Brief Description: Providing for judicial candidate information in voters' pamphlets.

Sponsors: Representatives Schual-Berke, Hunt, Lantz, Cody, Hudgins, Ormsby, Miloscia, Appleton, Green, Wood, Hankins and Kagi.

Hearing Date: 1/29/08

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

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. Information contained in the voters' pamphlet may also be distributed and made available to the public in electronic form.

Voters' pamphlets must contain information about ballot measures, statements advocating the candidacies of nominees for United States office, statewide office, state senator, state representative, justice of the Supreme Court, and judges of the Court of Appeals and Superior Courts.

There is no requirement for the Secretary to publish and distribute a primary voters' pamphlet. However, if one is printed, it must include: (1) a description of the office of precinct committee officer; (2) an explanation for voting in the primary; and (3) an explanation that minor party and independent candidates will appear only on the general election ballot.
   
The legislative authority of a county or first-class or code city may adopt an ordinance authorizing the publication and distribution of a local voters' pamphlet. The pamphlet must provide information on all measures within that jurisdiction and may, if specified in the ordinance, include information on candidates within that jurisdiction. The format of any local voters' pamphlet must comply with the provisions regarding state candidates' and voters' pamphlets.

Summary of Bill:

If the Secretary prints and distributes a primary voters' pamphlet in an even numbered year, it must contain statements, if submitted, advocating the candidacies of nominees for justice of the Supreme Court and judges of the Courts of Appeals. The statements must be factual and neutral. The candidates may submit a campaign mailing address and telephone number and a recent photograph.

The Secretary is required to make available on its Web site an electronic primary voters' pamphlet that contains information on all judicial elections conducted in that primary. Judicial candidates must be allowed to submit statements advocating their candidacies. Candidates may also submit a campaign mailing address, telephone numbers, Web site, electronic mail address, and a digital photograph suitable for reproduction in the electronic primary voters' pamphlet.

In the event the legislative authority of any county or first-class or code city adopts an ordinance to authorize publication and distribution of a local voters' pamphlet, that pamphlet must contain information on all judicial candidates within that jurisdiction.

Each county auditor is required to make available on the county's Web site an electronic primary voters' pamphlet that contains information on all judicial elections within its jurisdiction being conducted in that primary election. Judicial candidates must be allowed to submit statements advocating their candidacies. Candidates may also submit a campaign mailing address, telephone numbers, Web site, electronic mail address, and a digital photograph suitable for reproduction in the electronic primary voters' pamphlet.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.