(1) Immediately after the official results
of a state primary or general election in a county are
ascertained, the county auditor or other election officer shall
make an abstract of the number of registered voters in each
precinct and of all the votes cast in the county at such state
primary or general election for and against state measures and
for each candidate for federal, state, and legislative office or
for any other office which the secretary of state is required by
law to canvass. The cumulative report of the election and a copy
of the certificate of the election must be transmitted to the
secretary of state immediately, through electronic means and
mailed with the abstract of votes no later than the next business
day following the certification by the county canvassing board.
(2) After each general election, the county auditor or other
election officer shall provide to the secretary of state a report
of the number of absentee ballots cast in each precinct for and
against state measures and for each candidate for federal, state,
and legislative office or for any other office which the
secretary of state is required by law to canvass. The report may
be included in the abstract required by this section or may be
transmitted to the secretary of state separately, but in no event
later than March 31st of the year following the election.
Absentee ballot results may be incorporated into votes cast at
the polls for each precinct or may be reported separately on a
precinct-by-precinct basis.
(3) If absentee ballot results are not incorporated into
votes cast at the polls, the county auditor or other election
official may aggregate results from more than one precinct if the
auditor, pursuant to rules adopted by the secretary of state,
finds that reporting a single precinct's absentee ballot results
would jeopardize the secrecy of a person's ballot. To the extent
practicable, precincts for which absentee results are aggregated
must be contiguous.
[2003 c 111 § 1523; 2001 c 225 § 2; 1999 c 298 § 21; 1990 c 262 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 361 § 96; 1965 c 9 §29.62.090 . Prior: (i) 1895 c 156 § 12; Code 1881 § 3101; 1865 p 40 § 12; RRS § 5346. (ii) Code 1881 § 3103; 1865 p 41 § 14; RRS § 5348. Formerly RCW 29.62.090.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 361: See notes following RCW 29A.16.040.