State election reform panel coming here

The state’s Election Reform Task Force will come to Spokane Tuesday evening as part of its series of statewide hearings.

The task force was set up by Secretary of State Sam Reed and Gov. Christine Gregoire to get public comments on ways to improve the system.

Reed also has a package of proposed reforms, which include such things as moving up the primary election date and requiring most absentee ballots to be received at county elections offices by Election Day.

Other groups have proposed other changes. Representatives of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation also will attend the hearing to discuss their proposals, which include requiring all voters to re-register – showing proof of citizenship – by the end of the year, requiring voters to show state-issued identification when voting, and de-emphasizing mail-in voting.

The task force will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Spokane Community College Lair.