5182-S AMH STOK OMLI 173

  

SSB 5182 - H AMD 594

By Representative Stokesbary

NOT ADOPTED 04/11/2023

On page 6, line 27, after "29A.24.050." insert "The rule adopted by the secretary must provide a process and deadline for a candidate to amend their candidate statement for the general election voters' pamphlet when, after the primary election, the name of a write-in candidate will appear on the general election ballot for that office."

On page 7, line 17, after "RCW 29A.24.050;" insert "and

The process and deadline for a candidate to amend their candidate statement for the general election voters' pamphlet when, after the primary election, the name of a write-in candidate will appear on the general election ballot for that office;"

On page 7, after line 19, insert the following:

"Sec. 11. RCW 29A.24.311 and 2018 c 187 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any person who desires to be a write-in candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy with the officer designated in RCW 29A.24.070 not later than 8:00 p.m. on the day of the primary or election. A write-in declaration of candidacy is timely if filed by this deadline. No votes shall be counted for a write-in candidate who has not properly filed a write-in declaration of candidacy.

(2) Votes cast for write-in candidates who have filed such declarations of candidacy need only specify the name of the candidate in the appropriate location on the ballot in order to be counted.

(3) No person may file as a write-in candidate where:

(a) At a general election, the person attempting to file either filed as a write-in candidate for the same office at the preceding primary or the person's name was printed on the ballot for the same office at the preceding primary;

(b) The person attempting to file as a write-in candidate has already filed a valid write-in declaration for that primary or election;

(c) The name of the person attempting to file is already printed on the ballot as a candidate for another office, unless the other office is precinct committee officer or a temporary elected position, such as charter review board member or freeholder;

(d) The office filed for is precinct committee officer.

(4) The declaration of candidacy shall be similar to that required by RCW 29A.24.031. No write-in candidate filing under this section may be included in any voters' pamphlet produced under chapter 29A.32 RCW unless that candidate qualifies to have his or her name printed on the general election ballot. The legislative authority of any jurisdiction producing a local voters' pamphlet under chapter 29A.32 RCW may provide, by ordinance, for the inclusion of write-in candidates in such pamphlets. If the name of a write-in candidate will appear on the general election ballot a current candidate for that same office may amend their candidate statement for inclusion in the general election voters' pamphlet in accordance with rules adopted under section 9 of this act or RCW 29A.32.230."

Correct the title.

EFFECT:   Authorizes a current candidate to amend their candidate statement for inclusion in the general election voters' pamphlet when a write-in candidate will be included on the general election ballot. Requires the Secretary of State and county auditors to adopt rules providing for the process and deadline for a candidate to submit their amended candidate statement for the general election voters' pamphlet.

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