BILL REQ. #:  Z-0189.1 

Read first time 01/22/2007.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to primary election voters' pamphlets; and amending RCW 29A.32.010 and 29A.32.036.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.32.010 and 2003 c 111 s 801 are each amended to read as follows:
     The secretary of state shall((, whenever at least one statewide measure or office is scheduled to appear on the general election ballot,)) print and distribute a voters' pamphlet each even-numbered year primary and every general election.
     The secretary of state shall distribute the voters' pamphlet to each household in the state, to public libraries, and to any other locations he or she deems appropriate. The secretary of state shall also produce taped or Braille transcripts of the voters' pamphlet, publicize their availability, and mail without charge a copy to any person who requests one.
     The secretary of state may make the material required to be distributed by this chapter available to the public in electronic form. The secretary of state may provide the material in electronic form to computer bulletin boards, print and broadcast news media, community computer networks, and similar services at the cost of reproduction or transmission of the data.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.32.036 and 2004 c 271 s 122 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((If)) The secretary of state ((prints and distributes a)) voters' pamphlet for a primary in an even-numbered year((, it)) must contain:
     (1) A description of the office of precinct committee officer and its duties;
     (2) An explanation that, for partisan offices, only voters who choose to affiliate with a major political party may vote in that party's primary election, and that voters must limit their participation in a partisan primary to one political party; and
     (3) An explanation that minor political party candidates and independent candidates will appear only on the general election ballot.