In addition to case-by-case maintenance under RCW 29A.08.620 and 29A.08.630 and the general program of maintenance of voter registration lists under RCW 29A.08.605, deceased voters will be canceled from voter registration lists as follows:

     (1) Periodically, the registrar of vital statistics of the state shall prepare a list of persons who resided in each county, for whom a death certificate was transmitted to the registrar and was not included on a previous list, and shall supply the list to the secretary of state.

     The secretary of state shall compare this list with the registration records and cancel the registrations of deceased voters within at least forty-five days before the next primary or election.

     (2) In addition, each county auditor may also use newspaper obituary articles as a source of information in order to cancel a voter's registration from the official state voter registration list. The auditor must verify the identity of the voter by matching the voter's date of birth or an address. The auditor shall record the date and source of the obituary in the cancellation records.

     (3) In addition, any registered voter may sign a statement, subject to the penalties of perjury, to the effect that to his or her personal knowledge or belief another registered voter is deceased. This statement may be filed with the county auditor or the secretary of state. Upon the receipt of such signed statement, the county auditor or the secretary of state shall cancel the registration records concerned from the official state voter registration list.

[2004 c 267 § 124; 2003 c 111 § 232; 1999 c 100 § 1; 1994 c 57 § 41; 1983 c 110 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 202 § 29; 1965 c 9 § 29.10.090. Prior: 1961 c 32 § 1; 1933 c 1 § 20; RRS § 5114-20. Formerly RCW 29.10.090.]

NOTES:

     Effective dates -- 2004 c 267: See note following RCW 29A.08.651.

     Severability -- 1994 c 57: See note following RCW 10.64.021.