Committee limits preprinted data on mail-in voter-registration forms and advances House Bill 1680 after debating proof-of-citizenship and interstate data rules

House Bill 1680 was amended in committee to prohibit preprinting or pre-filling information on mail-in voter-registration applications for assisted registrants, and the committee passed the bill as amended by a 6-2 roll call.

Senator Walker presented amendment 2, which removes language that would have allowed preprinting or pre-providing information on mail-in registration forms. "This amendment strictly, just strikes the preprinting of information or the pre, providing data to fill in a veil and register voter application," Walker said, adding that assistance is still allowed but staff should not prefill answers on mail-in applications. The committee adopted Amendment 2 by consent.

Senator Ford summarized three amendments he plans to bring on second reading. Amendment 3 would remove a provision allowing the secretary of state to enter into a memorandum of understanding with another state to share voter-registration information; Ford said he was removing that provision because it encroaches on the chief election officers' territory. Amendment 4 would delete an automatic rejection provision for unsigned or undated forms to avoid creating a no-cure rejection. Amendment 5 would prevent a voter who has already provided proof of citizenship to one county from having to provide it again when they move to another county.

Following debate and the adoption of Amendment 2, the committee passed House Bill 1680 as amended, 6-2 (No: Senator Ford, Senator Spencer; Yes: Senator Schmidt, Senator Johnson, Senator Rogers, Senator Walker, Senator Good, Chair Gaskell).