In addition to the case-by-case maintenance required under RCW 29A.08.620 and 29A.08.630 and the canceling of registrations under RCW 29A.08.510, the secretary of state and the county auditor shall cooperatively establish a general program of voter registration list maintenance. This program must be a thorough review that is applied uniformly throughout the county and must be nondiscriminatory in its application. Any program established must be completed at least once every two years and not later than ninety days before the date of a primary or general election for federal office. This obligation may be fulfilled in one of the following ways:

     (1) The secretary of state may enter into one or more contracts with the United States postal service, or its licensee, which permit the use of postal service change-of-address information. If the change of address information is received from the United States postal service that indicates that a voter has changed his or her residence address within the state, the auditor shall transfer the registration of that voter and send a confirmation notice informing the voter of the transfer to the new address;

     (2) A direct, nonforwardable, nonprofit or first-class mailing to every registered voter bearing the postal endorsement "Return Service Requested." If address correction information for a voter is received by the county auditor after this mailing, the auditor shall place that voter on inactive status and shall send to the voter a confirmation notice;

     (3) Any other method approved by the secretary of state.

[2004 c 267 § 128; 2003 c 111 § 236. Prior: 1999 c 100 § 2; 1994 c 57 § 44; prior: 1993 c 434 § 10; 1993 c 417 § 8; 1991 c 363 § 31; 1989 c 261 § 1; 1987 c 359 § 1. Formerly RCW 29.10.180.]

NOTES:

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

     Severability -- Effective date -- 1994 c 57: See notes following RCW 10.64.021.

     Purpose -- Captions not law -- 1991 c 363: See notes following RCW 2.32.180.