BILL REQ. #:  H-0896.2 

Read first time 01/25/2005.   Referred to Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability.

     AN ACT Relating to changing primary dates and associated election procedures; amending RCW 29A.04.311, 29A.20.121, and 29A.24.050; repealing RCW 29A.04.158 and 29A.24.200; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.04.311 and 2004 c 271 s 105 are each amended to read as follows:
     Nominating primaries for general elections to be held in November, and the election of precinct committee officers, must be held on the ((third)) first Tuesday of the preceding September ((or on the seventh Tuesday immediately preceding such general election, whichever occurs first)).

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.20.121 and 2004 c 271 s 110 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any nomination of a candidate for partisan public office by other than a major political party may be made only: (a) In a convention held not earlier than the ((last)) second Saturday in June and not later than the ((first)) third Saturday in ((July)) June or during any of the seven days immediately preceding the first day for filing declarations of candidacy as fixed in accordance with RCW 29A.28.041; (b) as provided by RCW 29A.60.021; or (c) as otherwise provided in this section. Minor political party and independent candidates may appear only on the general election ballot.
     (2) Nominations of candidates for president and vice president of the United States other than by a major political party may be made either at a convention conducted under subsection (1) of this section, or at a similar convention taking place not earlier than the first Sunday in July and not later than seventy days before the general election. Conventions held during this time period may not nominate candidates for any public office other than president and vice president of the United States, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section.
     (3) If a special filing period for a partisan office is opened under RCW 29A.24.211, candidates of minor political parties and independent candidates may file for office during that special filing period. The names of those candidates may not appear on the general election ballot unless they are nominated by convention held no later than five days after the close of the special filing period and a certificate of nomination is filed with the filing officer no later than three days after the convention. The requirements of RCW 29A.20.131 do not apply to such a convention.
     (4) A minor political party may hold more than one convention but in no case shall any such party nominate more than one candidate for any one partisan public office or position. For the purpose of nominating candidates for the offices of president and vice president, United States senator, United States representative, or a statewide office, a minor party or independent candidate holding multiple conventions may add together the number of signatures of different individuals from each convention obtained in support of the candidate or candidates in order to obtain the number required by RCW 29A.20.141. For all other offices for which nominations are made, signatures of the requisite number of registered voters must be obtained at a single convention.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.24.050 and 2003 c 111 s 605 are each amended to read as follows:
     Except where otherwise provided by this title, declarations of candidacy for the following offices shall be filed with the filing officer during regular business hours ((with the filing officer no earlier than)) for five days beginning on the ((fourth)) second Monday in July and ((no later than)) ending on the following Friday in the year in which the office is scheduled to be voted upon:
     (1) Offices that are scheduled to be voted upon for full terms or both full terms and short terms at, or in conjunction with, a state general election; and
     (2) Offices where a vacancy, other than a short term, exists that has not been filled by election and for which an election to fill the vacancy is required in conjunction with the next state general election.
     This section supersedes all other statutes that provide for a different filing period for these offices.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 29A.04.158 (September primary) and 2004 c 271 s 187; and
     (2) RCW 29A.24.200 (Lapse of election when no filing for single positions -- Effect) and 2003 c 111 s 620.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   This act takes effect January 1, 2006.