SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5163

                    AS OF JANUARY 26, 1993

Brief Description:  Placing local positions or offices first on ballots.

SPONSORS: Senator McCaslin

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates: January 29, 1993

BACKGROUND:

On primary and election ballots, offices are listed in the following order:  In presidential election years, President and Vice President (not on primary ballot), U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Public Lands, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner, State Senator, State Representative, county officers, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the Superior Court, judges of the District Court, and offices in jurisdictions not otherwise designated (local offices).  State ballot measures are placed before all offices.  The position of local ballot measures on a ballot is determined by rules issued by the Secretary of State.

It is believed that voters tend to vote only for positions at the top of the ballot and that voter participation in the less publicized races is discouraged by the prescribed ballot order.

SUMMARY:

On primary and election ballots, offices are listed in the following order:  Offices in jurisdictions not specifically designated (local offices), county officers, State Senator, State Representative, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Public Lands, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the Superior Court, judges of the District Court and, in presidential election years on the general election ballot, President and Vice President.  State ballot measures appear before all offices and the position of local ballot measures is determined by rules issued by the Secretary of State.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested