Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 29A.04 · 70 active provisions
DEFINITIONS Words and phrases as defined in this chapter, wherever used in Title 29A RCW, shall have the meaning as in this chapter ascribed to them, unless where used the context thereof shall clearly indicate to the contrary or unless otherwise defined in the chapter of which they are a part.
As used in this title:(1) "Ballot" means, as the context implies, either:(a) The issues and offices to be voted upon in a jurisdiction or portion of a jurisdiction at a particular primary, general election, or special election;(b) A facsimile of the contents of a particular ballot whether printed on a paper ballot or b…
"By mail" means delivery of a completed original voter registration application by mail to a county auditor or the office of the secretary of state.
"Canvassing" means the process of examining ballots or groups of ballots, subtotals, and cumulative totals in order to determine the official returns of a primary, special, or general election and includes the tabulation of any votes that were not previously tabulated.
"Counting center" means the facility or facilities designated by the county auditor to count and canvass ballots.
"County auditor" means the county auditor in a noncharter county or the officer, irrespective of title, having the overall responsibility to maintain voter registration and to conduct state and local elections in a charter county.
For registered voters voting by mail, "date of mailing" means the date of the postal cancellation on the envelope in which the ballot is returned to the election official by whom it was issued. For all service and overseas voters, "date of mailing" means the date stated by the voter on the declaration.
"Disabled voter" means any registered voter who qualifies for special parking privileges under RCW 46.19.010, or who is defined as blind under RCW 74.18.020, or who qualifies to require assistance with voting under RCW 29A.40.160.
"Election" when used alone means a general election except where the context indicates that a special election is included. "Election" when used without qualification does not include a primary.
"Election officer" includes any officer who has a duty to perform relating to elections under the provisions of any statute, charter, or ordinance.
"Election official" when pertaining to voter registration includes any staff member of the office of the secretary of state, staff of state agencies or offices providing voter registration services, or a staff member of a county auditor's office.
"Elector" means any person who possesses all of the qualifications to vote under Article VI of the state Constitution, including persons who are seventeen years of age at the primary election or presidential primary election but who will be eighteen years of age by the general election.
"Filing officer" means the county or state officer with whom declarations of candidacy for an office are required to be filed under this title.
"Future voter" means a United States citizen and Washington state resident, age sixteen or seventeen, who has provided information related to voter registration to the appropriate state agencies.
"General election" means an election required to be held on a fixed date recurring at regular intervals.
An "infamous crime" is a crime punishable by death in the state penitentiary or imprisonment in a state or federal correctional facility. Neither an adjudication in juvenile court pursuant to chapter 13.40 RCW, nor a conviction for a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor, is an "infamous crime."
"Major political party" means a political party whose nominees for president and vice president received at least five percent of the total vote cast at the last presidential election. A political party qualifying as a major political party under this section retains such status until the next presidential election at…
"Measure" includes any proposition or question submitted to the voters.
"Minor political party" means a political organization other than a major political party.
"Overseas voter" means any elector of the state of Washington outside the territorial limits of the United States.
"Partisan office" means a public office for which a candidate may indicate a political party preference on his or her declaration of candidacy and have that preference appear on the primary and general election ballot in conjunction with his or her name. The following are partisan offices:(1) United States senator and…
"Precinct" means a geographical subdivision for voting purposes that is established by a county legislative authority.
"Primary" or "primary election" means a procedure for winnowing candidates for public office to a final list of two as part of a special or general election. Each voter has the right to cast a vote for any candidate for each office without any limitation based on party preference or affiliation, of either the voter or…
"Qualified" when pertaining to a winner of an election means that for such election:(1) The results have been certified;(2) Any required bond has been posted; and(3) The winner has taken and subscribed an oath or affirmation in compliance with the appropriate statute, or if none is specified, that he or she will faithf…
"Recount" means the process of retabulating ballots and producing amended election returns based on that retabulation, even if the vote totals have not changed.