S-0399.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5098
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By Senators McCaslin and Deccio
Read first time 01/13/93. Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
AN ACT Relating to election recounts; and amending RCW 29.64.015 and 29.64.051.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 29.64.015 and 1991 c 90 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) If the official canvass of all of the returns for any office at any primary or election reveals that the difference in the number of votes cast for a candidate apparently nominated or elected to any office and the number of votes cast for the closest apparently defeated opponent is not more than one-half of one percent of the total number of votes cast for both candidates, the county canvassing board shall conduct a recount of all votes cast on that position.
(a) Whenever such a difference occurs in the number of votes cast for candidates for a position which appears on the ballot in more than one county, the secretary of state shall, within three business days of the day that the returns of the primary or election are first certified by the canvassing boards of those counties, direct those boards to recount all votes cast on the position.
(b) Whenever the
difference in the number of votes cast for ((such)) candidates for
the state legislature is less than ((one-fourth)) one-tenth
of one percent of the total number of votes cast for both candidates, the votes
shall be recounted manually.
(2) A mandatory recount shall be conducted in the manner provided by RCW 29.64.020, 29.64.030, and 29.64.040. No cost of a mandatory recount may be charged to any candidate.
Sec. 2. RCW 29.64.051 and 1991 c 90 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
After being counted, the votes cast in any single precinct may not be recounted more than twice, including any mandatory recount under RCW 29.64.015.
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