WSR 07-12-019

EXPEDITED RULES

SUPERINTENDENT OF

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

[ Filed May 25, 2007, 2:45 p.m. ]

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 392-107 WAC, Educational service districts -- Elections of board members.

NOTICE

     THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Martin Mueller, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200 , AND RECEIVED BY August 6, 2007.


     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: These changes are being made as required under E2SHB 3098.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.310.080.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: OSPI, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Martin Mueller, OSPI, (360) 725-6175.

May 25, 2007

Dr. Terry Bergeson

Superintendent of

Public Instruction

OTS-9242.3

Chapter 392-107 WAC

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICTS -- ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS

((EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICTS ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS))
NEW SECTION
WAC 392-107-200   Purpose and authority.   (1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish the procedures for electing the members of the boards of directors of the educational service districts.

     (2) The authority for this chapter is RCW 28A.310.080.

[]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-14-009, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06)

WAC 392-107-201   Election of educational service district board members.   (1) The procedures governing the election of members to the boards of directors of educational service districts are set forth under RCW 18A.310.080 through 28A.310.110 and WAC ((180-22-205 through 180-22-225)) 392-107-205 through 392-107-225.

     (2) Elections for members of boards of educational service districts shall be conducted biennially in odd-numbered years.

[Statutory Authority: 2006 c 263. 06-14-009, recodified as § 392-107-201, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.310.020, 28A.210.080. 02-18-052, § 180-22-201, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/28/02.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-14-009, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06)

WAC 392-107-205   Elector provisions.   (1) It shall be the responsibility of the educational service districts to assure that the ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction is provided current and correct information necessary to the conduct of the elections provided for in this chapter. Forms published by the ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction for the purpose of providing the following essential information shall be obtained, completed and submitted on a current basis:

     (a) The name, legal residence, mailing address and board-member district number of persons serving on the educational service district board of directors; and

     (b) The position numbers for which appointments have been made to fill unexpired terms.

     (2) On August 21st of the year of election or, if such date is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the state working day immediately preceding such date, the ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction shall certify a tentative list of electors consisting of all persons eligible to vote if the election were held on that date.

     (3) The list of eligible voters shall remain open for changes and deletions until 5:00 p.m. September 26th or, in the event such date is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, until 5:00 p.m. the working day immediately following such date. The ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction as soon thereafter as is practical shall certify the list of electors.

[Statutory Authority: 2006 c 263. 06-14-009, recodified as § 392-107-205, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.310.020, 28A.210.080. 02-18-052, § 180-22-205, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/28/02.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-14-009, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06)

WAC 392-107-210   Publicity and call of election.   (1) The ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction shall biennially provide reasonable public information concerning the election of educational service district board members through press and publication releases beginning in May of the year the elections are to be called.

     (2) Call of election. See RCW 28A.310.080.

[Statutory Authority: 2006 c 263. 06-14-009, recodified as § 392-107-210, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.310.020, 28A.210.080. 02-18-052, § 180-22-210, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/28/02.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-14-009, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06)

WAC 392-107-220   Balloting.   (1) Ballots shall be prepared by the ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction. The ballot for each position subject to election shall contain the name of each candidate eligible for the particular position. There shall be a separate listing of the candidates for each board-member district open in the particular educational service district. A board-member district position shall be stricken from the ballot if no candidate files for the position within the timelines specified in RCW 28A.310.080 and WAC 180-22-215.

     (2)(a) The ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction shall develop voting instructions which shall accompany the ballots. Biographical forms submitted under WAC 180-22-215(3) shall also accompany the ballots.

     (b) On or before October 1st, ballots shall be mailed to voters with two envelopes to be used for voting.

     (i) The outer, larger envelope (i.e., official ballot envelope) shall be labeled "official ballot"; be preaddressed with the "((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction" as addressee; and have provision for the identification of the voter, mailing address, his or her school district, and his or her educational service district.

     (ii) The inner, smaller envelope shall be unlabeled and unmarked.

     (3) Marking of ballots. Each member of a public school district board of directors may vote for one of the candidates in each board-member district named on his or her ballot by placing an "X" or other mark in the space provided next to the name of a candidate.

     (4) Return of ballots. Each member of a public school district board of directors shall complete voting by placing his or her marked official ballot in the smaller, unmarked envelope and sealing the same; placing the smaller envelope containing the ballot in the larger preaddressed envelope marked "official ballot" and sealing the same; if not already designated, completing the following information on the face of the official ballot envelope: Name, mailing address, identification of school district and educational service district; and placing the official ballot envelope in the United States mail to the secretary to the state board of education.

[Statutory Authority: 2006 c 263. 06-14-009, recodified as § 392-107-220, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.310.020, 28A.210.080. 02-18-052, § 180-22-220, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/28/02.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-14-009, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06)

WAC 392-107-225   Counting -- Ineligible votes -- Recount -- Certification of election -- Special election.   (1)(a) As official ballot envelopes are received by the ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction, a preliminary determination shall be made as to the eligibility of the voter and a record shall be made on the list of eligible voters that the voter has voted.

     (b) Official ballot envelopes not submitted in compliance with this chapter and other envelopes containing ballots shall be set aside for a final review and acceptance or rejection by the election board.

     (2)(a) The election board shall convene for the purpose of counting votes on October 25th or, if such date is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the state working day immediately preceding or following such date at a date, time and place designated by the ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction.

     (b) Official ballot envelopes that are accepted by the election board shall be opened and the inner envelopes containing ballots shall be removed and placed aside, still sealed. The inner envelopes shall then be opened and the votes counted by the election board.

     (c) No record shall be made or maintained of the candidate for which any voter cast his or her vote.

     (3) Ineligible votes. The following ballots and votes shall be declared void and shall not be accepted:

     (a) Votes for write-in candidates.

     (b) Votes cast on other than an official ballot.

     (c) Ballots which contain a vote for more than one candidate in a board-member district.

     (d) Ballots contained in other than the official ballot envelope.

     (e) Ballots contained in the official ballot envelope upon which the voter's name is not designated.

     (f) Ballots received after 5:00 p.m. October 16th. However, any ballot that is postmarked on or before midnight October 16th and received prior to the initial counting of votes by the election board shall be accepted. Any ballot received pursuant to the United States mail on or before 5:00 p.m. on October 21st that is not postmarked or legibly postmarked shall be accepted.

     (g) Such other ballots or votes as the election board shall determine to be unidentifiable or unlawful.

     (4)(a) Recounts. Automatic. A recount of votes cast shall be automatic if the electoral vote difference between any two candidates for the same position is one vote or less than one percent of electoral votes on a single ballot cast for the position, whichever is greater.

     (b) Recounts. Upon request. A recount of votes cast shall be afforded any candidate as a matter of right. The request shall be made in writing and received by the ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction within seven calendar days after the date upon which the votes were counted by the election board.

     (5) Certification of election. Within ten calendar days after the date upon which the votes were counted, and no sooner than eight calendar days after the votes are counted by the election board, the ((secretary to the state board of education)) superintendent of public instruction shall officially certify to the county auditor of the headquarters county of the educational service district the name or names of candidates elected to membership on the educational service district board of directors.

     (6) Special election. See RCW 28A.310.100.

[Statutory Authority: 2006 c 263. 06-14-009, recodified as § 392-107-225, filed 6/22/06, effective 6/22/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.310.020, 28A.210.080. 02-18-052, § 180-22-225, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/28/02.]

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