BILL REQ. #:  S-0305.2 

Read first time 01/17/11.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to candidates appearing on the general election ballot; and amending RCW 29A.52.112.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.52.112 and 2005 c 2 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A primary is a first stage in the public process by which voters elect candidates to public office.
     (2) Whenever candidates for a partisan office are to be elected, the general election must be preceded by a primary conducted under this chapter. Based upon votes cast at the primary, the top two candidates will be certified as qualified to appear on the general election ballot, unless only one candidate qualifies as provided in RCW 29A.36.170.
     (3) For partisan office, if a candidate has expressed a party or independent preference on the declaration of candidacy, then that preference will be shown after the name of the candidate on the primary and general election ballots by appropriate abbreviation as set forth in rules of the secretary of state. A candidate may express no party or independent preference. Any party or independent preferences are shown for the information of voters only and may in no way limit the options available to voters.
     (4) No primary may be held for any single position in any partisan primary, as required by RCW 29A.52.111, if, after the last day allowed for candidates to withdraw, there are no more than two candidates filed for the position. The county auditor shall, as soon as possible, notify all the candidates so affected that the office for which they filed will not appear on the primary ballot.