Washington Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs, a Democrat, is speaking out against a bill in the Olympia Legislature that would more strictly invalidate voter signatures on statewide initiatives.
Hobbs tells KVI, “If you print your name and do your signature–your signature and your printed name (on the petition)–we can pull that on VoteWA (the State’s voter verification system). We’re gonna see your signature. We’re gonna know that’s you.”
Supporters of Senate Bill 5382–including bill sponsor, Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle)–want tighter restrictions on registered voter addresses which are required on ballots for statewide initiatives. To listen to KVI host John Carlson’s interview with Hobbs, click the play button below.
Hobbs says the address discrepancies are a red herring, telling KVI, “and the problem with this bill is, is let’s say you have a (university or college) student, you know, they’re going to WSU and they write their dorm address (on the petition), ’cause that’s naturally (what) you’d do, right? Or a service member. (If the bill passes) They’re going to invalidate that (petition signature) because you didn’t put down your actual registered address.”
Hobbs shares his prior military experience of voting out of state, adding, “With service members, ya know–I served over-seas–let’s say you have a service member coming here on leave. They see an initiative they like to sign, they sign it. They put their APO address–Armed Forces Post Office address–they’ll be invalidated (on the statewide petition).”
Hobbs says the address discrepancy bill could also impact senior citizens who put anything other than their registered address for voter registration.
To tell your elected State Representatives and Senator in the Washington Legislature if you support or oppose SB5382, you can call the Legislative hotline during business hours at 1-800-562-6000. Be ready to reference the bill number, SB5382, and the operator will ask you where you like to make sure your feedback goes to your elected Senator and Representatives.
The John Carlson Show is heard weekday mornings from 6-9 on Talk Radio 570 KVI and 101.5 FM HD3.
