Is this legal?

I'm sure a husband can fill it out for his wife, but can you solicit blank ballots?

We have a leftie blogger in Washington asking for readers to sign their ballots and send them to him to fill out.

I sent an e-mail to the Secretary of State, I’ll let you know if I get an answer.

Update: Director of Elections Replies (my original e-mail included)

Blatherwatch whines.

Dear Mr. Bentley,

Your email was referred to me asking whether a blogger was violating the law by asking readers to send him blank signed ballots.

First, I hope this blogger was not serious in his request.  For your information, our office has requested that he cease this practice. (emphasis mine)

The operative statute is

RCW 29A.84.610  Deceptive, incorrect vote recording.

A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who knowingly:

(1) Deceives any voter in recording his or her vote by providing incorrect or misleading recording information or by providing faulty election equipment or records; or

(2) Records the vote of any voter in a manner other than as designated by the voter.

Such a gross misdemeanor is punishable to the same extent as a gross misdemeanor that is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021

Thus, the violation of law occurs where someone records a vote for another person other than as designated by that voter.

Obviously, each of these situations involves questions of fact and the final solution will turn on exactly what happens.  But, this is the provision of law that will control these situations.

This office takes very seriously any situations involving undue influence in the voting process.

Thank you for calling this to our attention.  I hope this is helpful.

Nick Handy

Director of Elections
Office of Secretary of State
State of Washington

From: G’Willie
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2010 6:34 AM
To: Elections
Subject: Question; Other people filling out my ballot

Hello I saw on a blog (http://blatherwatch.blogs.com/talk_radio/2010/10/new-blatherwatch-voting-service.html) where he was requesting that readers sign and send him their blank ballots. I do not know if this is legal and did not see any thing on you website to say one way or the other, could you let me know?

thank you

G’Willie

So it appears that if the voters sent their ballots to him saying how they wanted him to vote for them it would be ok, just assuming they want him to vote one way is not.