BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to candidates filing for election; amending RCW 29.15.020, 29.15.120, 29.15.160, 29.27.020, and 29.42.050; and repealing RCW 29.18.150.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 29.15.020 and 1990 c 59 s 81 are each amended to read as follows:

Except where otherwise provided by this title, declarations of candidacy for the following offices shall be filed during regular business hours with the filing officer no earlier than the ((~~fourth~~)) second Monday in July and no later than the ((~~following~~)) second Friday after the first day of filing in the year in which the office is scheduled to be voted upon:

(1) Offices that are scheduled to be voted upon for full terms or both full terms and short terms at, or in conjunction with, a state general election; and

(2) Offices where a vacancy, other than a short term, exists that has not been filled by election and for which an election to fill the vacancy is required in conjunction with the next state general election.

This section supersedes all other statutes that provide for a different filing period for these offices.

Sec. 2. RCW 29.15.120 and 1994 c 223 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

A candidate may withdraw his or her declaration of candidacy at any time before the close of business on the ((~~Thursday following the~~)) last day for candidates to file under RCW 29.15.020 by filing, with the officer with whom the declaration of candidacy was filed, a signed request that his or her name not be printed on the ballot. There shall be no withdrawal period for declarations of candidacy filed during special filing periods held under this title. The filing officer may permit the withdrawal of a filing for the office of precinct committee officer at the request of the candidate at any time if no absentee ballots have been issued for that office and the general election ballots for that precinct have not been printed. The filing officer may permit the withdrawal of a filing for any elected office of a city, town, or special district at the request of the candidate at any time before a primary if the primary ballots for that city, town, or special district have not been ordered. No filing fee may be refunded to any candidate who withdraws under this section. Notice of the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy and that the filing fee is not refundable shall be given to each candidate at the time he or she files.

Sec. 3. RCW 29.15.160 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 120 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

A void in candidacy for a nonpartisan office occurs when an election for such office, except for the short term, has been scheduled and ((~~no valid declaration of candidacy has been filed for the position or~~)) all persons filing ((~~such~~)) valid declarations of candidacy have died or been disqualified.

Sec. 4. RCW 29.27.020 and 1990 c 59 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

On or before the day following the last day for ((~~political parties to fill vacancies in the ticket as provided by RCW 29.18.150~~)) filing, the secretary of state shall certify to each county auditor a list of the candidates who have filed declarations of candidacy in his or her office for the primary. For each office, the certificate shall include the name of each candidate, his or her address, and his or her party designation, if any.

Sec. 5. RCW 29.42.050 and 1991 c 363 s 34 are each amended to read as follows:

The statutory requirements for filing as a candidate at the primaries shall apply to candidates for precinct committee officer ((except that the filing period for this office alone shall be extended to and include the Friday immediately following the last day for political parties to fill vacancies in the ticket as provided by RCW 29.18.150,)) and the office shall not be voted upon at the primaries, but the names of all candidates must appear under the proper party and office designations on the ballot for the general November election for each even-numbered year and the one receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected: PROVIDED, That to be declared elected, a candidate must receive at least ten percent of the number of votes cast for the candidate of the candidate's party receiving the greatest number of votes in the precinct. Any person elected to the office of precinct committee officer who has not filed a declaration of candidacy shall pay the fee of one dollar to the county auditor for a certificate of election. The term of office of precinct committee officer shall be for two years, commencing upon completion of the official canvass of votes by the county canvassing board of election returns. Should any vacancy occur in this office by reason of death, resignation, or disqualification of the incumbent, or because of failure to elect, the respective county chair of the county central committee shall be empowered to fill such vacancy by appointment: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That in legislative districts having a majority of its precincts in a county with a population of one million or more, such appointment shall be made only upon the recommendation of the legislative district chair: PROVIDED, That the person so appointed shall have the same qualifications as candidates when filing for election to such office for such precinct: PROVIDED FURTHER, That when a vacancy in the office of precinct committee officer exists because of failure to elect at a state general election, such vacancy shall not be filled until after the organization meeting of the county central committee and the new county chair selected as provided by RCW 29.42.030.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. RCW 29.18.150 and 1990 c 59 s 102, 1977 ex.s. c 329 s 12, & 1965 c 9 s 29.18.150 are each repealed.