SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SSB 6368

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 11, 1994

Brief Description:  Permitting earlier filing of declarations of candidacy.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen and Winsley)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6368 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, McCaslin, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates:  January 20, 1994; January 26, 1994

BACKGROUND:

To become a candidate for elective office, general election law provides procedures for individuals to file declarations of candidacy with the appropriate county auditor or Secretary of State.  For positions open at a state general election in any particular November, the time for filing a declaration of candidacy is the five week days commencing on the preceding fourth Monday of July.  A declared candidate may withdraw his or her declaration by a signed request filed no later than the Thursday following the close of the regular filing period (the first or second Thursday of August). 

Should a place on the ticket of a major political party be vacant because no person has filed for nomination, the county central committee, for positions elected within a county, or state central committee, for positions elected from more than one county, may select and certify a candidate no later than the first Friday after the last day allowed for candidates to withdraw.

SUMMARY:

The regular five-day period for filing declarations of candidacy for state general elections shall commence on the third Monday of July preceding the election.

The deadlines for withdrawing a candidacy and for selecting candidates for unfilled positions on partisan tickets is automatically moved up one week.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR (original bill):

Will ease the time pressure on county auditors in preparing for primaries.  The longer filing period eliminates the need for special withdrawal periods, special provisions for party nominations, or additional three-day filing periods.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Sam Reed, Thurston County Auditor; John Pearson, Dep. Dir. of Elections, Office of Secretary of State