The Clark County Charter Review Commission has passed Amendment 26-01, which would skip the primary when two or fewer candidates run for a nonpartisan county office. This amendment, sponsored by Secretary Kathy Garber, aims to reduce election costs and streamline the electoral process.
Background and Purpose
According to Garber, the purpose of a primary is to determine who moves to the general election. If there are only one or two candidates, a primary is not needed. This amendment would save taxpayers money, with Garber estimating that over $75,000 would have been saved in the 2022 election if this change had been in effect.
The amendment does not limit candidates’ ability to campaign and fundraise, but rather eliminates the need for a primary when there are two or fewer candidates. Some commissioners have raised concerns about potential unintended consequences of this amendment.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
