SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5711

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, February 22, 2001

Title:  An act relating to the order of candidates on ballots.

Brief Description:  Determining candidate order on primary ballots.

Sponsors:  Senators T. Sheldon, Fairley, Hale and Winsley; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/14/01, 2/22/01 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Fairley, Vice Chair; Gardner, Hale, Haugen, Kline, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Background:  The order in which candidates= names appear on the primary ballot for federal, state and county partisan offices, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and judicial offices is initially ordered by lot determined by the filing officer.  The order is then rotated so that a nearly equal number of registered voters in the jurisdiction sees each reordered list of primary candidates.

The order of candidates on sample ballots and absentee ballots is the same on all ballots.  It is determined by the filing officer by lot.

Summary of Bill:  The requirement for rotation of candidates= names on primary ballots is repealed.  The order is determined by lot.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill saves money.  Studies by the Secretary of State have shown that a primary candidate's position of the ballot is not a factor in victory.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Suzanne Sinclair, County Auditors.