BILL REQ. #:  Z-0405.1 

Read first time 02/25/13.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to reducing costs and inefficiencies in elections; and amending RCW 29A.52.220, 29A.72.010, 29A.72.070, 29A.72.090, and 43.135.041.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.52.220 and 2005 c 153 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) No primary may be held for any single position in any ((city, town, district, or district court, as required by RCW 29A.52.210)) nonpartisan office, 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.
     (2) No primary may be held for nonpartisan offices in any first-class city if the city:
     (a) Is a qualifying city that has been certified to participate in the pilot project authorized by RCW 29A.53.020; and
     (b) Is conducting an election using the instant runoff voting method for the pilot project authorized by RCW 29A.53.020.
     (c) This subsection (2) expires July 1, 2013.
     (3) No primary may be held for the office of commissioner of a park and recreation district or for the office of cemetery district commissioner.
     (4) Names of candidates for offices that do not appear on the primary ballot shall be printed upon the general election ballot in the manner specified by RCW 29A.36.131.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.72.010 and 2003 c 111 s 1802 are each amended to read as follows:
     If any legal voter of the state, either individually or on behalf of an organization, desires to petition the legislature to enact a proposed measure, or submit a proposed initiative measure to the people, or order that a referendum of all or part of any act, bill, or law, passed by the legislature be submitted to the people, he or she shall file with the secretary of state:
     (1) A legible copy of the measure proposed, or the act or part of such act on which a referendum is desired((, accompanied by an));
     (2) A signed affidavit, or electronic submission, that the sponsor is a ((legal)) registered voter; and
     (3) A filing fee prescribed under RCW 43.07.120.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.72.070 and 2003 c 111 s 1808 are each amended to read as follows:
     Upon the filing of ((the)) a ballot title and summary for a state initiative or referendum measure in the office of secretary of state, the secretary of state shall notify ((by telephone and by mail, and, if requested, by other electronic means,)) the person proposing the measure, ((the prime sponsor of a referendum bill or alternative to an initiative to the legislature, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate,)) and any other individuals who have made written request for such notification of the exact language of the ballot title and summary.

Sec. 4   RCW 29A.72.090 and 2003 c 111 s 1810 are each amended to read as follows:
     When the ballot title and summary are finally established, the secretary of state shall file the instrument establishing it with the proposed measure and transmit a copy thereof ((by mail)) to the person proposing the measure, ((the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate,)) and to any other individuals who have made written request for such notification. Thereafter such ballot title shall be the title of the measure in all petitions, ballots, and other proceedings in relation thereto. The summary shall appear on all petitions directly following the ballot title.

Sec. 5   RCW 43.135.041 and 2010 c 4 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) After July 1, 2011, if legislative action raising taxes as defined by RCW 43.135.035 is blocked from a public vote or is not referred to the people by a referendum petition found to be sufficient under RCW 29A.72.250, a measure for an advisory vote of the people is required and shall be placed on the next general election ballot under chapter 1, Laws of 2008.
     (b) If legislative action raising taxes enacted after July 1, 2011, involves more than one revenue source, each tax being increased shall be subject to a separate measure for an advisory vote of the people under the requirements of chapter 1, Laws of 2008.
     (2) No later than the first of ((August)) July, the attorney general will send written notice to the secretary of state of any tax increase that is subject to an advisory vote of the people, under the provisions and exceptions provided by chapter 1, Laws of 2008. Within five days of receiving such written notice from the attorney general, the secretary of state will assign a serial number for a measure for an advisory vote of the people and transmit one copy of the measure bearing its serial number to the attorney general as required by RCW 29A.72.040, for any tax increase identified by the attorney general as needing an advisory vote of the people for that year's general election ballot. Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays are not counted in calculating the time limits in this subsection.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, "blocked from a public vote" includes adding an emergency clause to a bill increasing taxes, bonding or contractually obligating taxes, or otherwise preventing a referendum on a bill increasing taxes.
     (4) If legislative action raising taxes is referred to the people by the legislature or is included in an initiative to the people found to be sufficient under RCW 29A.72.250, then the tax increase is exempt from an advisory vote of the people under chapter 1, Laws of 2008.