BILL REQ. #:  Z-0462.1 

Read first time 01/25/2007.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to presidential primary ballots; and amending RCW 29A.56.040.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.56.040 and 2003 c 111 s 1404 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except where necessary to accommodate the national or state rules of a major political party or where this chapter specifically provides otherwise, the presidential primary must be conducted in substantially the same manner as a state partisan primary under this title.
     (2) Except as provided under this chapter or by rule of the secretary of state adopted under RCW 29A.04.620, the arrangement and form of presidential primary ballots must be ((substantially as provided for a partisan primary under this title. Whenever requested by a major political party, a separate ballot containing)) consistent with RCW 29A.52.151. Only the candidates ((of that party)) who have qualified under RCW 29A.56.030 ((must be provided for a voter who requests a ballot of that party. A primary ballot, containing the names of all the candidates who have qualified for a place on the ballot under RCW 29A.56.030, must be provided for nonaffiliated voters)) may appear on the ballots.
     (3) ((The)) Each party's ballot or portion of the ballot must list alphabetically the names of all candidates for the office of president. The ballot must clearly indicate the political party of each candidate ((adjacent to the name of that candidate)). Each ballot must include a blank space to allow the voter to write in the name of any other candidate.
     (4) A presidential primary ballot with votes for more than one candidate is void, and notice to this effect, stated in clear, simple language and printed in large type, must appear on the face of each presidential primary ballot or on or about each voting device.