BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to nonpartisan elections; amending RCW 29.15.120, 29.15.150, 29.15.200, and 29.21.015; and adding a new section to chapter 29.15 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 29.15 RCW to read as follows:

If, after the close of the period established by RCW 29.15.020 for filing declarations of candidacy for the office of superintendent of public instruction or the nonpartisan elective office of a county, city, town, or special purpose district, no candidate or only one candidate has filed such a declaration for the nonpartisan office, the closure of the filing period for the office shall be extended. The extended filing period shall close at the end of business on the first Friday following the normal closing of that period under RCW 29.15.020.

Declarations and affidavits of candidacy filed during this extended filing period for the office shall be filed in the same manner, with the same fees or petitions, and with the same officer as prescribed for filings made under RCW 29.15.020. The names of candidates who validly file within this extension of the filing period shall appear on the ballot as if the filings had been made during the normal filing period under RCW 29.15.020.

The requirements of this section apply to a nonpartisan office of a county unless the provisions of the county's home rule charter provide otherwise. This section does not apply to a judicial office.

Sec. 2. RCW 29.15.120 and 1990 c 59 s 86 are each amended to read as follows:

A candidate may withdraw his or her declaration of candidacy at any time before the close of business on the Thursday following the last day for candidates to file under RCW 29.15.020 by filing, with the officer with whom the declaration of candidacy was filed, a signed request that his or her name not be printed on the ballot. There shall be no withdrawal period for declarations of candidacy filed during extended or special filing periods held under this title. The filing officer may permit the withdrawal of a filing for the office of precinct committee officer at the request of the candidate at any time if no absentee ballots have been issued for that office and the general election ballots for that precinct have not been printed. No filing fee may be refunded to any candidate who withdraws under this section. Notice of the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy and that the filing fee is not refundable shall be given to each candidate at the time he or she files.

Sec. 3. RCW 29.15.150 and 1973 c 4 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

Whenever it shall be necessary to hold a special election in an odd-numbered year to fill an unexpired term of any office which is scheduled to be voted upon for a full term in an even-numbered year, no September primary election shall be held in the odd-numbered year if, after the last day allowed for candidates to withdraw or after the end of an extended filing period provided by section 1 of this act, either of the following circumstances exist:

(1) No more than one candidate of each qualified political party has filed a declaration of candidacy for the same partisan office to be filled; or

(2) No more than two candidates have filed a declaration of candidacy for a single nonpartisan office to be filled.

In either event, the officer with whom the declarations of candidacy were filed shall immediately notify all candidates concerned and the names of the candidates that would have been printed upon the September primary ballot, but for the provisions of this section, shall be printed as nominees for the positions sought upon the November general election ballot.

Sec. 4. RCW 29.15.200 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 120 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

If, after ((~~both~~)) the normal filing period, an extended filing period provided by section 1 of this act, and a special three day filing period as provided by RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180((~~, as now or hereafter amended,~~)) have passed and still no candidate has filed for any single city, town, or district position to be filled, the election for such position shall be deemed lapsed, the office deemed stricken from the ballot and no write-in votes counted. In such instance, the incumbent occupying such position shall remain in office and continue to serve until his or her successor is elected at the next election when such positions are voted upon as provided by RCW 29.21.410((~~, as now or hereafter amended~~)).

Sec. 5. RCW 29.21.015 and 1990 c 59 s 90 are each amended to read as follows:

No primary may be held for any single position in any city, town, or district, as required by RCW 29.21.010, if, after the last day allowed for candidates to withdraw or after the end of an extended or special filing period, there are no more than two candidates filed for the position. The county auditor shall, as soon as possible, notify all the candidates so affected that the office for which they filed will not appear on the primary ballot. Names of candidates so notified shall be printed upon the general election ballot in the manner specified by RCW 29.30.025.