71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 1204
 
                         House Bill 2583
 
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON RULES, REDISTRICTING, AND PUBLIC
  AFFAIRS (at the request of Secretary of State Bill Bradbury and
  Association of County Clerks)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Limits circumstances under which voter registration may be
considered inactive for failure to participate in elections.
Specifies that voter registration shall be considered inactive if
person has not voted and has not updated registration for period
of five years.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to voter registration; creating new provisions; and
  amending ORS 247.013 and 247.563.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 247.013 is amended to read:
  247.013. (1) A qualified person shall be considered registered
to vote in a county when the person's first registration in the
county occurs as described in ORS 247.012.
  (2) An elector who changes residence address from the county in
which the elector is registered to a different county within the
state, in order to vote in an election, must be an elector
registered in the county in which the new residence address of
the elector is located.
  (3) If there is a change in any information required for
registration under this chapter, and the elector has not changed
residence address to another county, the registration of the
elector may be updated as provided in this chapter.
  (4) Notwithstanding subsections (2) and (3) of this section, if
an elector changes residence address from the county in which the
elector is registered to a different county within the state, the
elector need not register again if the registration of the
elector is updated.
  (5) If the county clerk does not have evidence of a change in
any information required for registration under this chapter for
an elector, the registration of the elector shall be considered
active.
  (6) The registration of an elector shall be considered inactive
if:
  (a) The county clerk has received evidence that there has been
a change in the information required for registration under this
chapter or the elector has   { - not - }   { + neither + } voted
 { + nor updated the registration + } for a period of not less
than five years; and
  (b) The county clerk has mailed the notice described in ORS
247.563.
  (7) The registration of an elector shall not be moved to an
inactive file during the 60-day period prior to any election
because the elector has   { - not - }   { + neither + } voted
 { + nor updated the registration + } for a period of not less
than five years.
  (8) The inactive registration of an elector   { - shall - }
 { + must + } be updated before the elector may vote in an
election.
  SECTION 2. ORS 247.563 is amended to read:
  247.563. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this
section and ORS 247.555, whenever it appears to the county clerk
that an elector needs to update the elector's registration or
that the elector has changed residence address to another county,
the county clerk shall mail a notice to the elector.
  (2) The notice shall be sent by forwardable mail and shall
include a postage prepaid, preaddressed return card on which the
elector may state the elector's current residence and mailing
address. The notice shall advise the elector that:
  (a) The elector should return the card promptly;
  (b) If the card is not returned by the 21st calendar day
immediately preceding an election, the elector may be required to
complete a new registration card in order to vote in an election;
and
  (c) The elector's registration will be canceled if the elector
 { - does not vote - }   { + neither votes nor updates the
registration + } before two general elections have been held.
  (3) When the county clerk mails a notice under this section,
the registration of the elector shall be considered inactive
until the elector updates the registration, the registration is
canceled or the clerk determines that the registration should be
considered active.
  (4) This section does not apply when the county clerk receives
written evidence from the elector, the United States Postal
Service or another county clerk indicating a change of residence
or mailing address and the registration of the elector is
automatically updated by the county clerk under any provision of
this chapter.
  SECTION 3.  { + The amendments to ORS 247.013 by section 1 of
this 2001 Act apply to electors who have neither voted nor
updated their registration for a period of not less than five
years beginning prior to, on or after the effective date of this
2001 Act. + }
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