The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold I-872 will result in Washington State’s first Top Two Primary. The impact of this new system involves some important points for prospective candidates. These changes only apply to partisan offices. These rules do not apply to nonpartisan offices, Precinct Committee Officers, or the office of President.
Filing
Monday, June 2 through Friday, June 6, 2008. (RCW 29A.24.050, RCW 29A.20.200)
All Declaration of Candidacy Forms must be in the Auditors Office by 5:00 PM, June 6, 2008.
Declaration of Candidacy Forms for Offices that are state wide or involve more than one county, are filed with the Secretary of State in Olympia. For more State candidate filing information go to the Secretary of State web site at www.vote.wa.gov .
SPECIAL 3-DAY FILING PERIOD
Wednesday, June 11 through Friday, June 13, 2008 (If Needed) (RCW29A.24.161)
There will be a Special 3-day filing period for non-partisan offices for which no one filed during the regular filing period. A list will appear at the end of the regular filing period.
All candidates must be registered voters in the geographic area represented by the office. (RCW 29A.20.020).
No candidate's name shall appear more than once upon the ballot, unless that name appears once for the office of Precinct Committee Officer, in which case the name may appear not more than twice. (RCW 29A.36.200)
Each Declaration of Candidacy Form must be accompanied by the Filing Fee. The Filing Fee is 1% of the fixed annual salary at the time of filing. (Per Diem, Per meeting fee or other fee paid based on participation is not a fixed salary.) Minimum Fee is $10.00. If the office has no fixed annual salary, there will be no filing fee. A nominating petition may be submitted in lieu of the filing fee. It must contain valid signatures of registered voters of the district equal in number to the dollars of the normal filing fee. Filing Fee for Precinct Committee Officer is $1.00. (RCW 29A.24.090)
Filing Fees are not refundable. (RCW 29A.24.130)
Declaration of Candidacy forms will be available at the Auditors Office.
Filings made by mail must be received by the filing officer no earlier than ten working days before the first day for filing (May 19) nor later than the close of business on the last day of the filing period (June 6). Filings received before or after this time period, irrespective of postmark, are invalid and will be returned. (RCW 29A.24.080)
Any candidate may withdraw in writing through Thursday, June 12, 2008. Filing fee will not be refunded. (RCW 29A.24.130)
A candidate who wishes to run a write-in campaign may want to file a Declaration Of Write-In Candidacy form with the Auditor's office. The Declaration of Candidacy can be filed up to the day before the election. A filing fee, if applicable, must accompany the Declaration Of Write-In Candidacy at the time of filing with the Auditors Office. Check with the Auditor's office for more information. (RCW 29A.24.310)
Public Disclosure forms must be filed within 14 days of the beginning of a political candidacy or campaign.
If you have a current F-1 on file, one filed by April 15, 2008, you do not need to file another one within two (2) weeks of becoming a candidate.
What Candidates Must File Disclosure Reports?
Reporting requirements are determined by the number of registered voters in the jurisdiction where the candidate runs for office. In some jurisdictions, the total amount of contributions a candidate expects to receive also determines the reporting requirements.
You must file a personal financial affairs statement (F1) and campaign disclosure (C forms) if you are:
- a state office candidate
- a county office candidate
- a local or judicial office candidate in a jurisdiction with 5,000 or more registered voters
- a candidate who receives or expects to receive contributions of $5,000 or more in the aggregate regardless of the number of registered voters
File just a personal financial affairs statement (F1) if you are:
- a candidate for local or judicial office in a jurisdiction with 1,000 or more registered voters but less than 5,000 registered voters and you do not expect to receive contributions totaling $5,000 or more
A candidate seeking election to an office in a jurisdiction with less than 1,000 registered voters and who does not receive or expect to receive contributions totaling $5,000 or more does not file any reports with the Public Disclosure Commission.
A political committee is exempt from reporting if its sole purpose is to support or oppose a local ballot measure in a town or district that had fewer than 1,000 registered voters as of the last general election.
Ballot Proposition Campaigns encompassing a district with more than 1,000 registered voters must file Campaign Financial Reports (C forms).
All necessary forms can be obtained from the Public Disclosure Web site or call the Public Disclosure Commission Office.
Refer requests for further information to:
Public Disclosure Commission
711 Capitol Way, Suite 206
P.O. Box 40908
Olympia, Wa 98504
(360) 753-1111
Fax (360) 753-1112
www.pdc.wa.gov
a) Exempt from Public Disclosure
All Cemetery District
Precinct Committee Officerb) Districts under 1,000 registered voters.
Nespelem School District #14
Pateros School District #122-70J
City of Brewster
Town of Conconully
Town of Coulee Dam
Town of Elmer City
Town of Nespelem
City of Oroville
City of Pateros
Town of Riverside
City of Tonasket
Town of Twisp
Town of Winthrop
Fire District #2
Fire District #7
Fire District #8
Fire District #9
Fire District #10
Fire District #11
Fire District #12
Fire District #16
Lake Osoyoos Water Districtc) Districts between 1,000 and 4,999 registered voters.
Just file the Declaration of Candidacy form. The Public Disclosure Form F-1 is also required. The F-1 is due within two (2) weeks of becoming a candidate. The F-1 is sent directly to the Public Disclosure Commission. The F-1 is not required to be filed with the county.
Omak School District #19
Okanogan School District #105
Brewster School District #111-203J
Methow Valley School District #350
Tonasket School District #404
Oroville School District #4l0
City of Okanogan
City of Omak
Fire District #1
Fire District #3
Fire District #4
Fire District #6
Douglas-Okanogan Fire District #15
Coulee Area Park & Recreation Districtd) Districts with 5,000 or more registered voters.
The Public Disclosure Form F-1 and Campaign Finance Forms (C-1, C-3, C-4, Etc.) are required. File Declaration of Candidacy form. File F-1 within two (2) weeks of becoming candidate. File Campaign Finance Forms in accordance with reporting option desired. Campaign Finance Forms are to be filed directly with Public Disclosure and also filed (copy) with the County.
County Offices (Commissioner, Auditor, Assessor, etc.)
Superior Court Judge
PUD District Commissioner
Hospital District #l
Hospital District #3
Hospital District #4
C County Offices
CC1 County Commissioner District #1 Andy Lampe 4 year term $526.20
CC2 County Commissioner District #2 Bud Hover 4 year term $526.20
SJ Superior Court Judge Jack Burchard 4 year term $1409.79
C PUD
PUD1 PUD Commissioner District #1 David Womack 6 year term $156.00
A PCO
PCO All Precincts 2 year term $1.00
Nonpartisan offices for which more than two candidates filed will appear on the Primary Election Ballot.
Order of names on the Primary Election ballot will be determined by lot.
For offices for which no Primary Election is held, the order for the General Election will be determined by lot.
(RCW 29A.36.130)Partisan offices. Voters will have to pick a party and vote only candidates of that party. The top vote getter for each office for each party will appear on the General Election ballot.
Precinct Committee Officers will be elected on the Primary Election ballot.
Random selection will be done on an office by office basis to determine order on the ballot.
If only one candidate filed for an office, no drawing will be held for that position.
The following procedure will be used for the lot drawing.
1. A list of the offices up for election with the candidates listed in alphabetical order will be prepared.
2. Each office will be taken separately and numbers drawn for the order on the ballot. Example: If 4 people file for an office, the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be placed in a container. The first number drawn will be for the position on the ballot for the first candidate on the alphabetical list for that office. The second number drawn for the second candidate on the list and so on. When that office is completed, the same procedure will be repeated for the next office.
3. When the drawing is completed, a new list of candidates filing for the offices will be compiled with the candidates shown in the order resulting from the drawing. This list will be given out to anyone requesting a list of people who filed for office. No listings will be given out from this point on showing order in which they filed their Declaration of Candidacy forms.
Odd Year Elections
If there is a Primary, the candidate that received the most votes will appear first on the ballot. The top two vote getters will go on to the General Election.Names of candidates not subject to a Primary will be listed on the General Election Ballot in the order determined by lot drawing. (RCW 29A.36.130)
Even Year Elections
Names on the General Election ballot will be determined by which party polled the most votes in the last Presidential Election (2004 - Democrats). Top vote getter of each party will appear on the General Election Ballot.Names of candidates not subject to a Primary will be listed on the General Election Ballot in the order determined by lot drawing. (RCW 29A.36.130)
An automatic recount applies to candidates and state-wide measures and will occur under the following situations.
Machine Recount
If less than one-half of 1% of votes cast separates candidates or issues and it is less than 2,000 votes.Hand Recount
State wide – If less than .25% (1/4 of 1%) and less than 1,000 votes.All other – If less than .25% (1/4 of 1%) and less than 150 votes.
All requested recounts must be submitted no later than three (3) working days after the official canvass is completed. (RCW 29A.64)
If after the recount, the candidates for an office received the same number of votes (Tie), the winner will be determined by lot publicly. (RCW 29A.60.220)
All newly elected officials will take office the first of the year, unless the time of assumption is different by statue. The oath of office can be taken up to 10 days before the scheduled date of assuming office. (RCW 29A.20.040)
Sessions of the legislature shall be held annually, commencing on the second Monday of January. (RCW 44.04.010)
State ballot measures approved by the voters become law upon proclamation of the Governor. This is within 30 days of the election unless a different effective date is contained within the text of the measure. (RCW 29A.60.260)
PARTY CHAIRPERSONS
Democrats
Jackie Bradley
PO Box 368
Okanogan, Wa 98840Republicans
Teri Mitschelen
PO Box 136
Malott, Wa 98829Libertarians
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