/S-0384.1/91     _______________________________________________

                                 SENATE BILL 5348

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators West, Talmadge, Owen, Johnson, Vognild, Erwin, McMullen, Sellar, Saling, McDonald, Nelson, Hayner, Thorsness and Oke.

Read first time January 29, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.Eliminating the primary for legislative races when no more than one person is nominated from each party.

     AN ACT Relating to legislative elections; adding a new section to chapter 29.18 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 29.18 RCW to read as follows:

     No primary may be held in a legislative district for the position of state senator or state representative, if, after the last day allowed for candidates to withdraw, there is no more than one candidate filed for the position from each major political party.  The county auditor shall, as soon as possible, notify all the candidates so affected, including independent and minor party candidates filed for the position, 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 an order determined by lot by the filing officer.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.      This act shall take effect July 1, 1992.