BILL REQ. #:  Z-0241.2 

Read first time 01/20/2003.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to the date of the primary; amending RCW 29.13.070, 29.13.010, 29.13.020, 29.15.020, 29.15.040, 29.15.050, 29.15.150, 29.15.170, 29.15.180, 29.15.190, 29.15.230, 29.19.030, 29.24.010, 29.24.020, 29.24.025, 29.24.030, 29.24.035, 29.24.040, 29.24.045, 29.24.055, 29.24.070, 29.24.060, 29.36.270, 29.38.020, 29.38.030, 29.62.020, 42.12.040, 42.17.080, 42.17.710, 42.52.185, 27.12.355, 27.12.370, 35.06.070, 35.13.1821, 35.61.360, 35A.14.299, 36.93.030, 52.02.080, 52.04.056, 52.04.071, 53.04.110, 54.08.010, 54.08.070, 57.04.050, and 70.44.235; adding a new section to chapter 29.38 RCW; repealing RCW 29.01.160; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29.13.070 and 1977 ex.s. c 361 s 29 are each amended to read as follows:
     Nominating primaries for general elections to be held in November ((shall)) must be held at the regular polling places in each precinct on the ((third)) second Tuesday of the preceding ((September or on the seventh Tuesday immediately preceding such general election, whichever occurs first)) June.

Sec. 2   RCW 29.13.010 and 1994 c 142 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All state, county, city, town, and district general elections for the election of federal, state, legislative, judicial, county, city, town, district, and precinct officers, and for the submission to the voters of the state, county, city, town, or district of any measure for their adoption and approval or rejection, shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, in the year in which they may be called. A statewide general election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November of each year: PROVIDED, That the statewide general election held in odd-numbered years shall be limited to (a) city, town, and district general elections as provided for in RCW 29.13.020, or as otherwise provided by law; (b) the election of federal officers for the remainder of any unexpired terms in the membership of either branch of the congress of the United States; (c) the election of state and county officers for the remainder of any unexpired terms of offices created by or whose duties are described in Article II, section 15, Article III, sections 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, and Article IV, sections 3 and 5 of the state Constitution and RCW 2.06.080; (d) the election of county officers in any county governed by a charter containing provisions calling for general county elections at this time; and (e) the approval or rejection of state measures, including proposed constitutional amendments, matters pertaining to any proposed constitutional convention, initiative measures and referendum measures proposed by the electorate, referendum bills, and any other matter provided by the legislature for submission to the electorate.
     (2) A county legislative authority may, if it deems an emergency to exist, call a special county election by presenting a resolution to the county auditor at least ((forty-five days prior to)) fifty-two days before the proposed election date. Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, a special election called by the county legislative authority shall be held on one of the following dates as decided by such governing body:
     (a) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in February;
     (b) The second Tuesday in March;
     (c) The fourth Tuesday in April;
     (d) ((The third Tuesday in May;
     (e))) The day of the primary as specified by RCW 29.13.070;
     (e) The first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in September; or
     (f) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
     (3) In addition to the dates set forth in subsection (2) (a) through (f) of this section, a special election to validate an excess levy or bond issue may be called at any time to meet the needs resulting from fire, flood, earthquake, or other act of God. Such county special election shall be noticed and conducted in the manner provided by law.
     (4) In a presidential election year, if a presidential preference primary is conducted in February, March, or April((, or May)) under chapter 29.19 RCW, the date on which a special election may be called by the county legislative authority under subsection (2) of this section during the month of that primary is the date of the presidential primary.
     (5) This section shall supersede the provisions of any and all other statutes, whether general or special in nature, having different dates for such city, town, and district elections, the purpose of this section being to establish mandatory dates for holding elections except for those elections held pursuant to a home-rule charter adopted under Article XI, section 4 of the state Constitution. This section shall not be construed as fixing the time for holding primary elections, or elections for the recall of any elective public officer.

Sec. 3   RCW 29.13.020 and 2002 c 43 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All city, town, and district general elections shall be held throughout the state of Washington on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in the odd-numbered years.
     This section shall not apply to:
     (a) Elections for the recall of any elective public officer;
     (b) Public utility districts, conservation districts, or district elections at which the ownership of property within those districts is a prerequisite to voting, all of which elections shall be held at the times prescribed in the laws specifically applicable thereto;
     (c) Consolidation proposals as provided for in chapter 28A.315 RCW ((28A.315.280)) and nonhigh capital fund aid proposals as provided for in chapter 28A.540 RCW.
     (2) The county auditor, as ex officio supervisor of elections, upon request in the form of a resolution of the governing body of a city, town, or district, presented to the auditor at least ((forty-five days prior to)) fifty-two days before the proposed election date, may, if the county auditor deems an emergency to exist, call a special election in such city, town, or district, and for the purpose of such special election he or she may combine, unite, or divide precincts. Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, such a special election shall be held on one of the following dates as decided by the governing body:
     (a) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in February;
     (b) The second Tuesday in March;
     (c) The fourth Tuesday in April;
     (d) ((The third Tuesday in May;
     (e))) The day of the primary election as specified by RCW 29.13.070;
     (e) The first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in September; or
     (f) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
     (3) In a presidential election year, if a presidential preference primary is conducted in February, March, or April((, or May)) under chapter 29.19 RCW, the date on which a special election may be called under subsection (2) of this section during the month of that primary is the date of the presidential primary.
     (4) In addition to subsection (2)(a) through (f) of this section, a special election to validate an excess levy or bond issue may be called at any time to meet the needs resulting from fire, flood, earthquake, or other act of God, except that no special election may be held between the first day for candidates to file for public office and the last day to certify the returns of the general election other than as provided in subsection (2)(((e))) (d) and (f) of this section. Such special election shall be conducted and notice thereof given in the manner provided by law.
     (5) This section shall supersede the provisions of any and all other statutes, whether general or special in nature, having different dates for such city, town, and district elections, the purpose of this section being to establish mandatory dates for holding elections.

Sec. 4   RCW 29.15.020 and 1990 c 59 s 81 are each amended to read as follows:
     Except where otherwise provided by this title, declarations of candidacy for the following offices shall be filed during regular business hours with the filing officer no earlier than ((the fourth Monday in July)) sixty-four days before the date of the primary established by RCW 29.13.070 and no later than the following Friday in the year in which the office is scheduled to be voted upon:
     (1) Offices that are scheduled to be voted upon for full terms or both full terms and short terms at, or in conjunction with, a state general election; and
     (2) Offices where a vacancy, other than a short term, exists that has not been filled by election and for which an election to fill the vacancy is required in conjunction with the next state general election.
     This section supersedes all other statutes that provide for a different filing period for these offices.

Sec. 5   RCW 29.15.040 and 1987 c 110 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any candidate may mail his or her declaration of candidacy for an office to the filing officer. Such declarations of candidacy shall be processed by the filing officer in the following manner:
     (1) Any declaration received by the filing officer by mail before the ((tenth)) fifteenth business day immediately preceding the first day for candidates to file for office shall be returned to the candidate submitting it, together with a notification that the declaration of candidacy was received too early to be processed. The candidate shall then be permitted to resubmit his or her declaration of candidacy during the filing period.
     (2) Any properly executed declaration of candidacy received by mail on or after the tenth business day immediately preceding the first day for candidates to file for office and before the close of business on the last day of the filing period shall be included with filings made in person during the filing period. In partisan and judicial elections the filing officer shall determine by lot the order in which the names of those candidates shall appear upon sample and absentee primary ballots.
     (3) Any declaration of candidacy received by the filing officer after the close of business on the last day for candidates to file for office shall be rejected and returned to the candidate attempting to file it.

Sec. 6   RCW 29.15.050 and 1999 c 298 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     A filing fee of one dollar shall accompany each declaration of candidacy for precinct committee officer; a filing fee of ten dollars shall accompany the declaration of candidacy for any office with a fixed annual salary of one thousand dollars or less; a filing fee equal to one percent of the annual salary of the office at the time of filing, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, shall accompany the declaration of candidacy for any office with a fixed annual salary of more than one thousand dollars per annum. No filing fee need accompany a declaration of candidacy for any office for which compensation is on a per diem or per meeting attended basis.
     A candidate who lacks sufficient assets or income at the time of filing to pay the filing fee required by this section shall submit with his or her declaration of candidacy a nominating petition. The petition shall contain not less than a number of signatures of registered voters equal to the number of dollars of the filing fee. The signatures shall be of voters registered to vote within the jurisdiction of the office for which the candidate is filing.
     When the candidacy is for:
     (1) A legislative or judicial office that includes territory from more than one county, the fee shall be paid to the secretary of state for equal division between the treasuries of the counties comprising the district.
     (2) A city or town office, the fee shall be paid to the county auditor who shall transmit it to the city or town clerk for deposit in the city or town treasury.

Sec. 7   RCW 29.15.150 and 1973 c 4 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     Whenever it shall be necessary to hold a special election in an odd-numbered year to fill an unexpired term of any office which is scheduled to be voted upon for a full term in an even-numbered year, no ((September)) primary election shall be held in the odd-numbered year if, after the last day allowed for candidates to withdraw, either of the following circumstances exist:
     (1) No more than one candidate of each qualified political party has filed a declaration of candidacy for the same partisan office to be filled; or
     (2) No more than two candidates have filed a declaration of candidacy for a single nonpartisan office to be filled.
     In either event, the officer with whom the declarations of candidacy were filed shall immediately notify all candidates concerned and the names of the candidates that would have been printed upon the ((September)) primary ballot, but for the provisions of this section, shall be printed as nominees for the positions sought upon the November general election ballot.

Sec. 8   RCW 29.15.170 and 2001 c 46 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Filings for a nonpartisan office shall be reopened for a period of three normal business days, such three day period to be fixed by the election officer with whom such declarations of candidacy are filed and notice thereof given by notifying press, radio, and television in the county and by such other means as may now or hereafter be provided by law whenever before the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday prior to a primary:
     (1) A void in candidacy occurs;
     (2) A vacancy occurs in any nonpartisan office leaving an unexpired term to be filled by an election for which filings have not been held; or
     (3) A nominee for judge of the superior court entitled to a certificate of election pursuant to Article 4, section 29, Amendment 41 of the state Constitution, dies or is disqualified.
     Candidacies validly filed within said three-day period shall appear on the ballot as if made during the earlier filing period.

Sec. 9   RCW 29.15.180 and 2001 c 46 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Filings for a nonpartisan office (other than judge of the supreme court or superintendent of public instruction) shall be reopened for a period of three normal business days, such three day period to be fixed by the election officer with whom such declarations of candidacy are filed and notice thereof given by notifying press, radio, and television in the county and by such other means as may now or hereafter be provided by law, when:
     (1) A void in candidacy for such nonpartisan office occurs on or after the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday prior to a primary but prior to the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday before an election; or
     (2) A nominee for judge of the superior court eligible after a contested primary for a certificate of election by Article 4, section 29, Amendment 41 of the state Constitution, dies or is disqualified within the ten day period immediately following the last day allotted for a candidate to withdraw; or
     (3) A vacancy occurs in any nonpartisan office on or after the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday prior to a primary but prior to the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday before an election leaving an unexpired term to be filled by an election for which filings have not been held.
     The candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast for that office in the general election shall be deemed elected.

Sec. 10   RCW 29.15.190 and 2002 c 108 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     A scheduled election shall be lapsed, the office deemed stricken from the ballot, no purported write-in votes counted, and no candidate certified as elected, when:
     (1) In an election for judge of the supreme court or superintendent of public instruction, a void in candidacy occurs on or after the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday prior to a primary, public filings and the primary being an indispensable phase of the election process for such offices;
     (2) Except as otherwise specified in RCW 29.15.180, ((as now or hereafter amended,)) a nominee for judge of the superior court entitled to a certificate of election pursuant to Article 4, section 29, Amendment 41 of the state Constitution dies or is disqualified on or after the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday prior to a primary;
     (3) In other elections for nonpartisan office a void in candidacy occurs or a vacancy occurs involving an unexpired term to be filled on or after the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday prior to an election.

Sec. 11   RCW 29.15.230 and 2001 c 46 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     Filings for a partisan elective office shall be opened for a period of three normal business days whenever, on or after the first day of the regular filing period and before the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday prior to a primary, a vacancy occurs in that office, leaving an unexpired term to be filled by an election for which filings have not been held.
     Any such special three-day filing period shall be fixed by the election officer with whom declarations of candidacy for that office are filed. The election officer shall give notice of the special three-day filing period by notifying the press, radio, and television in the county or counties involved, and by such other means as may be required by law.
     Candidacies validly filed within the special three-day filing period shall appear on the primary ballot as if filed during the regular filing period.

Sec. 12   RCW 29.19.030 and 1989 c 4 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The name of any candidate for a major political party nomination for president of the United States shall be printed on the presidential preference primary ballot of a major political party only:
     (1) By direction of the secretary of state, who in the secretary's sole discretion has determined that the candidate's candidacy is generally advocated or is recognized in national news media; or
     (2) If members of the political party of the candidate have presented a petition for nomination of the candidate that has attached to the petition a sheet or sheets containing the signatures of at least one thousand registered voters who declare themselves in the petition as being affiliated with the same political party as the presidential candidate. The petition shall be filed with the secretary of state not later than the ((thirty-ninth)) fifty-second day before the presidential preference primary. The signature sheets shall also contain the residence address and name or number of the precinct of each registered voter whose signature appears thereon and shall be certified in the manner prescribed in RCW 29.79.200 and 29.79.210.
     The secretary of state shall place the name of the candidate on the ballot unless the candidate, at least ((thirty-five)) forty-five days before the presidential preference primary, executes and files with the secretary of state an affidavit stating without qualification that he or she is not now and will not become a candidate for the office of president of the United States at the forthcoming presidential election. The secretary of state shall certify the names of all candidates who will appear on the presidential preference primary ballot to the respective county auditors on or before the fourth Tuesday in April of each presidential election year.

Sec. 13   RCW 29.24.010 and 1977 ex.s. c 329 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((A "convention" for the purposes of this chapter, is an organized assemblage of registered voters representing an independent candidate or candidates or a new or minor political party, organization, or principle.)) As used in this chapter, the term "election jurisdiction" shall mean the state or any political subdivision or jurisdiction of the state from which partisan officials are elected. This term shall include county commissioner districts or council districts for members of a county legislative authority, counties for county officials who are nominated and elected on a county-wide basis, legislative districts for members of the legislature, congressional districts for members of congress, and the state for president and vice president, members of the United States senate, and state officials who are elected on a statewide basis.

Sec. 14   RCW 29.24.020 and 2001 c 30 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any nomination of a candidate for partisan public office by other than a major political party may be made only((: (a) In a convention held not)) by petition conducted no earlier than the ((last Saturday in June)) first day of January and not later than the first ((Saturday in July or during any of the seven days immediately preceding the first day for filing declarations of candidacy as fixed in accordance with RCW 29.68.080; (b) as provided by RCW 29.62.180;)) day of April or (((c))) as otherwise provided in this section.
     (2) Nominations of candidates for president and vice president of the United States other than by a major political party may be made ((either at a convention)) by petition conducted under subsection (1) of this section, ((or at a similar convention)) taking place not earlier than the first ((Sunday in July)) day of January and not later than ((seventy days before the general election. Conventions held during this time period may not nominate candidates for any public office other than president and vice president of the United States, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section)) the last day of June.
     (3) If a special filing period for a partisan office is opened under RCW 29.15.230, candidates of minor political parties and independent candidates may file for office during that special filing period. The names of those candidates may not appear on the ballot unless they are nominated by ((convention held)) petition no later than five days after the close of the special filing period and a certificate of nomination is filed with the filing officer ((no later than three days after the convention)). The requirements of RCW 29.24.025 do not apply to such a ((convention)) petition nomination. If primary ballots or a voters' pamphlet are ordered to be printed before the deadline for submitting the certificate of nomination and the certificate has not been filed, then the candidate's name will be included but may not appear on the general election ballot unless the certificate is timely filed and the candidate otherwise qualifies to appear on that ballot.
     (4) A minor political party may ((hold more than one convention but in no case shall any such party)) not nominate more than one candidate for any one partisan public office or position. ((For the purpose of nominating candidates for the offices of president and vice president, United States senator, or a statewide office, a minor party or independent candidate holding multiple conventions may add together the number of signatures of different individuals from each convention obtained in support of the candidate or candidates in order to obtain the number required by RCW 29.24.030. For all other offices for which nominations are made, signatures of the requisite number of registered voters must be obtained at a single convention.))

Sec. 15   RCW 29.24.025 and 1989 c 215 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each minor party or independent candidate must publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the county in which the party or the candidate intends to ((hold a convention)) gather petitions. The notice must appear at least ten days before the ((convention is to be held, and shall state the date, time, and place of the convention)) first day petition signatures are gathered. Additionally, it shall include the mailing address of the person or organization ((sponsoring the convention)) gathering signatures.

Sec. 16   RCW 29.24.030 and 1989 c 215 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (((1) To be valid, a convention must be attended by at least twenty-five registered voters.
     (2))) In order to nominate candidates for the offices of president and vice president of the United States, United States senator, or any statewide office, a nominating ((convention shall obtain and submit to the filing officer)) petition must contain the signatures of at least two hundred registered voters of the state of Washington. In order to nominate candidates for any other office, a nominating ((convention shall obtain and submit to the filing officer)) petition must contain the signatures of twenty-five persons who are registered to vote in the jurisdiction of the office for which the nominations are made.

Sec. 17   RCW 29.24.035 and 2001 c 64 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     A nominating petition submitted under this chapter shall clearly identify the name of the minor party or independent candidate ((convention)) as it appears on the certificate of nomination as required by RCW 29.24.040(((3))). The petition shall also contain a statement that the person signing the petition is a registered voter of the state of Washington and shall have a space for the voter to sign his or her name and to print his or her name and address. No person may sign more than one nominating petition under this chapter for an office for a primary or election.

Sec. 18   RCW 29.24.040 and 1989 c 215 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     A certificate evidencing nominations ((made at a convention)) by petition must:
     (1) Be in writing;
     (2) Contain the name of each person nominated, his residence, and the office for which he is named, and if the nomination is for the offices of president and vice president of the United States, a sworn statement from both nominees giving their consent to the nomination;
     (3) Identify the minor political party or the independent candidate on whose behalf the ((convention was held)) petition was circulated;
     (4) Be verified by the oath of the presiding officer and secretary;
     (5) Be accompanied by a nominating petition or petitions bearing the signatures and addresses of registered voters equal in number to that required by RCW 29.24.030;
     (6) Contain proof of publication of the notice ((of calling the convention)) required in RCW 29.24.025; and
     (7) Be submitted to the ((appropriate)) same filing officer with whom a declaration of candidacy is filed as required by RCW 29.15.030 not later than ((one week following the adjournment of the convention at which the nominations were made. If the nominations are made only for offices whose jurisdiction is entirely within one county, the certificate and nominating petitions must be filed with the county auditor. If a minor party or independent candidate convention nominates any candidates for offices whose jurisdiction encompasses more than one county, all nominating petitions and the convention certificates must be filed with the secretary of state)) five days after the last day for the petition to be circulated under RCW 29.24.020.

Sec. 19   RCW 29.24.045 and 2001 c 30 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If two or more valid certificates of nomination are filed purporting to nominate different candidates for the same position using the same party name, the filing officer must give effect to both certificates. If conflicting claims to the party name are not resolved either by mutual agreement or by a judicial determination of the right to the name, the candidates must be treated as independent candidates. Disputes over the right to the name must not be permitted to delay the printing of either ballots or a voters' pamphlet. Other candidates nominated ((by)) under the same ((conventions)) certificate may continue to use the partisan affiliation unless a court of competent jurisdiction directs otherwise.
     (2) A person affected may petition the superior court of the county in which the filing officer is located for a judicial determination of the right to the name of a minor political party, either before or after documents are filed with the filing officer. The court shall resolve the conflict between competing claims to the use of the same party name according to the following principles: (a) The prior established public use of the name during previous elections by a party composed of or led by the same individuals or individuals in documented succession; (b) prior established public use of the name earlier in the same election cycle; (c) the nomination of a more complete slate of candidates for a number of offices or in a number of different regions of the state; (d) documented affiliation with a national or statewide party organization with an established use of the name; (e) the first date of filing of a certificate of nomination; and (f) such other indicia of an established right to use of the name as the court may deem relevant. If more than one filing officer is involved, and one of them is the secretary of state, the petition must be filed in the superior court for Thurston county. Upon resolving the conflict between competing claims, the court may also address any ballot designation for the candidate who does not prevail.

Sec. 20   RCW 29.24.055 and 1989 c 215 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     A minor political party or independent candidate ((convention nominating candidates)) for the offices of president and vice president of the United States shall, not later than ten days after the ((adjournment of the convention)) submission of the certificate of nomination and petition, submit a list of presidential electors to the office of the secretary of state. The list shall contain the names and the mailing addresses of the persons selected and shall be verified by the presiding officer ((of the convention)).

Sec. 21   RCW 29.24.070 and 1990 c 59 s 103 are each amended to read as follows:
     Not later than the Friday immediately preceding the first day for candidates to file, the secretary of state shall notify the county auditors of the names and designations of all minor party and independent candidates who have filed valid ((convention)) petition certificates and nominating petitions with that office. Except for the offices of president and vice president, persons nominated under this chapter shall file declarations of candidacy as provided by RCW 29.15.010 and 29.15.030. The name of a minor party or independent candidate nominated ((at a convention shall)) by petition may not be printed upon the primary ballot unless ((he)) the candidate pays the fee required by law to be paid by candidates for the same office to be nominated at a primary.

Sec. 22   RCW 29.24.060 and 1989 c 215 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     Upon the receipt of the certificate of nomination, the officer with whom it is filed shall check the certificate and canvass the signatures on the accompanying nominating petitions to determine if the requirements of RCW 29.24.030 have been met. Once the determination has been made, the filing officer shall notify the presiding officer ((of the convention)) and any other persons requesting the notification((,)) of his or her decision regarding the sufficiency of the certificate or the nominating petitions. Any appeal regarding the filing officer's determination must be filed with the superior court of the county in which the certificate or petitions were filed not later than five days from the date the determination is made, and shall be heard and finally disposed of by the court within five days of the filing. Nominating petitions shall not be available for public inspection or copying.

Sec. 23   RCW 29.36.270 and 1987 c 54 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Except where a recount or litigation under RCW 29.04.030 is pending, the county auditor shall have sufficient absentee ballots ready to mail to absentee voters of that county, other than overseas voters or service voters, at least twenty days before any primary, general election, or special election. At least thirty days before a primary, general election, or special election, the county auditor shall mail absentee ballots to all overseas and service voters who have submitted valid requests for absentee ballots. A request for an absentee ballot made by an overseas voter or service voter after that day must be processed immediately.

Sec. 24   RCW 29.38.020 and 2001 c 241 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     At any nonpartisan special election not being held in conjunction with a state primary or general election, the county, city, town, or district requesting the election pursuant to RCW 29.13.010 or 29.13.020 may also request that the special election be conducted by mail ballot. The county auditor may honor the request or may determine that the election is not to be conducted by mail ballot. The decision of the county auditor in this regard is final.
     ((For all special elections not being held in conjunction with a state primary or state general election where voting is conducted by mail ballot, the county auditor shall, not less than twenty days before the date of such election, make available to each registered voter a mail ballot.)) The auditor shall handle inactive voters in the same manner as inactive voters in mail ballot precincts.

Sec. 25   RCW 29.38.030 and 2001 c 241 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((In an odd-numbered year,)) The county auditor may conduct a primary or a special election held in conjunction with a primary by mail ballot ((concurrently with the primary:
     (1) For an office or ballot measure of a special purpose district that is entirely within the county;
     (2) For an office or ballot measure of a special purpose district that lies in the county and one or more other counties if the auditor first secures the concurrence of the county auditors of those other counties to conduct the primary in this manner district-wide; and
     (3) For a ballot measure or nonpartisan office of a county, city, or town if the auditor first secures the concurrence of the legislative authority of the county, city, or town involved)).
     For a primary held in an odd-numbered year, the county auditor shall notify ((an)) each election jurisdiction for which a primary is to be held that the primary will be conducted by mail ballot. For a primary held in an even-numbered year, the county auditor shall notify the secretary of state that the primary will be conducted by mail ballot. The county auditor shall include in the notice required by RCW 29.27.030 information pertaining to a primary conducted by mail ballot according to this section.
     ((A primary in an odd-numbered year may not be conducted by mail ballot in a precinct with two hundred or more active registered voters if a partisan office or state office or state ballot measure is to be voted upon at that primary in the precinct.))
     To the extent they are not inconsistent with other provisions of law, the laws governing the conduct of mail ballot special elections apply to nonpartisan primaries conducted by mail ballot.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 26   A new section is added to chapter 29.38 RCW to read as follows:
     Except where a recount or litigation under RCW 29.04.030 is pending, the county auditor shall have sufficient mail ballots ready to mail to voters of that county, other than overseas voters or service voters, at least twenty days before a primary, general election, or special election. At least thirty days before a primary, general election, or special election, the county auditor shall mail ballots to all overseas voters and service voters. A request for a ballot made by an overseas voter or service voter after that day must be processed immediately.

Sec. 27   RCW 29.62.020 and 1999 c 259 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) At least every third day after a special election, primary, or general election and before certification of the election results, except Sundays and legal holidays, the county auditor shall convene the county canvassing board or their designees to process absentee ballots and canvass the votes cast at that special election, primary, or general election, if the county auditor is in possession of more than twenty-five ballots that have yet to be canvassed. The county auditor may use his or her discretion in determining when to convene the canvassing board or their designees during the final four days before the certification of election results in order to protect the secrecy of any ballot.
     Each absentee ballot previously not canvassed that was received by the county auditor two days or more before the convening of the canvassing board or their designees and that either was received by the county auditor before the closing of the polls on the day of the special election, primary, or general election for which it was issued, or that bears a date of mailing on or before the special election, primary, or general election for which it was issued, must be processed at that time. The tabulation of votes that results from that day's canvass must be made available to the general public immediately upon completion of the canvass.
     (2) On the ((tenth)) fifteenth day after a special election ((or a)), primary ((and on the fifteenth day after a)), or general election, the canvassing board shall complete the canvass and certify the results. Each absentee ballot that was returned before the closing of the polls on the date of the primary or election for which it was issued, and each absentee ballot with a date of mailing on or before the date of the primary or election for which it was issued and received on or before the date on which the primary or election is certified, shall be included in the canvass report.
     (3) At the request of any caucus of the state legislature, the county auditor shall transmit copies of all unofficial returns of state and legislative primaries or elections prepared by or for the county canvassing board to either the secretary of the senate or the chief clerk of the house.

Sec. 28   RCW 42.12.040 and 2002 c 108 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     If a vacancy occurs in any partisan elective office in the executive or legislative branches of state government or in any partisan county elective office before the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday prior to the primary for the next general election following the occurrence of the vacancy, a successor shall be elected to that office at that general election. Except during the last year of the term of office, if such a vacancy occurs on or after the ((sixth)) seventh Tuesday prior to the primary for that general election, the election of the successor shall occur at the next succeeding general election. The elected successor shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term. This section shall not apply to any vacancy occurring in a charter county which has charter provisions inconsistent with this section.

Sec. 29   RCW 42.17.080 and 2002 c 75 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) On the day the treasurer is designated, each candidate or political committee shall file with the commission and the county auditor or elections officer of the county in which the candidate resides, or in the case of a political committee, the county in which the treasurer resides, in addition to any statement of organization required under RCW 42.17.040 or 42.17.050, a report of all contributions received and expenditures made prior to that date, if any.
     (2) At the following intervals each treasurer shall file with the commission and the county auditor or elections officer of the county in which the candidate resides, or in the case of a political committee, the county in which the committee maintains its office or headquarters, and if there is no office or headquarters then in the county in which the treasurer resides, a report containing the information required by RCW 42.17.090:
     (a) On the twenty-first day and the seventh day immediately preceding the date on which the election is held; and
     (b) On the tenth day of the first month after the election((: PROVIDED, That this report shall not be required following a primary election from:
     (i) A candidate whose name will appear on the subsequent general election ballot; or
     (ii) Any continuing political committee)); and
     (c) On the tenth day of each month in which no other reports are required to be filed under this section: PROVIDED, That such report shall only be filed if the committee has received a contribution or made an expenditure in the preceding calendar month and either the total contributions received or total expenditures made since the last such report exceed two hundred dollars.
     When there is no outstanding debt or obligation, and the campaign fund is closed, and the campaign is concluded in all respects, and in the case of a political committee, the committee has ceased to function and has dissolved, the treasurer shall file a final report. Upon submitting a final report, the duties of the treasurer shall cease and there shall be no obligation to make any further reports.
     The report filed twenty-one days before the election shall report all contributions received and expenditures made as of the end of the fifth business day before the date of the report. The report filed seven days before the election shall report all contributions received and expenditures made as of the end of the one business day before the date of the report. Reports filed on the tenth day of the month shall report all contributions received and expenditures made from the closing date of the last report filed through the last day of the month preceding the date of the current report.
     (3) For the period beginning the first day of the fourth month preceding the date on which the special ((or general)) election is held, or for the period beginning the first day of the seventh month before the date on which the general election is held, and ending on the date of that special or general election, each Monday the treasurer shall file with the commission and the appropriate county elections officer a report of each bank deposit made during the previous seven calendar days. The report shall contain the name of each person contributing the funds so deposited and the amount contributed by each person. However, contributions of no more than twenty-five dollars in the aggregate from any one person may be deposited without identifying the contributor. A copy of the report shall be retained by the treasurer for his or her records. In the event of deposits made by a deputy treasurer, the copy shall be forwarded to the treasurer for his or her records. Each report shall be certified as correct by the treasurer or deputy treasurer making the deposit.
     (4) If a city requires that candidates or committees for city offices file reports with a city agency, the candidate or treasurer so filing need not also file the report with the county auditor or elections officer.
     (5) The treasurer or candidate shall maintain books of account accurately reflecting all contributions and expenditures on a current basis within five business days of receipt or expenditure. During the eight days immediately preceding the date of the election the books of account shall be kept current within one business day. As specified in the committee's statement of organization filed under RCW 42.17.040, the books of account must be open for public inspection as follows:
     (a) For at least two consecutive hours between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the eighth day immediately before the election, except when it is a legal holiday, in which case on the seventh day immediately before the election, at the principal headquarters or, if there is no headquarters, at the address of the treasurer or such other place as may be authorized by the commission; and
     (b) By appointment for inspections to be conducted at the designated place for inspections between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on any other day from the seventh day through the day immediately before the election, other than Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday. It is a violation of this chapter for a candidate or political committee to refuse to allow and keep an appointment for an inspection to be conducted during these authorized times and days in the week prior to the election. The appointment must be allowed at an authorized time and day for such inspections that is within twenty-four hours of the time and day that is requested for the inspection.
     (6) The treasurer or candidate shall preserve books of account, bills, receipts, and all other financial records of the campaign or political committee for not less than five calendar years following the year during which the transaction occurred.
     (7) All reports filed pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall be certified as correct by the candidate and the treasurer.
     (8) Copies of all reports filed pursuant to this section shall be readily available for public inspection for at least two consecutive hours Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., as specified in the committee's statement of organization filed pursuant to RCW 42.17.040, at the principal headquarters or, if there is no headquarters, at the address of the treasurer or such other place as may be authorized by the commission.
     (9) After January 1, 2002, a report that is filed with the commission electronically need not also be filed with the county auditor or elections officer.
     (10) The commission shall adopt administrative rules establishing requirements for filer participation in any system designed and implemented by the commission for the electronic filing of reports.

Sec. 30   RCW 42.17.710 and 1993 c 2 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) During the period beginning on the thirtieth day before the date a regular legislative session convenes and continuing thirty days past the date of final adjournment, and during the period beginning on the date a special legislative session convenes and continuing through the date that session adjourns, no state official or a person employed by or acting on behalf of a state official or state legislator may solicit or accept contributions to a public office fund, to a candidate or authorized committee, or to retire a campaign debt.
     (2) However, state officials who have reported to the commission under RCW 42.17.240 and will appear on the ballot for an office in the current year and persons employed by or acting on behalf of those officials may, after the final adjournment of the regular session, solicit and accept contributions to the candidate's public office fund, to the candidate or authorized committee, or to retire the candidate's campaign debt.

Sec. 31   RCW 42.52.185 and 1997 c 320 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) During the twelve-month period beginning on December 1st of the year before a general election for a state legislator's election to office and continuing through November 30th immediately after the general election, the legislator may not mail, either by regular mail or electronic mail, to a constituent at public expense a letter, newsletter, brochure, or other piece of literature, except as follows:
     (a) The legislator may mail two mailings of newsletters to constituents. All newsletters within each mailing of newsletters must be identical as to their content but not as to the constituent name or address. One such mailing may be mailed no later than thirty days after the start of a regular legislative session, except that a legislator appointed during a regular legislative session to fill a vacant seat may have up to thirty days from the date of appointment to send out the first mailing. The other mailing may be mailed no ((later than sixty days after the end of a regular legislative session)) earlier than one day after the date of the primary established by RCW 29.13.070 and no later than fifteen days after the date of the primary.
     (b) The legislator may mail an individual letter to (i) an individual constituent who has contacted the legislator regarding the subject matter of the letter during the legislator's current term of office; (ii) an individual constituent who holds a governmental office with jurisdiction over the subject matter of the letter; or (iii) an individual constituent who has received an award or honor of extraordinary distinction of a type that is sufficiently infrequent to be noteworthy to a reasonable person, including, but not limited to: (A) An international or national award such as the Nobel prize or the Pulitzer prize; (B) a state award such as Washington scholar; (C) an Eagle Scout award; and (D) a Medal of Honor.
     (2) For purposes of subsection (1) of this section, "legislator" means a legislator who is a "candidate," as defined by RCW 42.17.020, for any public office.
     (3) A violation of this section constitutes use of the facilities of a public office for the purpose of assisting a campaign under RCW 42.52.180.
     (4) The house of representatives and senate shall specifically limit expenditures per member for the total cost of mailings. Those costs include, but are not limited to, production costs, printing costs, and postage costs. The limits imposed under this subsection apply only to the total expenditures on mailings per member and not to any categorical cost within the total.
     (5) For purposes of this section, persons residing outside the legislative district represented by the legislator are not considered to be constituents, but students, military personnel, or others temporarily employed outside of the district who normally reside in the district are considered to be constituents.

Sec. 32   RCW 27.12.355 and 1987 c 138 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) As provided in this section, a rural county library district, island library district, or intercounty rural library district may withdraw areas from its boundaries, or reannex areas into the library district that previously had been withdrawn from the library district under this section.
     (2) The withdrawal of an area shall be authorized upon: (a) Adoption of a resolution by the board of trustees requesting the withdrawal and finding that, in the opinion of the board, inclusion of this area within the library district will result in a reduction of the district's tax levy rate under the provisions of RCW 84.52.010; and (b) adoption of a resolution by the city or town council approving the withdrawal, if the area is located within the city or town, or adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority of the county within which the area is located approving the withdrawal, if the area is located outside of a city or town. A withdrawal shall be effective at the end of the day on the thirty-first day of December in the year in which the resolutions are adopted, but for purposes of establishing boundaries for property tax purposes, the boundaries shall be established immediately upon the adoption of the second resolution.
     The authority of an area to be withdrawn from a library district as provided under this section is in addition, and not subject, to the provisions of RCW 27.12.380.
     The withdrawal of an area from the boundaries of a library district shall not exempt any property therein from taxation for the purpose of paying the costs of redeeming any indebtedness of the library district existing at the time of the withdrawal.
     (3) An area that has been withdrawn from the boundaries of a library district under this section may be reannexed into the library district upon: (a) Adoption of a resolution by the board of trustees proposing the reannexation; and (b) adoption of a resolution by the city or town council approving the reannexation, if the area is located within the city or town, or adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority of the county within which the area is located approving the reannexation, if the area is located outside of a city or town. The reannexation shall be effective at the end of the day on the thirty-first day of December in the year in which the adoption of the second resolution occurs, but for purposes of establishing boundaries for property tax purposes, the boundaries shall be established immediately upon the adoption of the second resolution. Referendum action on the proposed reannexation may be taken by the voters of the area proposed to be reannexed if a petition calling for a referendum is filed with the city or town council, or county legislative authority, within a thirty-day period after the adoption of the second resolution, which petition has been signed by registered voters of the area proposed to be reannexed equal in number to ten percent of the total number of the registered voters residing in that area.
     If a valid petition signed by the requisite number of registered voters has been so filed, the effect of the resolutions shall be held in abeyance and a ballot proposition to authorize the reannexation shall be submitted to the voters of the area at the next special election date specified in RCW 29.13.020 that occurs ((forty-five)) fifty-two or more days after the petitions have been validated. Approval of the ballot proposition authorizing the reannexation by a simple majority vote shall authorize the reannexation.

Sec. 33   RCW 27.12.370 and 1982 c 123 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
     The county legislative authority or authorities shall by resolution call a special election to be held in such city or town at the next date provided in RCW 29.13.010 but not less than ((forty-five)) fifty-two days from the date of the declaration of such finding, and shall cause notice of such election to be given as provided for in RCW 29.27.080.
     The election on the annexation of the city or town into the library district shall be conducted by the auditor of the county or counties in which the city or town is located in accordance with the general election laws of the state and the results thereof shall be canvassed by the canvassing board of the county or counties. No person shall be entitled to vote at such election unless he or she is registered to vote in said city or town for at least thirty days preceding the date of the election. The ballot proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

Sec. 34   RCW 35.06.070 and 1994 c 81 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     A ballot proposition authorizing an advancement in classification of a town to a second class city shall be submitted to the voters of the town if either: (1) Petitions proposing the advancement are submitted to the town clerk that have been signed by voters of the town equal in number to at least ten percent of the voters of the town voting at the last municipal general election; or (2) the town council adopts a resolution proposing the advancement. The clerk shall immediately forward the petitions to the county auditor who shall review the signatures and certify the sufficiency of the petitions.
     A ballot proposition authorizing an advancement shall be submitted to the town voters at the next municipal general election occurring ((forty-five)) fifty-two or more days after the petitions are submitted if the county auditor certifies the petitions as having sufficient valid signatures. The town shall be advanced to a second class city if the ballot proposition is approved by a simple majority vote, effective when the corporation is actually reorganized and the new officers are elected and qualified. The county auditor shall notify the secretary of state if the advancement of a town to a second class city is approved.

Sec. 35   RCW 35.13.1821 and 1998 c 286 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The annexation ordinance provided for in RCW 35.13.182 is subject to referendum for forty-five days after its passage. Upon the filing of a timely and sufficient referendum petition with the legislative body, signed by qualified electors in number equal to not less than ten percent of the votes cast in the last general state election in the area to be annexed, the question of annexation shall be submitted to the voters of the area in a general election if one is to be held within ninety days or at a special election called for that purpose not less than ((forty-five)) fifty-two days nor more than ninety days after the filing of the referendum petition. Notice of the election shall be given as provided in RCW 35.13.080 and the election shall be conducted as provided in the general election law. The annexation shall be deemed approved by the voters unless a majority of the votes cast on the proposition are in opposition thereto.
     After the expiration of the forty-fifth day from but excluding the date of passage of the annexation ordinance, if no timely and sufficient referendum petition has been filed, the area annexed shall become a part of the city or town upon the date fixed in the ordinance of annexation.

Sec. 36   RCW 35.61.360 and 1987 c 138 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) As provided in this section, a metropolitan park district may withdraw areas from its boundaries, or reannex areas into the metropolitan park district that previously had been withdrawn from the metropolitan park district under this section.
     (2) The withdrawal of an area shall be authorized upon: (a) Adoption of a resolution by the park district commissioners requesting the withdrawal and finding that, in the opinion of the commissioners, inclusion of this area within the metropolitan park district will result in a reduction of the district's tax levy rate under the provisions of RCW 84.52.010; and (b) adoption of a resolution by the city or town council approving the withdrawal, if the area is located within the city or town, or adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority of the county within which the area is located approving the withdrawal, if the area is located outside of a city or town. A withdrawal shall be effective at the end of the day on the thirty-first day of December in the year in which the resolutions are adopted, but for purposes of establishing boundaries for property tax purposes, the boundaries shall be established immediately upon the adoption of the second resolution.
     The withdrawal of an area from the boundaries of a metropolitan park district shall not exempt any property therein from taxation for the purpose of paying the costs of redeeming any indebtedness of the metropolitan park district existing at the time of the withdrawal.
     (3) An area that has been withdrawn from the boundaries of a metropolitan park district under this section may be reannexed into the metropolitan park district upon: (a) Adoption of a resolution by the park district commissioners proposing the reannexation; and (b) adoption of a resolution by the city or town council approving the reannexation, if the area is located within the city or town, or adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority of the county within which the area is located approving the reannexation, if the area is located outside of a city or town. The reannexation shall be effective at the end of the day on the thirty-first day of December in the year in which the adoption of the second resolution occurs, but for purposes of establishing boundaries for property tax purposes, the boundaries shall be established immediately upon the adoption of the second resolution. Referendum action on the proposed reannexation may be taken by the voters of the area proposed to be reannexed if a petition calling for a referendum is filed with the city or town council, or county legislative authority, within a thirty-day period after the adoption of the second resolution, which petition has been signed by registered voters of the area proposed to be reannexed equal in number to ten percent of the total number of the registered voters residing in that area.
     If a valid petition signed by the requisite number of registered voters has been so filed, the effect of the resolutions shall be held in abeyance and a ballot proposition to authorize the reannexation shall be submitted to the voters of the area at the next special election date specified in RCW 29.13.020 that occurs ((forty-five)) fifty-two or more days after the petitions have been validated. Approval of the ballot proposition authorizing the reannexation by a simple majority vote shall authorize the reannexation.

Sec. 37   RCW 35A.14.299 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.14.299 are each amended to read as follows:
     Such annexation ordinance as provided for in RCW 35A.14.297 shall be subject to referendum for forty-five days after the passage thereof. Upon the filing of a timely and sufficient referendum petition with the legislative body, signed by qualified electors in number equal to not less than ten percent of the votes cast in the last general state election in the area to be annexed, the question of annexation shall be submitted to the voters of such area in a general election if one is to be held within ninety days or at a special election called for that purpose not less than ((forty-five)) fifty-two days nor more than ninety days after the filing of the referendum petition. Notice of such election shall be given as provided in RCW 35A.14.070 and the election shall be conducted as provided in RCW ((35A.14.060)) 35A.29.151. The annexation shall be deemed approved by the voters unless a majority of the votes cast on the proposition are in opposition thereto.
     After the expiration of the forty-fifth day from but excluding the date of passage of the annexation ordinance, if no timely and sufficient referendum petition has been filed, the area annexed shall become a part of the code city upon the date fixed in the ordinance of annexation. From and after such date, if the ordinance so provided, property in the annexed area shall be subject to the proposed zoning regulation prepared and filed for such area as provided in RCW 35A.14.330 and 35A.14.340. If the ordinance so provided, all property within the area annexed shall be assessed and taxed at the same rate and on the same basis as the property of such annexing code city is assessed and taxed to pay for any then outstanding indebtedness of such city contracted prior to, or existing at, the date of annexation.

Sec. 38   RCW 36.93.030 and 1991 c 363 s 91 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) There is ((hereby)) created and established in each county with a population of two hundred ten thousand or more a board to be known and designated as a "boundary review board(("))."
     (2) A boundary review board may be created and established in any other county in the following manner:
     (a) The county legislative authority may, by majority vote, adopt a resolution establishing a boundary review board; or
     (b) A petition seeking establishment of a boundary review board signed by qualified electors residing in the county equal in number to at least five percent of the votes cast in the county at the last county general election may be filed with the county auditor.
     Upon the filing of such a petition, the county auditor shall examine the same and certify to the sufficiency of the signatures thereon. No person may withdraw his or her name from a petition after it has been filed with the auditor. Within thirty days after the filing of such petition, the county auditor shall transmit the same to the county legislative authority, together with his or her certificate of sufficiency.
     After receipt of a valid petition for the establishment of a boundary review board, the county legislative authority shall submit the question of whether a boundary review board should be established to the electorate at the next county primary or county general election which occurs more than ((forty-five)) fifty-two days from the date of receipt of the petition. Notice of the election shall be given as provided in RCW 29.27.080 and shall include a clear statement of the proposal to be submitted.
     If a majority of the persons voting on the proposition shall vote in favor of the establishment of the boundary review board, such board shall thereupon be deemed established.

Sec. 39   RCW 52.02.080 and 1989 c 63 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     The election on the formation of the district and to elect the initial fire commissioners shall be conducted by the election officials of the county or counties in which the proposed district is located in accordance with the general election laws of the state. This election shall be held at the next general election date, as specified under RCW 29.13.020, that occurs ((forty-five)) fifty-two or more days after the date of the action by the boundary review board, or county legislative authority or authorities, approving the proposal.

Sec. 40   RCW 52.04.056 and 1989 c 63 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) As provided in this section, a fire protection district may withdraw areas from its boundaries, or reannex areas into the fire protection district that previously had been withdrawn from the fire protection district under this section.
     (2) The withdrawal of an area shall be authorized upon: (a) Adoption of a resolution by the board of fire commissioners requesting the withdrawal and finding that, in the opinion of the board, inclusion of this area within the fire protection district will result in a reduction of the district's tax levy rate under the provisions of RCW 84.52.010; and (b) adoption of a resolution by the city or town council approving the withdrawal, if the area is located within the city or town, or adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority or authorities of the county or counties within which the area is located approving the withdrawal, if the area is located outside of a city or town. A withdrawal shall be effective at the end of the day on the thirty-first day of December in the year in which the resolutions are adopted, but for purposes of establishing boundaries for property tax purposes, the boundaries shall be established immediately upon the adoption of the second resolution.
     The authority of an area to be withdrawn from a fire protection district as provided under this section is in addition, and not subject, to the provisions of RCW 52.04.101.
     The withdrawal of an area from the boundaries of a fire protection district shall not exempt any property therein from taxation for the purpose of paying the costs of redeeming any indebtedness of the fire protection district existing at the time of the withdrawal.
     (3) An area that has been withdrawn from the boundaries of a fire protection district under this section may be reannexed into the fire protection district upon: (a) Adoption of a resolution by the board of fire commissioners proposing the reannexation; and (b) adoption of a resolution by the city or town council approving the reannexation, if the area is located within the city or town, or adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority or authorities of the county or counties within which the area is located approving the reannexation, if the area is located outside of a city or town. The reannexation shall be effective at the end of the day on the thirty-first day of December in the year in which the adoption of the second resolution occurs, but for purposes of establishing boundaries for property tax purposes, the boundaries shall be established immediately upon the adoption of the second resolution. Referendum action on the proposed reannexation may be taken by the voters of the area proposed to be reannexed if a petition calling for a referendum is filed with the city or town council, or county legislative authority or authorities, within a thirty-day period after the adoption of the second resolution, which petition has been signed by registered voters of the area proposed to be reannexed equal in number to ten percent of the total number of the registered voters residing in that area.
     If a valid petition signed by the requisite number of registered voters has been so filed, the effect of the resolutions shall be held in abeyance and a ballot proposition to authorize the reannexation shall be submitted to the voters of the area at the next special election date specified in RCW 29.13.020 that occurs ((forty-five)) fifty-two or more days after the petitions have been validated. Approval of the ballot proposition authorizing the reannexation by a simple majority vote shall authorize the reannexation.

Sec. 41   RCW 52.04.071 and 1984 c 230 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     The county legislative authority or authorities shall by resolution call a special election to be held in the city or town and in the fire protection district at the next date provided in RCW 29.13.010 but not less than ((forty-five)) fifty-two days from the date of the declaration of the finding, and shall cause notice of the election to be given as provided for in RCW 29.27.080.
     The election on the annexation of the city or town into the fire protection district shall be conducted by the auditor of the county or counties in which the city or town and the fire protection district are located in accordance with the general election laws of the state. The results thereof shall be canvassed by the canvassing board of the county or counties. No person is entitled to vote at the election unless he or she is a qualified elector in the city or town or unless he or she is a qualified elector within the boundaries of the fire protection district. The ballot proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

     "Shall the city or town of . . . . . . be annexed to and be a part of . . . . . . fire protection district?

     YES. . . . . . . . . .
     NO . . . . . . . . . . "

     If a majority of the persons voting on the proposition in the city or town and a majority of the persons voting on the proposition in the fire protection district vote in favor thereof, the city or town shall be annexed and shall be a part of the fire protection district.

Sec. 42   RCW 53.04.110 and 1998 c 240 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any port district now existing or which may hereafter be organized under the laws of the state of Washington is hereby authorized to change its corporate name under the following conditions and in the following manner:
     (1) On presentation, at least ((forty-five)) fifty-two days before any general port election to be held in the port district, of a petition to the commissioners of any port district now existing or which may hereafter be established under the laws of the state of Washington, signed by at least ten percent of the total number of voters of the port district who voted at the last general port election and asking that the corporate name of the port district be changed, it shall be the duty of the commissioners to submit to the voters of the port district the proposition as to whether the corporate name of the port shall be changed. The proposition shall be submitted at the next general port election.
     (2) The petition shall contain the present corporate name of the port district and the corporate name which is proposed to be given to the port district.
     (3) On submitting the proposition to the voters of the port district it shall be the duty of the port commissioners to cause to be printed on the official ballot used at the election the following proposition:

Sec. 43   RCW 54.08.010 and 1985 c 469 s 55 are each amended to read as follows:
     At any general election held in an even-numbered year, the county legislative authority of any county in this state may, or, on petition of ten percent of the qualified electors of the county based on the total vote cast in the last general county election held in an even-numbered year, shall, by resolution, submit to the voters of the county the proposition of creating a public utility district which shall be coextensive with the limits of the county as now or hereafter established. A form of petition for the creation of a public utility district shall be submitted to the county auditor within ten months prior to the election at which the proposition is to be submitted to the voters. Petitions shall be filed with the county auditor not less than four months before the election and the county auditor shall within thirty days examine the signatures thereof and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof. If the petition be found to be insufficient, it shall be returned to the persons filing the same, who may amend or add names thereto for ten days, when the same shall be returned to the county auditor, who shall have an additional fifteen days to examine the same and attach his certificate thereto. No person having signed the petition shall be allowed to withdraw his name therefrom after the filing of the same with the county auditor: PROVIDED, That each signature shall be dated and that no signature dated prior to the date on which the form of petition was submitted to the county auditor shall be valid. Whenever the petition shall be certified to as sufficient, the county auditor shall forthwith transmit the same, together with his certificate of sufficiency attached thereto, to the county legislative authority which shall submit the proposition to the voters of the county at the next general election in an even-numbered year occurring ((forty-five)) fifty-two days after submission of the proposition to the legislative authority. The notice of the election shall state the boundaries of the proposed public utility district and the object of such election, and shall in other respects conform to the requirements of the general laws of the state of Washington, governing the time and manner of holding elections. In submitting the question to the voters for their approval or rejection, the proposition shall be expressed on the ballot substantially in the following terms:

     Public Utility District No. . . . . . . . . . . . . YES □
     Public Utility District No. . . . . . . . . . . . . NO □

     Any petition for the formation of a public utility district may describe a less area than the entire county in which the petition is filed, the boundaries of which shall follow the then existing precinct boundaries and not divide any voting precinct; and in the event that such a petition is filed the county legislative authority shall fix a date for a hearing on such petition, and shall publish the petition, without the signatures thereto appended, for two weeks prior to the date of the hearing, together with a notice stating the time of the meeting when the petition will be heard. The publication, and all other publications required by chapter 1, Laws of 1931, shall be in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the district is situated. The hearing on the petition may be adjourned from time to time, not exceeding four weeks in all. If upon the final hearing the county legislative authority shall find that any lands have been unjustly or improperly included within the proposed public utility district and will not be benefited by inclusion therein, it shall change and fix the boundary lines in such manner as it shall deem reasonable and just and conducive to the public welfare and convenience, and make and enter an order establishing and defining the boundary lines of the proposed public utility district: PROVIDED, That no lands shall be included within the boundaries so fixed lying outside the boundaries described in the petition, except upon the written request of the owners of those lands. Thereafter the same procedure shall be followed as prescribed in this chapter for the formation of a public utility district including an entire county, except that the petition and election shall be confined solely to the lesser public utility district.
     No public utility district created after September 1, 1979, shall include any other public utility district within its boundaries: PROVIDED, That this paragraph shall not alter, amend, or modify provisions of chapter 54.32 RCW.

Sec. 44   RCW 54.08.070 and 1979 ex.s. c 240 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any district which does not own or operate electric facilities for the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power on March 25, 1969, or any district which hereafter does not construct or acquire such electric facilities within ten years of its creation, shall not construct or acquire any such electric facilities without the approval of such proposal by the voters of such district: PROVIDED, That a district shall have the power to construct or acquire electric facilities within ten years following its creation by action of its commission without voter approval of such action.
     At any general election held in an even-numbered year, the proposal to construct or acquire electric facilities may be submitted to the voters of the district by resolution of the public utility district commission or shall be submitted to the voters of the district by the county legislative authority on petition of ten percent of the qualified electors of such district, based on the total vote cast in the last general county election held in an even-numbered year. A form of petition for the construction or acquisition of electric facilities by the public utility district shall be submitted to the county auditor within ten months prior to the election at which such proposition is to be submitted to the voters. Petitions shall be filed with the county auditor not less than four months before such election and the county auditor shall within thirty days examine the signatures thereof and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof. If such petition is found to be insufficient, it shall be returned to the persons filing the same, who may amend and add names thereto for ten days, when the same shall be returned to the county auditor, who shall have an additional fifteen days to examine the same and attach his certificate thereto. No person having signed such petition shall be allowed to withdraw his name therefrom after the filing of the same with the county auditor: PROVIDED, That each signature shall be dated and that no signature dated prior to the date on which the form of petition was submitted to the county auditor shall be valid. Whenever such petition shall be certified to as sufficient, the county auditor shall forthwith transmit the same, together with his certificate of sufficiency attached thereto, to the county legislative authority which shall submit such proposition to the voters of said district at the next general election in an even-numbered year occurring ((forty-five)) fifty-two days after submission of the proposition to said legislative authority. The notice of the election shall state the object of such election, and shall in other respects conform to the requirements of the general laws of Washington, governing the time and manner of holding elections.
     The proposal submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection, shall be expressed on the ballot substantially in the following terms:

     Shall Public Utility District No. . . . . of . . . . . . County construct or acquire electric facilities for the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power?

Sec. 45   RCW 57.04.050 and 1999 c 153 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Upon entry of the findings of the final hearing on the petition if one or more county legislative authorities find that the proposed district will be conducive to the public health, welfare, and convenience and will benefit the land therein, they shall present a resolution to the county auditor calling for a special election to be held at a date specified under RCW 29.13.020, that occurs ((forty-five)) fifty-two or more days after the resolution is presented, at which a ballot proposition authorizing the district to be created shall be submitted to voters for their approval or rejection. The commissioners shall cause to be published a notice of the election for four successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the proposed district, which notice shall state the hours during which the polls will be open, the boundaries of the district as finally adopted and the object of the election, and the notice shall also be posted ten days in ten public places in the proposed district. The district shall be created if the ballot proposition authorizing the district to be created is approved by a majority of the voters voting on the proposition.
     A separate ballot proposition authorizing the district, if created, to impose a single-year excess levy for the preliminary expenses of the district shall be submitted to voters for their approval or rejection at the same special election, if the petition to create the district also proposed that a ballot proposition authorizing an excess levy be submitted to voters for their approval or rejection. The excess levy shall be proposed in the amount specified in the petition to create the district, not to exceed one dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, and may only be submitted to voters for their approval or rejection if the special election is held in February, March, April, or ((May)) September. The proposition to be effective must be approved in the manner set forth in Article VII, section 2(a) of the state Constitution.

Sec. 46   RCW 70.44.235 and 1987 c 138 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) As provided in this section, a public hospital district may withdraw areas from its boundaries, or reannex areas into the public hospital district that previously had been withdrawn from the public hospital district under this section.
     (2) The withdrawal of an area shall be authorized upon: (a) Adoption of a resolution by the hospital district commissioners requesting the withdrawal and finding that, in the opinion of the commissioners, inclusion of this area within the public hospital district will result in a reduction of the district's tax levy rate under the provisions of RCW 84.52.010; and (b) adoption of a resolution by the city or town council approving the withdrawal, if the area is located within the city or town, or adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority of the county within which the area is located approving the withdrawal, if the area is located outside of a city or town. A withdrawal shall be effective at the end of the day on the thirty-first day of December in the year in which the resolutions are adopted, but for purposes of establishing boundaries for property tax purposes, the boundaries shall be established immediately upon the adoption of the second resolution.
     The withdrawal of an area from the boundaries of a public hospital district shall not exempt any property therein from taxation for the purpose of paying the costs of redeeming any indebtedness of the public hospital district existing at the time of the withdrawal.
     (3) An area that has been withdrawn from the boundaries of a public hospital district under this section may be reannexed into the public hospital district upon: (a) Adoption of a resolution by the hospital district commissioners proposing the reannexation; and (b) adoption of a resolution by the city or town council approving the reannexation, if the area is located within the city or town, or adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority of the county within which the area is located approving the reannexation, if the area is located outside of a city or town. The reannexation shall be effective at the end of the day on the thirty-first day of December in the year in which the adoption of the second resolution occurs, but for purposes of establishing boundaries for property tax purposes, the boundaries shall be established immediately upon the adoption of the second resolution. Referendum action on the proposed reannexation may be taken by the voters of the area proposed to be reannexed if a petition calling for a referendum is filed with the city or town council, or county legislative authority, within a thirty-day period after the adoption of the second resolution, which petition has been signed by registered voters of the area proposed to be reannexed equal in number to ten percent of the total number of the registered voters residing in that area.
     If a valid petition signed by the requisite number of registered voters has been so filed, the effect of the resolutions shall be held in abeyance and a ballot proposition to authorize the reannexation shall be submitted to the voters of the area at the next special election date specified in RCW 29.13.020 that occurs ((forty-five)) fifty-two or more days after the petitions have been validated. Approval of the ballot proposition authorizing the reannexation by a simple majority vote shall authorize the reannexation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 47   RCW 29.01.160 (September primary) and 1965 c 9 s 29.01.160 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 48   This act takes effect January 1, 2004.