H-3251.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2623

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representative Anderson

Read first time 01/19/94.  Referred to Committee on State Government.

Clarifying definitions regarding elections.

    AN ACT Relating to the clarification of definitions regarding elections; and amending RCW 29.01.090 and 29.01.180.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 29.01.090 and 1977 ex.s. c 329 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    "Major political party" means a political party of which at least one nominee for the office of president((,)) or vice president((,)) of the United States or of United States senator((,)) or for a state-wide office received at least five percent of the total vote cast at the last preceding state general election conducted in an even-numbered year((:  PROVIDED, That any political party qualifying as a major political party under the previous subsection (2) or subsection (3) of this section prior to its 1977 amendment shall retain such status until after the next state general election following June 30, 1977)) for the office.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 29.01.180 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 120 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

    "Short term" ((means)) for a nonpartisan office refers to the brief period of time starting upon the completion of the certification of ((election)) returns of an election to fill a full term for the office and ending with the start of the full term ((on the second Tuesday of the next January immediately following the election and is applicable only when)) for the office.  A short term for a nonpartisan office exists only if the office concerned is ((being)) held on the date of the election by an appointee to fill a vacancy ((which occurred after the last election, at which such office could have been voted upon for an unexpired term, prior to the election for such office for the subsequent full term)) in the office.  A short term does not exist for the office of school district director.

"Short term" for a partisan office refers to the brief period of time starting upon the completion of the certification of the returns of an election to fill a full term for the office and ending with the start of the full term for the office.  A short term in a partisan office exists if a vacancy exists in the office on the date the election is held or if the office is, on the date of that election, held by a person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office.

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