2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 29A.60.170: Counting center, direction and observation of proceedings — Manual count of certain precincts.

(1) The counting center in a county using voting systems is under the direction of the county auditor and must be observed by one representative from each major political party, if representatives have been appointed by the respective major political parties and these representatives are present while the counting center is operating. The proceedings must be open to the public, but no persons except those employed and authorized by the county auditor may touch any ballot or ballot container or operate a vote tallying system.

(2) In counties in which ballots are not counted at the polling place, the official political party observers, upon mutual agreement, may request that a precinct be selected at random on receipt of the ballots from the polling place and that a manual count be made of the number of ballots and of the votes cast on any office or issue. The ballots for that precinct must then be counted by the vote tallying system, and this result will be compared to the results of the manual count. This may be done as many as three times during the tabulation of ballots on the day of the primary or election.

(3) In counties using poll-site ballot counting devices, the political party observers, upon mutual agreement, may choose as many as three precincts and request that a manual count be made of the number of ballots and the votes cast on any office or issue. The results of this count will be compared to the count of the precinct made by the poll-site ballot counting device. These selections must be made no later than thirty minutes after the close of the polls. The manual count must be completed within forty-eight hours after the close of the polls. The process must take place at a location designated by the county auditor for that purpose. The political party observers must receive timely notice of the time and location, and have the right to be present. However, the process must proceed as scheduled if the observers are unable to attend.

[2003 c 111 § 1517; 1999 c 158 § 9; 1990 c 59 § 30; 1977 ex.s. c 361 § 71. Formerly RCW 29.54.025, 29.34.153.]

Intent -- Effective date -- 1990 c 59: See notes following RCW 29A.04.013.      Effective date -- Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 361: See notes following RCW 29A.16.040.