FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5267

                          C 158 L 95

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Establishing filing fees and tabulation procedures for write‑in candidates.

Sponsors:  Senators Sheldon, Haugen and Wood.

Senate Committee on Government Operations

House Committee on Government Operations

Background:  Any person who desires to be a write-in candidate and have such votes counted at a primary or election must file a declaration of candidacy no later than the day before the primary or election.  There is no statutory requirement that the person pay a filing fee at the time of filing a declaration of candidacy as a write-in candidate.

Regardless of whether a write-in candidate has filed a declaration of candidacy and regardless of whether there are enough votes to nominate a write-in candidate, votes for a write-in candidate must be tallied separately.

Summary:  Any person who files a declaration of candidacy as a write-in candidate must pay a filing fee in the same manner required of other candidates filing for the office.  Write-in votes cannot be tallied separately for a person who files a declaration of candidacy, unless the number of votes alters the results of the election.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    48 0

House     80 17 (House amended)

Senate    43 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995