WSR 97-14-039
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
[Filed June 26, 1997, 11:38 a.m.]
The Washington Attorney General issues formal published opinions in
response to requests by the heads of state agencies, state legislators,
and county prosecuting attorneys. When it appears that individuals
outside the Attorney General's Office have information or expertise that
will assist in the preparation of a particular opinion, a summary of that
opinion request will be published in the state register. If you are
interested in commenting on a request listed in this volume of the
register, you should notify the Attorney General's Office of your
interest by July 23, 1997. This is not the due date by which comments
must be received. However, if you do not notify the Attorney General's
Office of your interest in commenting on an opinion request by July 23,
1997, the opinion may be issued before your comments have been received.
You may notify the Attorney General's Office of you intention to comment
by calling (360) 753-4114, or by writing to the Solicitor General, Office
of the Attorney General, P.O. Box 40100, Olympia, WA 98504-0100. When
you notify the office of your intention to comment, you will be provided
with a copy of the opinion request in which you are interested;
information about the Attorney General's Opinion process; information on
how to submit your comments; and a due date by which your comments must
be received to ensure that they are fully considered.
The Attorney General's Office seeks public input on the following opinion
request(s).
97-06-07 Request by Secretary of State Ralph Munro
1. Under what circumstances does a major political party cease to be
a major political party under RCW 29.01.090? Does your answer vary
if the party originally qualifies based on the performance of a
candidate for an office other than the United States senator, but
in the next even-year general election United States senator is the
only office listed in RCW 29.01.090 that appears on the ballot?
2. For any newly qualified major political party, at what time and by
what mechanism are precinct committee officers selected?
3. If the party does not organize pursuant to chapter 29.42 RCW, may
the newly qualified major political party perform any of the
functions provided by law to be performed by the county or state
committee prior to doing so?
4. Do the provisions of RCW 29.45.010(4) restrict membership on a
three-person election board to members of the two parties whose
candidates for president polled the greatest and the next greatest
number of votes in that county?
5. If a county auditor decides to appoint additional clerks to the
election board, pursuant to RCW 29.45.020, what must be the partisan
affiliation of the inspector, two judges, and any clerks if there
are more than two major political parties? Does your answer with
regard to the political affiliation of board members depend upon
whether the county chair has provided a list of names to the
auditor?
6. What must be the partisan affiliation of ballot pick up and delivery teams, pursuant to RCW 29.54.037, if there are more than two major political parties?