SB 6733 - DIGEST

Declares that no record may be created or maintained by a state or local governmental agency or a political organization that identifies a voter with the information marked on the voter's ballot, other than the choice that a voter makes on a partisan primary ballot regarding political party affiliation.

Provides that, under no circumstances may an individual be required to affiliate with, join, adhere to, express faith in, or declare a preference for, a political party or organization upon registering to vote. The secretary of state shall adopt rules allowing for the voluntary affiliation by voters with political parties and organizations. The voters' choices shall include the major political parties.

Requires partisan primaries to be conducted using a physically separate ballot format that requires physically separate ballots for each major political party. A major political party ballot may include only the names of candidates who designated that same major political party in their declarations of candidacy, as required by RCW 29A.24.030. Each major political party ballot must include all nonpartisan races and ballot measures appearing on the ballot.

Requires clear and concise instructions to the voter to be prominently displayed on each physically separate ballot, and must include: (1) A statement explaining that only one ballot may be voted;

(2) A statement explaining that if more than one ballot is voted, none of the ballots will be tabulated or reported; and

(3) A statement explaining that the voter's affiliation with a major political party will be inferred from the act of voting the ballot for that major political party.

Declares an intent to create a primary for all partisan elected offices, except for president and vice president, precinct committee officer, and offices exempted from the primary under RCW 29A.52.010, that: (1) Allows each voter to participate;

(2) Rejects mandatory voter registration by political party;

(3) Protects ballot access for all candidates, including minor political party and independent candidates;

(4) Maintains a candidate's right to self-identify with any major political party; and

(5) Upholds a political party's First Amendment right of association.

Repeals RCW 29A.36.140, 29A.52.110, 29A.52.120, 29A.52.130, and 29A.04.903.