RCW 29A.04.321
State and local general elections--Statewide
general election--Exceptions--Special county elections.
(Effective until July 1, 2011.)
(1) All state, county, city,
town, and district general elections for the election of federal,
state, legislative, judicial, county, city, town, and district
officers, and for the submission to the voters of the state,
county, city, town, or district of any measure for their adoption
and approval or rejection, shall be held on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday of November, in the year in which they may
be called. A statewide general election shall be held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday of November of each year.
However, the statewide general election held in odd-numbered
years shall be limited to (a) city, town, and district general
elections as provided for in RCW 29A.04.330, or as otherwise
provided by law; (b) the election of federal officers for the
remainder of any unexpired terms in the membership of either
branch of the Congress of the United States; (c) the election of
state and county officers for the remainder of any unexpired
terms of offices created by or whose duties are described in
Article II, section 15, Article III, sections 16, 17, 19, 20, 21,
22, and 23, and Article IV, sections 3 and 5 of the state
Constitution and RCW 2.06.080; (d) the election of county
officers in any county governed by a charter containing
provisions calling for general county elections at this time; and
(e) the approval or rejection of state measures, including
proposed constitutional amendments, matters pertaining to any
proposed constitutional convention, initiative measures and
referendum measures proposed by the electorate, referendum bills,
and any other matter provided by the legislature for submission
to the electorate.
(2) A county legislative authority may call a special county
election by presenting a resolution to the county auditor prior
to the proposed election date. A special election called by the
county legislative authority shall be held on one of the
following dates as decided by such governing body:
(a) The second Tuesday in February;
(b) The fourth Tuesday in April;
(c) The third Tuesday in May for tax levies that failed
previously in that calendar year and new bond issues;
(d) The day of the primary as specified by RCW 29A.04.311;
or
(e) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
(3) A resolution calling for a special election on a date
set forth in subsection (2)(a) through (c) of this section must
be presented to the county auditor at least forty-five days prior
to the election date. A resolution calling for a special
election on a date set forth in subsection (2)(d) or (e) of this
section must be presented to the county auditor at least
eighty-four days prior to the election date.
(4) In addition to the dates set forth in subsection (2)(a)
through (e) of this section, a special election to validate an
excess levy or bond issue may be called at any time to meet the
needs resulting from fire, flood, earthquake, or other act of
God. Such county special election shall be noticed and conducted
in the manner provided by law.
(5) This section shall supersede the provisions of any and
all other statutes, whether general or special in nature, having
different dates for such city, town, and district elections, the
purpose of this section being to establish mandatory dates for
holding elections except for those elections held pursuant to a
home-rule charter adopted under Article XI, section 4 of the
state Constitution. This section shall not be construed as
fixing the time for holding primary elections, or elections for
the recall of any elective public officer.
[2009 c 413 § 1; 2006 c 344 § 2; 2004 c 271 § 106.]
NOTES:
Expiration date -- 2009 c 413 §§ 1 and 3: "Sections 1 and 3 of this act expire July 1, 2011." [2009 c 413 § 5.]
Effective date -- 2006 c 344 §§ 1-16 and 18-40: See note following RCW 29A.04.311.
RCW 29A.04.321
State and local general elections--Statewide
general election--Exceptions--Special county elections.
(Effective July 1, 2011.)
(1) All state, county, city, town, and
district general elections for the election of federal, state,
legislative, judicial, county, city, town, and district officers,
and for the submission to the voters of the state, county, city,
town, or district of any measure for their adoption and approval
or rejection, shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first
Monday of November, in the year in which they may be called. A
statewide general election shall be held on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday of November of each year. However, the
statewide general election held in odd-numbered years shall be
limited to (a) city, town, and district general elections as
provided for in RCW 29A.04.330, or as otherwise provided by law;
(b) the election of federal officers for the remainder of any
unexpired terms in the membership of either branch of the
Congress of the United States; (c) the election of state and
county officers for the remainder of any unexpired terms of
offices created by or whose duties are described in Article II,
section 15, Article III, sections 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23,
and Article IV, sections 3 and 5 of the state Constitution and
RCW 2.06.080; (d) the election of county officers in any county
governed by a charter containing provisions calling for general
county elections at this time; and (e) the approval or rejection
of state measures, including proposed constitutional amendments,
matters pertaining to any proposed constitutional convention,
initiative measures and referendum measures proposed by the
electorate, referendum bills, and any other matter provided by
the legislature for submission to the electorate.
(2) A county legislative authority may call a special county
election by presenting a resolution to the county auditor prior
to the proposed election date. A special election called by the
county legislative authority shall be held on one of the
following dates as decided by such governing body:
(a) The second Tuesday in February;
(b) The fourth Tuesday in April;
(c) The day of the primary as specified by RCW 29A.04.311;
or
(d) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
(3) A resolution calling for a special election on a date
set forth in subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section must be
presented to the county auditor at least forty-five days prior to
the election date. A resolution calling for a special election
on a date set forth in subsection (2)(c) or (d) of this section
must be presented to the county auditor at least eighty-four days
prior to the election date.
(4) In addition to the dates set forth in subsection (2)(a)
through (d) of this section, a special election to validate an
excess levy or bond issue may be called at any time to meet the
needs resulting from fire, flood, earthquake, or other act of
God. Such county special election shall be noticed and conducted
in the manner provided by law.
(5) This section shall supersede the provisions of any and
all other statutes, whether general or special in nature, having
different dates for such city, town, and district elections, the
purpose of this section being to establish mandatory dates for
holding elections except for those elections held pursuant to a
home-rule charter adopted under Article XI, section 4 of the
state Constitution. This section shall not be construed as
fixing the time for holding primary elections, or elections for
the recall of any elective public officer.
[2009 c 413 § 2; 2006 c 344 § 2; 2004 c 271 § 106.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 2009 c 413 §§ 2 and 4: "Sections 2 and 4 of this act take effect July 1, 2011." [2009 c 413 § 6.]
Effective date -- 2006 c 344 §§ 1-16 and 18-40: See note following RCW 29A.04.311.