OLYMPIA… The Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee heard testimony Thursday on Senate Joint Resolution 8208, which removes an unused and unimplemented portion of the state constitution related to elections. 

Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, is sponsoring the proposal for the third time in as many legislative sessions.  “The state has been inadvertently violating its own constitution in every presidential election for more than 40 years,” Carrell said.  “It was brought to my attention that there are conflicting sections of the constitution in regard to residency requirements to vote in elections, and this resolution will take care of that.”  

Originally, Article 6, Section 1 of the Washington State Constitution required a voter to live in the state for one year, in the county for 90 days and in the city, town, ward, or precinct for 30 days immediately preceding the election in order to be allowed to vote.  Section 1A was added in 1966, allowing United States citizens who become Washington residents during a presidential election year with the intention of making it their permanent residence to vote for president and vice president if they resided in the state at least 60 days immediately preceding the election.  Then in 1974, Section 1 was amended to allow all persons 18 years or older, who are U.S. citizens and have lived in the state, county and precinct for 30 days immediately preceding the election to vote in all elections, which conflicts with Section 1A. 

“This is just something to help clean up the constitution,” Carrell said.  “This resolution will allow everyone to follow the same set of rules and it just makes good sense.  The secretary of state’s office agrees that this is really a proposal for which the time has come.”