H-0239.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1287
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By Representatives D. Schmidt, Scott, McMorris, Wensman, Doumit, D. Sommers and Dunn
Read first time 01/20/1999. Referred to Committee on State Government.
AN ACT Relating to precinct committee officers; and amending RCW 29.42.050 and 29.36.030.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 29.42.050 and 1991 c 363 s 34 are each amended to read as follows:
((The))
Precinct committee officers of major political parties will be elected at
general elections held in even-numbered years or appointed as provided in this
section. General statutory requirements for filing ((as a candidate at
the primaries shall)) declarations of candidacy apply to ((candidates))
filing declarations of candidacy for a precinct committee officer
of a major political party, except that the filing period for this office
alone shall be extended to and include the Friday immediately following the
last day for political parties to fill vacancies in the ticket as provided by
RCW 29.18.150((, and)). A primary may not be held for the office
((shall not be voted upon at the primaries, but the names of all candidates
must appear under the proper party and office designations on the ballot for
the general November election for each even-numbered year and the one)),
no matter how many persons file for the same office. The position of precinct
committee officer of a major political party for a precinct may be placed on
the ballot at the general election only if two or more persons file
declarations of candidacy for that position. The candidate receiving the
highest number of votes ((shall)) will be declared elected((:
PROVIDED, That to be declared elected, a candidate must receive at least ten
percent of the number of votes cast for the candidate of the candidate's party
receiving the greatest number of votes in the precinct. Any person elected to
the office of precinct committee officer who has not filed a declaration of
candidacy shall pay the fee of one dollar to the county auditor for a
certificate of election)). Even though the position of a precinct
committee officer of each major political party for the same precinct are
separate offices, voters in the precinct may vote for only one candidate for
all of these positions. If only one person has filed a declaration of
candidacy for the same office of precinct committee officer, the office may not
be placed on the general election ballot, and the sole candidate will be
declared to have been elected to that position.
The term of office of precinct committee officer shall be for two years, commencing upon completion of the official canvass of votes by the county canvassing board of election returns.
((Should
any)) If a vacancy occurs in this office by reason of death,
resignation, or disqualification of the incumbent, or because of failure to
elect, the respective county chair of the county central committee ((shall
be empowered to)) may fill ((such)) the vacancy by
appointment((: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That)). However, in a
legislative district((s)) having a majority of its precincts in a county
with a population of one million or more, ((such)) the
appointment ((shall)) may be made only upon the recommendation of
the legislative district chair((: PROVIDED, That the)). A
person ((so)) who is appointed ((shall)) as a precinct
committee officer must have the same qualifications as ((candidates))
a candidate for that position must have when filing for ((election to
such)) that office ((for such precinct: PROVIDED FURTHER, That)).
When a vacancy in the office of precinct committee officer exists because
of failure to elect at a state general election held in an even-numbered
year, ((such)) the vacancy ((shall)) may not be
filled until after the organization meeting of the county central committee and
the new county chair selected as provided by RCW 29.42.030.
Sec. 2. RCW 29.36.030 and 1991 c 81 s 31 are each amended to read as follows:
If the information contained in a request for an absentee ballot received by the county auditor is complete and correct and the applicant is qualified to vote under federal or state law, the county auditor shall issue an absentee ballot for the primary or election for which the absentee ballot was requested. Otherwise, the county auditor shall notify the applicant of the reason or reasons why the request cannot be accepted.
((At
each general election in an even-numbered year, each)) Absentee
voters ((shall)) of a precinct where an election is held for
precinct committee officer must also be given a separate ballot containing
the names of the candidates ((that have filed for the office of)) for
precinct committee officer ((unless fewer than two candidates have filed for
the same political party in the absentee voter's precinct)) from that
precinct who are included on the ballot, as provided under RCW 29.42.050.
The separate ballot ((shall)) must provide space for ((writing
in the name of additional)) write-in candidates.
When mailing an absentee ballot to a registered voter temporarily outside the state or to an out-of-state voter, overseas voter, or service voter, the county auditor shall send a copy of the state voters' and candidates' pamphlet with the absentee ballot. The county auditor shall mail all absentee ballots and related material to voters outside the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia under 39 U.S.C. 3406.
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