Brief Description: Changing provisions relating to a candidate appearing on a ballot for two offices.

Sponsors: Representatives Hatfield, Clements, Haigh, Grant, Armstrong, Blake, Sump and Condotta.

Hearing Date: 1/23/04

Staff: Katie Blinn (786-7114).

Background:

A candidate filing for office generally may not file for more than one office, or appear on the ballot for more than one office. The two exceptions to this rule are filings for precinct committee officer (PCO) and filings for a temporary position, such as charter review board member or freeholder. Consequently, a candidate may run for two offices simultaneously only if one of the positions is PCO or a temporary position.

Compensation for some elected positions is by way of a salary. Compensation for other positions, such as fire districts, water districts, sewer districts, public hospital districts, metropolitan park districts, school boards, and some town councils, is paid on a per diem or per meeting basis. The per diem or per meeting compensation is usually $50 or $70, not to exceed $4800 or $6720 respectively per year. If compensation for a position is on per diem or per meeting basis, candidates are not required to pay a filing fee.

Summary of Bill:

Offices that do not require a filing fee are added to the two existing exceptions, PCO and temporary elected positions, that allow a candidate to run for office in multiple races during the same election. Consequently, a person may appear on the ballot as candidate for more than one office as long as one of the races is for PCO, a temporary position, or a position paid on a per diem or per meeting basis for which no filing fee is required.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2004.