SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5050
As of January 27, 2025
Title: An act relating to maintaining the privacy of party selections during presidential primaries.
Brief Description: Concerning the privacy of party selections during presidential primaries.
Sponsors: Senators Wilson, J., Christian, McCune, Schoesler, Holy, Dozier, Short, Torres, Chapman and Fortunato.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections: 1/28/25.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the political party declaration required to vote in a presidential primary be placed inside the return ballot envelope.
  • Requires the return ballot envelope for a presidential primary include a prominently placed reminder that a political party declaration is required for the ballot to be counted.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, TRIBAL AFFAIRS & ELECTIONS
Staff: William Bridges (786-7312)
Background:

Presidential Primary. Washington holds a presidential primary to allow voters to express a preference for the presidential nominee of the major political parties. Political parties are not required to use the primary results to allocate their delegates to the national convention for naming a party nominee, but may instead allocate delegates based on the results of precinct caucuses and conventions.

?

Prior to the presidential primary, the state chair of each major party must submit in writing to the secretary of state (SOS) the exact wording of any party declaration required by rules of the state or national party. SOS must certify the language of each major party?s declaration to the county auditors.?

?

Presidential Primary Ballot Form and Return Envelope. Voters who subscribe to a specific political party must be given ballots that are readily distinguishable from those given to other voters. Under rules adopted by the SOS, each primary ballot must have a blue-shaded bar with a Democratic Party heading and a red shaded-bar with a Republican Party heading, and the candidates for each party are to be printed immediately below. The ballot return envelope must contain a checkbox where voters may indicate the political party to which they subscribe. The return envelope must also include one-signature line to serve as both the standard ballot declaration and party affiliation declaration.?
Summary of Bill:

Requires the Political Party Declaration for a Presidential Primary Ballot to be Inside the Return Ballot Envelope.?In presidential primaries, when a voter is required to mark a political party on a ballot or ballot envelope: (1) the declaration must be placed such that the ballot envelope must be opened in order for anyone to see the declaration, and (2) the ballot envelope must include a prominently placed reminder to the voter that a political party declaration is required for the ballot to be counted.

?

Expresses Legislative Findings. Legislative findings are made expressing privacy concerns about the visibility of the party preference selections on the outside of presidential primary ballot envelopes and the necessity to protect the secrecy of the party preference selection.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 20, 2025.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.