Brief Description: Modifying the form of the presidential primary ballot.

Sponsors: By Representatives Hunt, Chandler, Armstrong, Ormsby, Kenney, Linville and Moeller; by request of Secretary of State.

House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

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 primary election.

Summary:

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.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   97   0
Senate   41   2

Effective: July 22, 2007