S-4069.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6481
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Senator Patterson
Read first time 01/19/98. Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
AN ACT Relating to candidates' and voters' pamphlets; amending RCW 29.80.010; and adding a new section to chapter 29.81 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 29.80.010 and 1987 c 295 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The secretary of state shall publish a candidates' pamphlet as soon as
possible before each state general election at which one or more federal
or state officials are to be elected((, the secretary of state shall publish
and mail to each individual place of residence of the state a candidates'
pamphlet containing)) or at which a person is to be elected to fill a
vacancy in a federal or state office. In addition, the secretary of state
shall publish a candidates' pamphlet for a primary held to nominate persons for
a federal or state office or to nominate persons to be elected to fill a
vacancy in a federal or state office, if sufficient time exists and sufficient
money has been appropriated for this purpose.
The secretary of state shall mail a candidates' pamphlet to each individual place of residence in the state, if voters state-wide will vote for any of these offices at that election or primary. However, the secretary of state need only mail a candidates' pamphlet to each individual place of residence in the applicable congressional or legislative district or districts where the election or primary is being held, if only one or more congressional offices or legislative offices are considered at the election or primary. Candidates' pamphlets must also be distributed as provided under RCW 29.81.140, 29.81.150, and 29.81.180 for the added distribution of voters' pamphlets.
In lieu of publishing and mailing a candidates' pamphlet on only a congressional or legislative district-wide basis for a primary or general election, the secretary of state may contract with a county auditor or auditors under section 2 of this act to include these materials in a local voters' pamphlet prepared and mailed in the applicable congressional or legislative district or districts.
(2)
A candidates' pamphlet must contain photographs and campaign statements of
eligible candidates or nominees who desire to participate therein,
together with a campaign mailing address and telephone number submitted by the candidate
or nominee at the candidate's or nominee's option((, and)).
In addition, a candidates' pamphlet for a general election in an
even-numbered ((years containing)) year must contain a
description of the office of precinct committee officer and its duties, in
order that voters will understand that the office is a state office and will be
found on the ballot of the forthcoming general election. ((In odd-numbered
years no candidates' pamphlet may be published unless an election is to be held
to fill a vacancy in one or more of the following state-wide elective offices:
United States senator, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state
treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public
instruction, commissioner of public lands, insurance commissioner, or justice
of the supreme court.))
(3) The secretary of state shall adopt rules providing for candidates' pamphlets at primary elections.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 29.81 RCW to read as follows:
The secretary of state may contract with a county auditor for information on persons running as candidates for a federal or state office to be included in the county voters' pamphlet prepared for a primary election.
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