S-4330.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6368

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Senators Haugen and Winsley

Read first time 01/20/94.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Revising times for filing declarations and withdrawals of candidacy.

    AN ACT Relating to filing declarations and withdrawals of candidacy; amending RCW 29.15.020, 29.15.120, 29.15.160, 29.15.200, and 29.27.020; and repealing RCW 29.18.150

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 29.15.020 and 1990 c 59 s 81 are each amended to read as follows:

    Except where otherwise provided by this title, declarations of candidacy for the following offices shall be filed during regular business hours with the filing officer no earlier than the ((fourth)) third Monday in July and no later than the ((following Friday)) tenth business day immediately after the first day for candidates to file for office in the year in which the office is scheduled to be voted upon:

    (1) Offices that are scheduled to be voted upon for full terms or both full terms and short terms at, or in conjunction with, a state general election; and

    (2) Offices where a vacancy, other than a short term, exists that has not been filled by election and for which an election to fill the vacancy is required in conjunction with the next state general election.

    This section supersedes all other statutes that provide for a different filing period for these offices.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 29.15.120 and 1990 c 59 s 86 are each amended to read as follows:

    A candidate may withdraw his or her declaration of candidacy at any time before the close of business on ((the Thursday following)) the last day for candidates to file under RCW 29.15.020 by filing, with the officer with whom the declaration of candidacy was filed, a signed request that his or her name not be printed on the ballot.  There shall be no withdrawal period for declarations of candidacy filed during special filing periods held under this title.  The filing officer may permit the withdrawal of a filing for the office of precinct committee officer at the request of the candidate at any time if no absentee ballots have been issued for that office and the general election ballots for that precinct have not been printed.  No filing fee may be refunded to any candidate who withdraws under this section.  Notice of the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy and that the filing fee is not refundable shall be given to each candidate at the time he or she files.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 29.15.160 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 120 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    A void in candidacy for a nonpartisan office occurs when an election for such office, except for the short term, has been scheduled and ((no valid declaration of candidacy has been filed for the position or)) all persons filing ((such)) valid declarations of candidacy have died or been disqualified.

    Sec. 4.  RCW 29.15.200 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 120 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

    If after ((both)) the normal filing period and any special three day filing period as provided by RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180((, as now or hereafter amended,)) have passed and still no candidate has filed for any single city, town, or district position to be filled, the election for such position shall be deemed lapsed, the office deemed stricken from the ballot and no write-in votes counted.  In such instance, the incumbent occupying such position shall remain in office and continue to serve until his or her successor is elected at the next election when such positions are voted upon as provided by RCW 29.21.410((, as now or hereafter amended)).

    Sec. 5.  RCW 29.27.020 and 1990 c 59 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

    On or before the day following the last day for ((political parties to fill vacancies in the ticket as provided by RCW 29.18.150)) filing for office as provided by RCW 29.15.020, the secretary of state shall certify to each county auditor a list of the candidates who have filed declarations of candidacy in his or her office for the primary.  For each office, the certificate shall include the name of each candidate, his or her address, and his or her party designation, if any.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.  RCW 29.18.150 and 1990 c 59 s 102, 1977 ex.s. c 329 s 12, & 1965 c 9 s 29.18.150 are each repealed.

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