(1) Candidates for judicial office are subject to the contribution limits in RCW 42.17A.410 and the timing restriction on contributions of a candidate's personal funds in RCW 42.17A.420. Pursuant to Article 4, Section 29, Amendment 41 of the state Constitution and RCW 42.17A.410, candidates for the office of judge of the superior court may only receive contributions for each election in which the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write-in candidate.

(2) For purposes of RCW 42.17A.410:

(a) Only superior court candidates who appear on the primary election ballot or as write-in candidates in the primary election may receive contributions with respect to that primary; and

(b) Only superior court candidates who appear on the general election ballot or as write-in candidates in the general election may receive contributions with respect to that general election.

(3)(a) A superior court candidate who is issued a certificate of election before the primary election and whose name does not appear on either the primary or general election ballot may receive contributions pursuant to RCW 42.17A.410:

(i) Through the last day for withdrawal of declarations of candidacy pursuant to RCW 29A.24.131; or

(ii) If there is a reopening of filing for the position and no other candidate files, the last day for reopening of filing pursuant to RCW 29A.24.171 and 29A.24.181.

(b) Contributions remaining in the account of such a superior court candidate who is issued a certificate of election must be returned to contributors within two weeks of certification. Primary-election-related contributions are to be returned using the first-in, first-out accounting method. Any contributions received with respect to the general election must be returned in full to contributors.

(4) A superior court candidate who is issued a certificate of election after the primary election and whose name does not appear on the general election ballot may receive contributions pursuant to RCW 42.17A.410. However, contributions received with respect to the general election must be returned in full to contributors within two weeks of certification.