Bill aims to fund postage for ballots, increase turnout

In an effort to boost voting, a group of state senators wants every primary and general election ballot to come with prepaid postage.

Senate Bill 5344 would require county auditors to put prepaid postage on return envelopes for each ballot. The state would then reimburse the counties for the cost of supplying postage.

It does not include funding for postage on ballots in special elections.

Language in the bill says the cost of postage effectively amounts to a poll tax. It says “many citizens lack the necessary funds” to pay for postage, and that by providing it for them, the state will likely increase voter turnout.

The bill, set for a hearing Monday before the Senate Government Operations and State Security Committee, doesn’t estimate what those costs would be. Secretary of State’s Office spokesman Brian Zylstra said the agency, which manages elections in Washington state, didn’t immediately have an estimate for how much the proposal would cost.