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Home / Washington Business - July/August 2006 / Q&A - Sam Reed: Washington Secretary of State |
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Q&A - Sam Reed: Washington Secretary of State |
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Written On: July/August 2006 |
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Sam Reed is serving his second term as Washington Secretary of State. During Reed’s tenure, the state has adopted many aggressive election reforms.
In 2005, Reed received the Gonzaga University School of Law Medal, the institution’s highest honor, for his conduct during the disputed 2004 guberna-torial election and sub-sequent recounts.
To make Washington more business friendly, Reed led efforts to dramatically reduce the time it takes to start a business in the state by allowing corporations to file electronically.
Reed is active in many government and civic organizations and serves as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Q: Since 2004, the spotlight on your office has been focused on elections. What is the Secretary of State’s role in elections?
A: Historically, elections in Washington have been administered and managed at the county level. Following problems with Florida in 2000 and our 2004 governor election, the role of the Secretary of State has increased. Currently, the Secretary of State is the state’s chief elections officer. The Secretary delivers certified results of state primaries and general elections to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, manages a statewide voter-registration system, reviews county election practices, files and verifies initiatives and referendums, and produces and distributes the state Voters’ Pamphlet. The Secretary of State does not send out or count ballots. Ballots are distributed and counted by Washington’s 39 counties.
Q: From your point of view, what were the lessons learned from the 2004 election?
A: The 2004 governor election demonstrated the need for a transparent elections process, tight controls over ballots, honest and candid behavior by those in charge, and the critical communication that must take place between election offices and stakeholder groups, including the public. Finally, it affirmed the need for a clear vision and mission each participant in the process understands.
Q: What has changed since the last election?
A: Due to the problems in 2000 and 2004, Washington has seized the opportunity to improve how we vote and restore public trust and confidence. Starting in 2007, Washington’s State Primary will be held in August to provide more time to prepare for the November election. This simple date change better serves our military because ballots have more time to reach them. It also helps prevent an election train wreck.
We’ve overhauled voter registration to prevent fraud by creating a single, centralized database to manage all voter registration records. In fact, we’ve already canceled more than 55,000 erroneous records including duplicates, the deceased and felons who have yet to restore their voting rights.
We’re monitoring election practices across the state more closely. Using our new authority, every county will be thoroughly reviewed once every three years. We’ve simplified elections through vote-by-mail. This means most counties will only conduct a single all-mail election instead of an election by mail and a poll-site election. Finally, we’re requiring more voter identification. Poll voters must now show identification such as a driver’s license, state ID card or other form of identity. In the 2005 elections, almost all voters produced photo ID, usually driver’s licenses.
Q: What steps have you and local election officials taken to insure that voter fraud is eliminated?
A: We’ve built a statewide database that handles all voter registration records. In addition to canceling records of the deceased and felons who have yet to restore their voting rights, election workers can track our mobile population more easily which means ballots are less likely to be mailed to bad addresses.
Q: How will the handling of ballots change in this year’s election to prevent different batches of votes from being misplaced or lost?
A: A number of counties have incorporated new ballot-tracking systems, many using advanced technology. The ballot-tracking technology will offer election officials the ability to better account for ballots, quickly detect human error during ballot processing, and streamline election processes. Every county in the state has the option to implement the ballot-tracking technology to improve ballot accountability and voter confidence.
Q: What impact has "Motor Voter" had on registration and turnout? Is it a good idea?
A: The national Motor Voter Act has increased voter turnout. But it has had unintended consequences. It created a new status of registered voters Washington had never tracked. Often times, this new "inactive voter" status keeps people registered long after they move out of state. Currently, there are jurisdictions in the country with more registered voters than people of voting age.
I believe effective voter outreach today must provide all citizens equal opportunity to participate in the elections process, including those who commute from our rural areas.
Q: Do you believe the voters’ confidence will be restored this year and on into the 2008 elections?
A: We’ve certainly taken the necessary steps to improve the voting process. But we must prove it to the voters through the administration of the elections themselves. Citizens expect a smooth elections process—as they should.
Q: Will Washington become an all-mail-in-ballot state? What are the ups and downs of that?
A: We are headed that direction. One advantage is a streamlined and simplified elections process. Voting by mail promotes an informed electorate because people can study the issues as they vote. We know that citizens like voting by mail because when given the choice they overwhelming choose to cast a mail ballot. The disadvantage is many voters want the sense of ceremony that comes with voting at the polls.
Q: Do you believe that voters will eventually go online to vote? If so, how do you envisions that process working and what will the safeguards be to protect confidentiality and to prevent duplicative ballots?
A: Citizens will probably vote online eventually. However, we cannot take such a bold step until rigorous testing and evidence show, without question, a voter’s ballot and private information will remain confidential.
Q: Do you have suggestions for anyone conducting voter registration drives?
A: I would encourage organizers to target nontraditional groups. For our voting process to be successful, it must include participants from all populations that make up our communities. For example, on college campuses organizers should reach out to schools of business, science and trade as well as students who specialize in the social sciences and humanities.
Q: What turn out are you projecting for the November election.
A: Typically, about 55-60 percent of registered voters turn out for even-year, non-presidential elections. Turnout largely depends on issues and hot races. It’s too early to offer a precise prediction for November 2006.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: I would urge the business community to actively engage in the political process. The future of your businesses, families and communities depends on it. We need your knowledge, skills, talents and heartfelt dedication to the success in your neighborhoods and communities.
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