Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Local Government Committee |
HB 1143
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. |
Brief Description: Making the office of the county auditor a nonpartisan office.
Sponsors: Representative Appleton.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/18/11
Staff: Miranda Leskinen (786-7291) and Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:
County auditors are elected officials who fulfill an array of duties, some of which are required by statute and include:
recording deeds and real estate transactions;
tracking title changes and collecting licensing fees, as well as certain fees and taxes on behalf of the state Department of Revenue;
auditing county finances and other administrative duties;
serving as the board of county commissioners clerk (if the board does not reassign the role); and,
supervising and administering elections which spans from voter registration to maintaining and reporting county election results.
Excepting judicial offices and offices in home rule charter counties that provide otherwise all county offices, including the office of the county auditor, are partisan offices. A partisan office is defined as one in which candidates may indicate a political party preference and have that preference listed next to his or her name on primary and general election ballots. In contrast, candidates for nonpartisan offices do not indicate a political party preference.
Current law requires that a certain order be followed in the placement of elected offices and ballot issues on primary and election ballots.
Summary of Bill:
The office of the county auditor is designated as a nonpartisan county office. Ballot position requirements are modified to reflect this designation.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.