AN
ACT Relating to election filing dates; and amending RCW 29.15.170, 29.15.180,
29.15.230, and 29.18.160.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
29.15.170 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 120 s 10 are each amended to read as
follows:
Filings
for a nonpartisan office shall be reopened for a period of three normal
business days, such three day period to be fixed by the election officer with
whom such declarations of candidacy are filed and notice thereof given by
notifying press, radio, and television in the county and by such other means as
may now or hereafter be provided by law whenever before the ((fourth)) sixth
Tuesday prior to a primary:
(1)
A void in candidacy occurs;
(2)
A vacancy occurs in any nonpartisan office leaving an unexpired term to be
filled by an election for which filings have not been held; or
(3)
A nominee for judge of the superior court entitled to a certificate of election
pursuant to Article 4, section 29, Amendment 41 of the state Constitution, dies
or is disqualified.
Candidacies
validly filed within said three-day period shall appear on the ballot as if
made during the earlier filing period.
Sec.
2. RCW
29.15.180 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 120 s 11 are each amended to read as
follows:
Filings
for a nonpartisan office (other than judge of the supreme court or
superintendent of public instruction) shall be reopened for a period of three
normal business days, such three day period to be fixed by the election officer
with whom such declarations of candidacy are filed and notice thereof given by
notifying press, radio, and television in the county and by such other means as
may now or hereafter be provided by law, when:
(1)
A void in candidacy for such nonpartisan office occurs on or after the ((fourth))
sixth Tuesday prior to a primary but prior to the ((fourth)) sixth
Tuesday before an election; or
(2)
A nominee for judge of the superior court eligible after a contested primary
for a certificate of election by Article 4, section 29, Amendment 41 of the
state Constitution, dies or is disqualified within the ten day period ((when
a petition for write- in candidacy may be received)) immediately
following the last day allotted for a candidate to withdraw; or
(3)
A vacancy occurs in any nonpartisan office on or after the ((fourth)) sixth
Tuesday prior to a primary but prior to the ((fourth)) sixth
Tuesday before an election leaving an unexpired term to be filled by an
election for which filings have not been held.
The
candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast for that office in the
general election shall be deemed elected.
Sec.
3. RCW
29.15.230 and 1981 c 180 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
Filings
for a partisan elective office shall be opened for a period of three normal
business days whenever, on or after the first day of the regular filing period
and before the ((fourth)) sixth Tuesday prior to a primary, a
vacancy occurs in that office, leaving an unexpired term to be filled by an
election for which filings have not been held.
Any
such special three-day filing period shall be fixed by the election officer
with whom declarations of candidacy for that office are filed. The election
officer shall give notice of the special three-day filing period by notifying
the press, radio, and television in the county or counties involved, and by
such other means as may be required by law.
Candidacies
validly filed within the special three-day filing period shall appear on the
primary ballot as if filed during the regular filing period.
Sec.
4. RCW
29.18.160 and 1977 ex.s. c 329 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:
A
vacancy caused by the death or disqualification of any candidate or nominee of
a major or minor political party may be filled at any time up to and including
the day prior to the election for that position. For state partisan offices in
any political subdivision voted on solely by electors of a single county, an
individual shall be appointed to fill such vacancy by the county central
committee in the case of a major political party or by the state central
committee or comparable governing body in the case of a minor political party.
For other partisan offices, including federal or statewide offices, an
individual shall be appointed to fill such vacancy by the state central committee
or comparable governing body of the appropriate political party.
Should
such vacancy occur no later than the ((third)) sixth Tuesday
prior to the state primary or general election concerned and the ballots ((and
voting machine labels)) have been printed, it shall be mandatory that they
be corrected by the appropriate election officers. In making such correction,
it shall not be necessary to reprint complete ballots if any other less
expensive technique can be used and the resulting correction is reasonably
clear.
Should
such vacancy occur after the ((third)) sixth Tuesday prior to
said state primary or general election and time does not exist in which to
correct ((paper)) ballots (including absentee ballots) ((or voting
machine labels)), either in total or in part, then the votes cast or
recorded for the person who has died or become disqualified shall be counted
for the person who has been named to fill such vacancy.
When
the secretary of state is the person with whom the appointment by the major or
minor political party is filed, he shall, in certifying candidates or
nominations to the various county officers insert the name of the person
appointed to fill a vacancy.
In
the event that the secretary of state has already sent forth his certificate
when the appointment to fill a vacancy is filed with him, he shall forthwith
certify to the county auditors of the proper counties the name and place of
residence of the person appointed to fill a vacancy, the office for which he is
a candidate or nominee, the party he represents and all other pertinent facts
pertaining to the vacancy.
