S-4405.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6744
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Senator Thibaudeau
Read first time 02/03/98. Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
AN ACT Relating to use of stickers or labels for write-in voting; and amending RCW 29.51.175 and 29.62.180.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 29.51.175 and 1990 c 59 s 46 are each amended to read as follows:
Votes
cast by stickers or printed labels are ((not)) valid only for ((any
purpose and)) indicating a vote for a write-in candidate who has filed a
declaration of candidacy under RCW 29.04.180. Any other use of stickers or
printed labels is not valid for voting purposes and shall be rejected.
Votes cast by sticker or label shall not affect the validity of other offices
or issues on the voter's ballot.
Sec. 2. RCW 29.62.180 and 1995 c 158 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
For any office at any election or primary, any voter may write in on the ballot the name of any person for an office who has filed as a write-in candidate for the office in the manner provided by RCW 29.04.180 and such vote shall be counted the same as if the name had been printed on the ballot and marked by the voter. A voter may also indicate a write-in vote for such a candidate by use of a sticker or printed label as authorized by RCW 29.51.175. No write-in vote made for any person who has not filed a declaration of candidacy pursuant to RCW 29.04.180 is valid if that person filed for the same office, either as a regular candidate or a write-in candidate, at the preceding primary. Any abbreviation used to designate office, position, or political party shall be accepted if the canvassing board can determine, to their satisfaction, the voter's intent.
Write-in votes cast for an office need not be tallied if, assuming all of these write-in votes were cast for the same person, the write-in votes could not have altered the outcome of the primary or election.
--- END ---