S-4401.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 6742

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

 

By Senators T. Sheldon, Stevens, Hochstatter and Schow

 

Read first time 02/02/98.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Giving voters a choice of "none of the above."


    AN ACT Relating to elections; adding a new section to chapter 29.30 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 85.38 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 87.03 RCW.

 

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

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 29.30 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) General election ballots must give voters the opportunity to select "none of the above" as an alternative to casting a vote for a candidate or nominee listed on the ballot for an elective office, or writing in the name of a candidate.  Voters may also vote for the "none of the above" option and for any one candidate or nominee listed on the ballot for an elective office.  Ballots must be organized so that the "none of the above" option is printed on ballots immediately after the name of the last candidate or nominee listed for each office appearing on the ballot.  The number of votes cast for "none of the above" must be reported with election results for an office but does not affect the election results for any office.

    (2) This section applies to all partisan and nonpartisan offices, including, but not limited to, the nominations and election of a supreme court judge, court of appeals judge, superior court judge, and the superintendent of public instruction, as well as the election of the initial elected officials of any newly created unit of local government.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 85.38 RCW to read as follows:

    Section 1 of this act applies to elections for members of a special district governing body.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 87.03 RCW to read as follows:

    Section 1 of this act applies to elections for irrigation district directors.

 


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