If the applicant provided a Washington driver's license number or state identification card number, the applicant's identity is verified with the department of licensing. If the applicant provided the last four digits of his or her Social Security number, the applicant's identity is verified with the Social Security Administration through the department of licensing.

(3) If the applicant's identity is not verified in the computerized verification process, the secretary must notify the county election management system accordingly. The county auditor must first confirm the accuracy of the information entered in the county election management system from the voter registration application. The county auditor must correct any errors and again attempt to verify the applicant's identity automatically.

(4) If the applicant provided a Washington driver's license number or state identification number and the identity is not verified in the computerized verification process, the information on the application may be considered a "match" if the number on the application exactly matches a number issued by the department of licensing, and it is clear to the county auditor that the information on the application describes the person on the department of licensing record. Reasons that the county auditor may conclude that the information on the application describes the person on the department of licensing record include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) The first, middle, or last name on the application is a variation of the first, middle, or last name in the department of licensing record;

(b) The first, middle, or last name has transposed letters or another typographical error on the application or in the department of licensing record;

(c) The first and last names are transposed on the application or in the department of licensing record;

(d) The first and middle names are transposed on the application or in the department of licensing record;

(e) The applicant has a compound or hyphenated name which is not accurately or completely set forth on the application or in the department of licensing record;

(f) The first or middle name is abbreviated with initials on the application or in the department of licensing record;

(g) The last name on the application and the last name in the department of licensing record are not the same but, based on other information, the county auditor concludes that one of the names is a maiden name or a former name of the same person; or

(h) The month and day of the applicant's date of birth are transposed on the application or in the department of licensing record.

If the county auditor concludes that the information on the application describes the person on the department of licensing record, the county auditor must override the computerized failure to verify and must note the reason it is considered a match. The county auditor must place the applicant on the official list of registered voters in active status.

(5) If the applicant's identity is not verified in the computerized verification process, either because the information did not match or because the applicant claimed he or she did not have a driver's license or Social Security number, the applicant must be provisionally registered pursuant to RCW 29A.08.107. The registration record must be flagged as still requiring verification of the applicant's identity before the applicant's ballot may be counted.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. WSR 09-18-098, § 434-324-040, filed 9/1/09, effective 10/2/09; WSR 07-24-044, § 434-324-040, filed 11/30/07, effective 12/31/07; WSR 07-02-100, § 434-324-040, filed 1/3/07, effective 2/3/07; WSR 06-14-050, § 434-324-040, filed 6/28/06, effective 7/29/06; WSR 05-24-039, § 434-324-040, filed 11/30/05, effective 12/31/05.]

RCW 29A.04.611. WSR 09-18-098, § 434-324-040, filed 9/1/09, effective 10/2/09; WSR 07-24-044, § 434-324-040, filed 11/30/07, effective 12/31/07; WSR 07-02-100, § 434-324-040, filed 1/3/07, effective 2/3/07; WSR 06-14-050, § 434-324-040, filed 6/28/06, effective 7/29/06; WSR 05-24-039, § 434-324-040, filed 11/30/05, effective 12/31/05.