HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2448

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Government Operations

Title:  An act relating to independent candidates.

Brief Description:  Allowing independent candidates to withdraw from the general election.

Sponsors:  Representatives D. Sommers, Hargrove, Sheahan, McMahan, Sterk, Silver, Crouse and Mulliken.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  1/26/96, 2/2/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Cairnes, Vice Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Conway; R. Fisher; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken; Scheuerman; D. Schmidt; Van Luven and Wolfe.

Staff:  Scott White (786-7153).

Background:  Provisions are established relating to the administration of elections with regards to ballots and the withdrawal of candidates.

Existing law allows a candidate to withdraw his or her declaration of candidacy by filing a signed request stating as such by the close of business on the Thursday following the last day for candidates to file.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  An independent candidate who is qualified to appear on the general election ballot for a partisan elective office may withdraw his or her candidacy and have his or her name not printed on the general election ballot by filing a signed request stating as such by the close of business on the second Friday after the primary election.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The deadline for an independent candidate to withdraw is changed from the third to the second Friday after the primary.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  An independent candidate does not have the ability to withdraw after a primary election, and thus remove his or her name from the general election ballot.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Duane Sommers, prime sponsor; and Phil Harris, Spokane County.