HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1526
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
State Government & Tribal Affairs
Title: An act relating to presidential primary ballots.
Brief Description: Modifying the form of the presidential primary ballot.
Sponsors: Representatives Hunt, Chandler, Armstrong, Ormsby, Kenney, Linville and Moeller; by request of Secretary of State.
Brief History:
State Government & Tribal Affairs: 2/6/07, 2/13/07 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Green, Kretz, McDermott, Miloscia and Ormsby.
Staff: Colleen Kerr (786-7168).
Background:
Presidential primary ballots must be substantially the same as ballots for a partisan primary.
A major political party may request a separate ballot, containing only the candidates of that
party who have qualified, to be provided for voters who request a ballot of that party. A
primary ballot containing the names of all candidates who have qualified for a place on the
ballot must be provided for nonaffiliated voters. The unaffiliated ballot is provided for those
voters who choose not to identify with either political party.
In a national presidential primary, the national political parties do not count unaffiliated
ballots. The effect of this is those unaffiliated ballots cast for the presidential primary in
Washington do not count in the national election.
Summary of Bill:
The presidential primary ballot must be consistent with the requirements for a consolidated
ballot or a physically separate, one-party ballot, and the ballot must clearly indicate party
affiliation of each candidate. There is no longer an unaffiliated ballot for the presidential
primary.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This change to the statute will improve the information that goes before the
voters. People who choose to use the unaffiliated ballot for the presidential primary do not
realize that most of these ballots go uncounted in the presidential primary process. This
proposed bill will allow people to only choose a Democratic or Republican ballot so that they
may actually be able to participate in the national presidential primary. Additionally, this
change will require the printing of fewer ballots, which is an expense born by the state.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Sam Reed and Katie Blinn, Office of the Secretary of State.