Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Government Operations & Elections Committee |
HB 2215
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Reconciling election laws.
Sponsors: Representatives Robinson, Manweller, S. Hunt and Haler; by request of Secretary of State.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/22/14
Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).
Background:
Many changes made and challenges to election laws over the past decade have resulted in duplicative statutes, outdated citations and references, and errors in dates. In 2003 election laws were reorganized and recodified.
The date of the primary was changed in 2006 and again in 2011 to comply with federal law regarding transit time for ballots for service and overseas voters. In 2006, 2009, and 2011, the dates authorized for special elections were changed. In 2011 the Legislature passed a law requiring that all elections be held entirely by mail.
In 1977 the state Supreme Court ruled that in the case of multiple signatures on a state initiative or referendum petition, the first valid signature must be counted while all additional signatures are rejected. In 2013 courts in two separate cases found that the statute requiring rejection of all signatures of a multiple signer, including the first valid signature, on local petitions violates the Washington State Constitution.
Summary of Bill:
Technical changes concerning elections are made consisting of correcting statutory references, clarifying current policies, updating deadlines, correcting dates, removing references to poll site voting and modifying statutes to be consistent with the State Constitution and court rulings.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.