Drafter

Clerk 06/03/2022

Title

AN ORDINANCE proposing an amendment to the King County Charter to move elections for certain county offices from odd-numbered to even-numbered years; amending Sections 640, 647 and 650.20 of the King County Charter and repealing Sections 650.40.15, 650.40.25 and 660 of the King County Charter; and submitting the same to the voters of the county for their ratification or rejection at the November 8, 2022, general election.

Body

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  There shall be submitted to the qualified voters of King County for their approval and ratification or rejection, at the November 8, 2022, general election, an amendment to Sections 640, 647 and 650.20 of the King County Charter and a repeal of Sections 650.40.15, 650.40.25 and 660 of the King County Charter, as set forth herein:

                     Section 640  County Executive and Assessor.

                     The county executive and county assessor shall be ((nominated and)) elected as nonpartisan offices by the voters of the county.  The ((nomination and)) election of the county executive and county assessor shall be held ((every four years as a county general election at the same time as the general election for cities in the county)) at the primary and general elections in 2023 for the county assessor and 2025 for the county executive and then in even-numbered years commencing with the election ((of 1971)) in 2026 for the county assessor and ((with the election of 1973)) in 2028 for the county executive, and every four years thereafter.

                     Section 647  County Director of Elections, Term of Office and Compensation.

                     The county director of elections shall be elected as a nonpartisan office by the voters of the county.  ((The term of office of the initial county director of elections shall end on December 31, 2011.  Subsequent e))Elections for the county director of elections shall occur ((at the general election in 2011 and)) at the primary and general elections in 2023 and then in even-numbered years commencing in 2026 and every four years thereafter.  The county director of elections shall receive compensation as provided by ordinance.

                     650.20  Nomination and Election.

                     County councilmembers shall be ((nominated and)) elected as nonpartisan offices by the voters of each councilmember's respective district.  The ((nomination and)) election of councilmembers in even-numbered districts shall be held ((as a county general election at the same time as the general election for cities in the county commencing in even-numbered districts with the election of 1971 and in odd-numbered districts with the election of 1973)) at the primary and general elections in 2023 and then in even-numbered years commencing in 2026 and every four years thereafter.  The election of councilmembers in odd-numbered districts shall be held at the primary and general elections in 2025 and then in even-numbered years commencing in 2028 and then every four years thereafter.

                     650.40.15, 650.40.25 and 660 repealed.  Section 650.40.15 of the King County Charter, "Districting in 2004," Section 650.40.25 of the King County Charter, "Elections and terms of office for 2004 and thereafter," and Section 660 of the King County Charter, "Commencement of Terms of Office," are each hereby repealed.

                     SECTION 2.  The clerk of the council shall certify the proposition to the director of elections, in substantially the following form, with such additions, deletions or modifications as may be required by the prosecuting attorney:

Shall the King County Charter be amended to move elections for the

county offices of executive, assessor, director of elections and councilmembers from odd-numbered to even-numbered years?