(1) Challenges initiated by a registered voter against a voter who registered to vote less than sixty days before the election, or who changed residence less than sixty days before the election without transferring his or her registration, must be filed not later than ten days before any primary or election, general or special, or within ten days of the voter being added to the voter registration database, whichever is later, at the office of the appropriate county auditor. Challenges initiated by a registered voter against any other voter must be filed not later than forty-five days before the election. Challenges initiated by the office of the county prosecuting attorney must be filed in the same manner as challenges initiated by a registered voter.

     (2)(a) If the challenge is filed within forty-five days before an election at which the challenged voter is eligible to vote, a notation of the challenge must be made immediately in the poll book or voter registration system, and the county canvassing board presides over the hearing.

     (b) If the challenge is filed before the challenged voter's ballot is received, the ballot must be treated as a challenged ballot. A challenged ballot received at a polling place must be placed in a sealed envelope separate from other voted ballots.

     (c) If the challenge is filed after the challenged voter's ballot is received, the challenge cannot affect the current election.

     (3) If the challenge is filed at least forty-five days before an election at which the challenged voter is eligible to vote, the county auditor presides over the hearing.

[2006 c 320 § 5; 2003 c 111 § 254; 1987 c 288 § 2; 1983 1st ex.s. c 30 § 3. Formerly RCW 29.10.127.]

NOTES:

Right to vote
   loss of: State Constitution Art. 6 § 3, RCW 11.88.010, 11.88.090.
   restoration of: RCW 9.92.066, 9.94A.637, 9.94A.885, 9.95.260, chapter 9.96 RCW.