HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No.  HB 1287

Simplifying procedures for selection of

precinct committee officers.

Brief Title                               Hearing Date: 2/2/99

Reps.  D. Schmidt and Scott               Staff:  Steve Lundin

Sponsor(s)                          State Government Committee

                                              Phone:  786-7127

BACKGROUND:

Candidates for precinct committee officer (PCO) for a major political party file for office like candidates for regular elective offices, except that the filing period for PCO's is considerably longer than the normal filing period and includes the full normal filing period and continues through two Fridays after the close of the normal filing period.

PCO=s are elected at general elections held in even-numbered years, but a primary is not held to nominate persons to those positions.  The names of all candidates for PCO of a precinct for each major political party are listed on the ballot at the general election.  The candidate receiving the most number of votes for a PCO position of a precinct for a major political party is elected if the number of votes for that candidate is equal to at least 10% of the number of votes cast in that precinct for a candidate from that party for any partisan office on the ballot at that election.

PCO=s are elected to two-year terms of office.  The chair of the central committee of a major political party fills any PCO vacancy, including a vacancy arising from the failure to elect a person at the general election.  However, in a county with one million or more persons, the appointment is only made by the chair of the central committee upon the recommendation of the appropriate legislative district chair.

SUMMARY:

The procedure to elect PCO=s is altered by:

oOnly allowing the office to appear on a general election ballot if two or more persons have filed declarations of candidacy for precinct committee officer of the same major political party from the same precinct; and

oDeleting the so-called 10% vote requirement, where, to be elected at such an election, a candidate for PCO must both receive a plurality of the votes cast for that position and at least 10% of the number of votes cast in that precinct for a candidate from that party for any partisan office on the ballot at that election.

The draft also clarifies that, although the PCO for each major political party from the same precinct is a separate office, a voter may only cast one vote for a candidate for a PCO from that precinct.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.