READ FIRST TIME 02/20/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to increasing transparency of donors to candidates and ballot measures; amending RCW 29A.32.031 and 29A.36.161; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that the voters of the state of Washington have overwhelmingly affirmed the public's right to know about the financing of political activity. Recognizing that Initiative 276, which created the public disclosure commission and serves as the foundation of Washington's disclosure and campaign finance laws, was approved with over seventy-two percent of voters in support, the legislature also finds that maintaining the tradition of transparency in campaigns and political activities in the state of Washington is a top priority for citizens throughout Washington state.
     (2) Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to increase transparency and ensure that voters be provided easy access to accurate information about the sources of money supporting or opposing candidates and ballot measures by printing the public disclosure commission's web site on voters' pamphlets and ballots for each primary and general election.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.32.031 and 2011 c 60 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:
     The voters' pamphlet published or distributed under RCW 29A.32.010 must contain:
     (1) Information about each measure for an advisory vote of the people and each ballot measure initiated by or referred to the voters for their approval or rejection as required by RCW 29A.32.070;
     (2) In even-numbered years, statements, if submitted, from candidates for the office of president and vice president of the United States, United States senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, commissioner of public lands, superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner, state senator, state representative, justice of the supreme court, judge of the court of appeals, or judge of the superior court. Candidates may also submit campaign contact information and a photograph not more than five years old in a format that the secretary of state determines to be suitable for reproduction in the voters' pamphlet;
     (3) In odd-numbered years, if any office voted upon statewide appears on the ballot due to a vacancy, then statements and photographs for candidates for any vacant office listed in subsection (2) of this section must appear;
     (4) Contact information for the public disclosure commission established under RCW 42.17A.100, including the following statement: "For a list of the people and organizations that donated to state and local candidates and ballot measure campaigns, visit www.pdc.wa.gov." The statement must be placed in a prominent position, such as on the cover or on the first two pages of the voters' pamphlet. The secretary of state may substitute such language as is necessary for accuracy and clarity and consistent with the intent of this section;
     (5) Contact information for major political parties;
     (6) A brief statement explaining the deletion and addition of language for proposed measures under RCW 29A.32.080; and
     (7) Any additional information pertaining to elections as may be required by law or in the judgment of the secretary of state is deemed informative to the voters.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.36.161 and 2011 c 10 s 33 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) On the top of each ballot must be printed:
     (a) Clear and concise instructions directing the voter how to mark the ballot, including write-in votes; and
     (b) The following statement: "For a list of the people and organizations that donated to state and local candidates and ballot measure campaigns, visit www.pdc.wa.gov." The secretary of state may substitute such language as is necessary for accuracy and clarity and consistent with the intent of this section. Alternately, at the discretion of the county auditor or local election official, the statement required by this subsection (1)(b) may be printed in a prominent position on the ballot envelope and in the materials that accompany the ballot.
     ((On the top of each primary ballot must be printed the instructions required by this chapter.))
     (2) The ballot must have a clear delineation between the ballot instructions and the first ballot measure or office through the use of white space, illustration, shading, color, symbol, font size, or bold type. The secretary of state shall establish standards for ballot design and layout consistent with this section and RCW 29A.04.611.
     (3) The questions of adopting constitutional amendments or any other state measure authorized by law to be submitted to the voters at that election must appear after the instructions and before any offices.
     (4) In a year that president and vice president appear on the general election ballot, the names of candidates for president and vice president for each political party must be grouped together with a single response position for a voter to indicate his or her choice.
     (((5) On a general election ballot, the candidate or candidates of)) The major political party that received the highest number of votes from the electors of this state for the office of president of the United States at the last presidential election must appear first ((following the appropriate office heading)). ((The candidate or candidates of the)) Other major political parties ((will)) must follow according to the votes cast for their nominees for president at the last presidential election((, and)). Independent candidates and ((the candidate or candidates of all other)) minor parties ((will)) must follow major parties and be listed in the order of their qualification with the secretary of state.