SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1209

                             AS OF MARCH 25, 1991

Brief Description:  Concerning the requirements for filing for an elective office.

SPONSORS:House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Sheldon and P. Johnson).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Staff:  Barbara Howard (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates:March 28, 1991

BACKGROUND:

There is no requirement for local election officers to make sure that candidates for various offices reside in the jurisdictions where they wish to run.  In a recent port district election, a commissioner candidate was elected, only to find that he was not a resident and therefore could not serve.  Some method of proving the candidate's eligibility might reduce election costs.

SUMMARY:

Qualifications for Appearing on Ballot.  A person filing a declaration of candidacy for an office must have the qualifications specified by law for a person who may be elected to the office.

The name of a candidate for an office shall not appear on a ballot for that office unless the candidate is, at the time of filing for the office, properly registered to vote in the geographic area represented by the office.  If a person elected to an office must be nominated from a district or similar division of the area represented by the office, the name of a candidate for the office shall not appear on a primary ballot for that office unless the candidate is, at the time of filing, properly registered to vote in that district or division.  The officer with whom declarations of candidacy are filed must review the declarations for compliance with this registration requirement.

These requirements do not apply to congressional candidates.

District Boundaries.  The legislative authority of each county and each city, town, and special purpose district must provide the county auditor, or for multi-county jurisdictions the Secretary of State, accurate information describing its geographic boundaries and the boundaries of its director, council, or commissioner districts and must ensure that this information is kept current.  The secretary must transmit the information received by the secretary to the appropriate counties.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available