Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government Committee

SB 6518

Brief Description: Changing the general election ballot for the office of judge of the district court.

Sponsors: Senator McCaslin.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Requires that a candidate for District Court judge be the only candidate printed on the general election ballot if he or she received a majority of the votes cast at the primary.

Hearing Date: 2/24/04

Staff: Katie Blinn (786-7114).

Background:

If only one or two candidates for District Court judge file for office, the position does not appear on the primary election ballot and only appears on the general election ballot. For the other judicial races, if a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast at the primary, only that candidate's name appears on the general election ballot.

Summary of Bill:

If a candidate for District Court judge receives a majority of the votes cast at the primary, only that candidate's name will appear on the general election ballot.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2004.