In an odd-numbered year, the county auditor may conduct a primary or a special election by mail ballot concurrently with the primary:

     (1) For an office or ballot measure of a special purpose district that is entirely within the county;

     (2) For an office or ballot measure of a special purpose district that lies in the county and one or more other counties if the auditor first secures the concurrence of the county auditors of those other counties to conduct the primary in this manner district-wide; and

     (3) For a ballot measure or nonpartisan office of a county, city, or town if the auditor first secures the concurrence of the legislative authority of the county, city, or town involved.

     The county auditor shall notify an election jurisdiction for which a primary is to be held that the primary will be conducted by mail ballot.

     A primary in an odd-numbered year may not be conducted by mail ballot in a precinct with two hundred or more active registered voters if a partisan office or state office or state ballot measure is to be voted upon at that primary in the precinct.

     To the extent they are not inconsistent with other provisions of law, the laws governing the conduct of mail ballot special elections apply to nonpartisan primaries conducted by mail ballot.

[2003 c 111 § 1203. Prior: 2001 c 241 § 17. Formerly RCW 29.38.030.]