HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2300

                      As Passed House:

                        May 18, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the dates of special elections.

Brief Description:  Freeing special elections from the presidential primary date.

Sponsors:  Representatives Romero, McMorris, Stensen, D. Schmidt, Lovick, Edwards, McIntire, Wolfe and Kenney.

Brief History:

  Floor Activity:

Passed House:  5/18/99, 96-0.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Alters when special elections may be held in a presidential election year if a presidential preference primary is held.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:

1. Presidential preference primary.

A state presidential preference primary is held on the fourth Tuesday of May in the year of the presidential election.  However, the date of the presidential preference primary may be moved if a committee, composed of various legislative leaders, various major political party officials, and the secretary of state, approves a different date by at least a two-thirds vote.  Approval of a different date for the presidential preference primary must be made not later than the first day of October in the year prior to the presidential election.

Earlier this year, the committee moved the date of the presidential preference primary in 2000 to the last Tuesday in February.

2. Special election dates.

A special election may be held at any of six specified dates during a year, including the primary and general election dates.  The six specified dates for a special election include dates in February, March, April, and May, the date of the primary in September and date of the general election in November.  In addition, a special election may be called at any date to validate excess levies or bond issues to meet the needs resulting from a fire, flood, earthquake, or other act of God.

If the presidential preference primary is held in the month of February, March, April, or May, the date in that month when a special election may be held is the date of the presidential preference primary rather than the normal special election date for that month.

Summary of Bill:

The dates are altered when special elections may be held in a presidential election year.

If a presidential preference primary is held, special elections may be held on the date of the presidential preference primary as well as any dates specified when special elections may be held that are twenty-one or more days from the date of the presidential preference primary.

However, for year 2000, special elections may be held on the date of the presidential preference primary, as well as the normal special election dates in April, May, September, and November.  In addition, each county auditor may determine when an additional special election may be held within the county on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February or on the third Tuesday in March.  These determinations by county auditors must be made by December 1, 1999.  However, if a school district is located in more than one county, the potential special election in February or March in each of these counties must be on the same date.  If these county auditors are not able to agree on a common special election date in February of March, the secretary of state makes this determination by December 15, 1999.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.