HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5518

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:

Government Operations & Elections

Title: An act relating to making nonsubstantive changes to election laws.

Brief Description: Making nonsubstantive changes to election laws.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Roach, Darneille, Sheldon and Hatfield; by request of Secretary of State).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Operations & Elections: 3/20/13, 3/26/13 [DP].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Repeals outdated statutes and corrects language and citations in Title 29A.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Bergquist, Vice Chair; Buys, Ranking Minority Member; Taylor, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Carlyle, Fitzgibbon, Kristiansen, Manweller, Orwall and Van De Wege.

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

Background:

Many changes and challenges to election laws over the past decade have resulted in duplicative statutes, outdated citations and references, and errors in dates.

Reorganizing Election Laws.

In 2003 the Legislature enacted a law that reorganized and recodified the election laws into a new title, Title 29A RCW. Many citations in other sections of statute still refer to Title 29.

Top Two Primary.

After Washington's blanket primary was ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court, the Legislature passed a bill providing for two alternative primary systems. Under a qualifying primary, or "Top Two" primary, voters are not required to affiliate with any party and may vote for any candidate in any race, regardless of the candidate's party preference. Due to concern over the possibility of that primary also being declared unconstitutional, the bill included a provision for a nominating primary, or "Pick-a-Party" primary, in which the voter must affiliate with one of the major parties and vote only for candidates of that party. Governor Gary Locke vetoed the part of the bill that established the Top Two primary and the Pick-a-Party primary took effect. The Washington Grange filed Initiative 872 which proposed the Top Two primary system. The initiative was approved by the voters, and the Secretary of State adopted that primary system in 2005. After years of litigation, the Top Two system has been upheld by the courts. Both primary systems are included in statute, resulting in a number of duplicate and contradictive laws.

Date of the Primary.

In 2006 and 2011 the Legislature changed the date of the primary to comply with federal law regarding transit time for ballots for service and overseas voters. Originally held the second Tuesday in September, the primary was changed to the third Tuesday in August of 2006, and to the first Tuesday in August of 2011. Changes to the date of the primary also require numerous election-related dates and deadlines to be changed.

Residency Requirement for Superior Court Judges.

In 2012 Christine Schaller, a resident and elector of Pierce County, was elected to the Superior Court of Thurston County. The election was challenged (Parker v. Wyman) based on the residency requirements in statute. The Superior Court ruled, and the Washington Supreme Court affirmed, that the eligibility criteria for Superior Court judges in the state constitution does not include a requirement for residency.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Summary of Bill:

Several technical changes to correct and conform election-related statutes related to the Pick-a-Party primary, the date of a primary, cross references to out-dated or incorrect statutes, and challenged statutes are made, including:

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The bill is a compilation of technical changes to election laws. The amendment made by the Senate simply reorders the information for the oath that is on voter registration applications. The definitions adopted for minor and major party are currently in the Washington Administrative Code.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Senator Roach, prime sponsor; and Katie Blinn, Office of the Secretary of State.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.