HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1530
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 primary election voters' pamphlets.
Brief Description: Mandating primary election voters' pamphlets.
Sponsors: Representatives Green, Miloscia, Hunt, Ormsby, Kretz, Armstrong, Kenney, Hurst, Goodman, Kagi, Moeller and Hudgins; by request of Secretary of State.
Brief History:
State Government & Tribal Affairs: 2/6/07, 2/26/07 [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: Alison Hellberg (786-7152).
Background:
The Secretary of State (Secretary) is required to print and distribute a voters' pamphlet
whenever at least one statewide measure or office is scheduled to appear on the general
election ballot. The Secretary must distribute the pamphlet to each household in the state, to
public libraries, or to other locations deemed appropriate. The pamphlet may also be made
available in electronic form.
Summary of Bill:
The Secretary is required to print and distribute a voters' pamphlet each even-numbered year
primary and every general election.
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) Voters do not believe much of the campaign literature they receive, but they do
trust the high quality voters pamphlets published by the Secretary of State. Voters really use
them. They carry them to the polls and use it to discuss candidates and campaign issues with
friends and families. The information in the pamphlets is important and the most pure of all
information about candidates and issues out there.
The most important duty of the Secretary of State is to help people become more informed
voters. Many districts in Washington are becoming solidly one party. This means that most
races are decided in the primary. Judicial races are also often decided in the primary.
Because of all of these important races being decided in the primary, it is very important to
get knowledge out to voters before they vote. The voters pamphlet is the number one source
of information for voters so they should be published for even-year primaries.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Green, Prime sponsor; Sam Reed, Secretary of State; and Jeff Hall, Board for Judicial Administration.