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HB2574 • 2026

Deceased candidates

Concerning the removal of deceased candidates for nonpartisan office from ballots.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Abbarno, Representative Walsh
Last action
2026-03-12
Official status
H Rules 3C
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Deceased candidates

Deceased candidates

What This Bill Does

  • Deceased candidates

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-12 House

    By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.

Official Summary Text

Deceased candidates

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to the removal of deceased candidates for 1
nonpartisan office from ballots; and adding a new section to chapter 2
29A.36 RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 29A.36 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
This section applies if a county auditor receives a copy of a 7
death certification issued pursuant to chapter 70.58A RCW for a 8
candidate for an elective office of a city, town, or special purpose 9
district. 10
(1) In a case in which a primary is conducted for the office:11
(a) If ballots for the general election for the office have not 12
been ordered by the county auditor, the candidate who received the 13
third greatest number of votes for the office at the primary shall 14
qualify as a candidate for general election and that candidate's name 15
shall be printed on the ballot for the office in lieu of the name of 16
the deceased candidate. 17
(b) If general election ballots for the office have been so 18
ordered, votes cast for the deceased candidate at the general 19
election for the office shall not be counted for that office.20
(2) In a case in which a primary is not conducted for the office:21
H-2875.3
HOUSE BILL 2574
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Abbarno and Walsh
Read first time 01/19/26. Referred to Committee on State Government
& Tribal Relations.
p. 1 HB 2574
(a) If ballots for the general election for the office have not 1
been ordered by the county auditor, the name of the deceased 2
candidate shall not appear on the general election ballot for the 3
office. 4
(b) If general election ballots for the office have been so 5
ordered, votes cast for the deceased candidate at the general 6
election for the office shall not be counted for that office.7
(3) If the deceased candidate is the only candidate to have filed 8
for the office during a regular or special filing period for the 9
office, a void in candidacy for the office exists.10
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 2574