AN ACT Relating to the
presidential preference primary; amending RCW 29.19.020, 29.19.070, and
29.19.080; adding new sections to chapter 29.19 RCW; repealing RCW 29.19.040,
29.19.050, and 29.19.060; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 29.19.020 and 1989 c
4 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) On the
fourth Tuesday in May of each year ((when)) in which a president
of the United States is to be nominated and elected, ((or such other date as
may be selected by the secretary of state to advance the concept of a regional
primary,)) a presidential ((preference)) primary shall be held at
which voters may ((express their preferences as to who should be)) vote
for the nominee of a major political party for the office of president. The
secretary of state may propose an alternative date for the primary no later
than the first day of August of the year before the year in which a president
is to be nominated and elected.
(2) No later than
the first day of September of the year before the year in which a presidential
nominee is selected, the state committee of any major political party that will
use the primary results for candidates of that party may propose an alternative
date for that primary.
(3) If an
alternative date is proposed under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, a
committee consisting of the chair and the vice-chair of the state committee of
each major political party, the secretary of state, the majority leader and
minority leader of the senate, and the speaker and the minority leader of the
house of representatives shall meet and, if affirmed by a two-thirds vote of
the members of the committee, the date of the primary shall be changed. The
committee shall meet and decide on the proposed alternate date not later than
the first day of October of the year before the year in which a presidential
nominee is selected. The secretary of state shall convene and preside over the
meeting of the committee. A committee member other than a legislator may
appoint, in writing, a designee to serve on his or her behalf. A legislator
who is a member of the committee may appoint, in writing, another legislator to
serve on his or her behalf.
(4) If an alternate
date is approved under this section, the secretary of state shall adopt rules
under RCW 29.19.070 to adjust the deadlines in RCW 29.19.030 and related
provisions of this chapter to correspond with the date that has been approved.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
2. A new section is added
to chapter 29.19 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Except where
necessary to accommodate the national or state rules of a major political party
or where this chapter specifically provides otherwise, the presidential primary
must be conducted in substantially the same manner as a state partisan primary
under this title.
(2) Except as provided
under this chapter or by rule of the secretary of state adopted under RCW
29.19.070, the arrangement and form of presidential primary ballots must be
substantially as provided for a partisan primary under this title. Whenever
requested by a major political party, a separate ballot containing only the
candidates of that party who have qualified under RCW 29.19.030 must be provided
for a voter who requests a ballot of that party. A primary ballot, containing
the names of all the candidates who have qualified for a place on the ballot
under RCW 29.19.030, must be provided for nonaffiliated voters.
(3) The ballot must
list alphabetically the names of all candidates for the office of president.
The ballot must indicate the political party of each candidate adjacent to the
name of that candidate. Each ballot must include a blank space to allow the
voter to write in the name of any other candidate.
(4) A presidential
primary ballot with votes for more than one candidate is void, and notice to
this effect, stated in clear, simple language and printed in large type, must
appear on the face of each presidential primary ballot or on or about each
voting device.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
3. A new section is added
to chapter 29.19 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A major political
party may, under national or state party rules, base the allocation of
delegates from this state to the national nominating convention of that party
in whole or in part on the participation in precinct caucuses and conventions
conducted under the rules of that party.
(2) If requested by a
major political party, the secretary of state shall adopt rules under RCW
29.19.070 to provide for any declaration required by that party.
(3) Voters who
subscribe to a specific political party declaration under this section must be
given ballots that are readily distinguishable from those given to other
voters. Votes cast by persons making these declarations must be tabulated and
reported separately from other votes cast at the primary and may be used by a
major political party in its allocation of delegates under the rules of that
party.
(4) For a political
party that requires a specific voter declaration under this section, the
secretary of state shall prescribe rules for providing, to the state and county
committees of that political party, a copy of the declarations or a list of the
voters who participated in the presidential nominating process of that party.
Sec. 4. RCW 29.19.070 and 1989 c
4 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
The secretary of state
as chief election officer may make rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW
((or its statutory successor)) to facilitate the operation,
accomplishment, and purpose of this chapter. The secretary of state shall
adopt rules consistent with this chapter to comply with national or state
political party rules.
Sec. 5. RCW 29.19.080 and 1989 c
4 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
Subject to available
funds specifically appropriated for this purpose, whenever a presidential
((preference)) primary ((election)) is held as provided by this
chapter, the state of Washington shall assume all costs of holding the ((election))
primary if it is held alone. If any other election or elections are
held at the same time, the state is liable only for ((its)) a
prorated share of the costs. The county auditor shall determine the ((election))
costs, including the state's prorated share, if applicable, in the same
manner as provided under RCW 29.13.045 and shall file a certified claim ((therefore))
with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall ((compile such
claims for presentation to the next succeeding legislature in the same manner
as other legislative relief claims)) include in his or her biennial
budget requests sufficient funds to carry out this section. Reimbursements for
primary costs must be from appropriations specifically provided by law for that
purpose.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
6. The following acts or
parts of acts are each repealed:
(1) RCW 29.19.040 and 1989 c 4
s 4;
(2) RCW 29.19.050 and 1989 c 4
s 5; and
(3) RCW 29.19.060 and 1989 c 4
s 6.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
7. This act is necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support
of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately.
