(1) On the fourth Tuesday in May of
each year in which a president of the United States is to be
nominated and elected, a presidential primary shall be held at
which voters may vote for the nominee of a major political party
for the office of president. The secretary of state may propose
an alternative date for the primary no later than the first day
of August of the year before the year in which a president is to
be nominated and elected.
(2) No later than the first day of September of the year
before the year in which a presidential nominee is selected, the
state committee of any major political party that will use the
primary results for candidates of that party may propose an
alternative date for that primary.
(3) If an alternative date is proposed under subsection (1)
or (2) of this section, a committee consisting of the chair and
the vice-chair of the state committee of each major political
party, the secretary of state, the majority leader and minority
leader of the senate, and the speaker and the minority leader of
the house of representatives shall meet and, if affirmed by a
two-thirds vote of the members of the committee, the date of the
primary shall be changed. The committee shall meet and decide on
the proposed alternate date not later than the first day of
October of the year before the year in which a presidential
nominee is selected. The secretary of state shall convene and
preside over the meeting of the committee. A committee member
other than a legislator may appoint, in writing, a designee to
serve on his or her behalf. A legislator who is a member of the
committee may appoint, in writing, another legislator to serve on
his or her behalf.
(4) If an alternate date is approved under this section, the
secretary of state shall adopt rules under RCW 29A.04.620 to
adjust the deadlines in RCW 29A.56.030 and related provisions of
this chapter to correspond with the date that has been approved.
[2003 c 111 § 1402; (2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 2 expired January 1, 2005); (2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 1 expired July 1, 2004). Prior: 1995 1st sp.s. c 20 § 1; 1989 c 4 § 2 (Initiative Measure No. 99). Formerly RCW 29.19.020.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 2: "Section 2 of this act takes effect July 1, 2004." [2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 5.]
Expiration date -- 2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 2: "Section 2 of this act expires January 1, 2005." [2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 6.]
Expiration date -- 2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 1: "Section 1 of this act expires July 1, 2004." [2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 4.]
Effective date -- 2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 1: "Section 1 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [December 9, 2003]." [2003 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 3.]
Effective date -- 1995 1st sp.s. c 20: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [June 15, 1995]." [1995 1st sp.s. c 20 § 7.]