SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 124
BYHouse Committee on Constitution, Elections & Ethics (originally sponsored by Representatives Cole, Armstrong, Fisher, Crane, Leonard, Betrozoff, Pruitt, Fisch, Rust, Miller and P. King)
Standardizing ballot order rotation of all candidates.
House Committe on Constitution, Elections & Ethics
Senate Committee on Governmental Operations
Senate Hearing Date(s):March 24, 1987
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Halsan, Chairman; Garrett, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, McCaslin, Talmadge, Zimmerman.
Senate Staff:Walt Corneille (786-7452); Sam Thompson (786-7754)
March 24, 1987
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, MARCH 24, 1987
BACKGROUND:
In 1986 legislation was enacted which established a procedure for determining by lot the order in which the names of candidates for partisan office, the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and most judicial offices, would appear on sample and absentee ballots in primaries. The names of candidates for the office of district court judge were expressly excluded from the procedure. This legislation requires the names of candidates for all judicial offices except district court judges, be rotated on primary ballots. The names of candidates for the office of district court judge were also excluded from those references.
SUMMARY:
The names of candidates for district court judge shall be rotated in each precinct in primaries in the manner specified by law for other judicial offices. The order of those names on sample ballots and on absentee ballots in primaries are determined by lot. On the general election ballot and absentee and sample ballots for the general election, the name of the candidate who receives the greatest number of votes for the position at the primary will be listed first followed by the name of the candidate who receives the next greatest number of votes.
Fiscal Note: none requested
Senate Committee - Testified: Fred Saeger, Washington Association of County Officials