FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1367

                         C 377 L 93

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing for mandatory election recounts.

By Representatives Jones, Reams and Kessler.

House Committee on State Government

Senate Committee on Government Operations

Background:  The state's Election Code permits a candidate for an office who failed to be nominated or elected to request that the votes be recounted.  An officer of a political party may also request such a recount.  Unless there is a change in outcome, such requested recounts are conducted on a fee-for-service basis.

The code requires that a recount be conducted, without charge to the parties involved, if the difference in the votes cast for the top two candidates is not more than 0.5 percent of the total number of votes cast for these candidates.  If this difference is less than 0.25 percent of the total votes cast for these candidates, the recount must be conducted manually.

Summary:  A mandatory recount need be conducted manually only if the difference in the vote totals for the top two candidates is less than 150 votes and also less than 0.25 percent of the total of the votes cast for both candidates.

However, the mandatory manual recount does not apply if the top two candidates request an alternative method.  To do so, the candidates must file a signed statement requesting the alternative with the elections official for the office.  The recount is to be conducted using the requested alternative if the alternative satisfies certain requirements.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  97 0

Senate 48 0

Effective:  July 25, 1993