Candidate Filing Week is May 15-19

OLYMPIA — Candidate Filing Week is May 15-19, and the Office of the Secretary of State is joining county elections offices across Washington to accept applications for public office.

Nearly 3,400 local offices across the state are up for election this year, including more than 100 mayorships; many city and county council positions; and port, hospital, water, fire, and parks and recreation districts.

People interested in running for local or county offices may file with the county elections department in which a position resides. For filing instructions, candidates should contact their respective county elections office.

Applications for the Superior Court of Benton and Franklin Counties must be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State. Applicants are encouraged to file online during the filing period, which runs from 9 a.m. Monday, May 15, until 4 p.m. Friday, May 19. Those who wish to file online and pay the required fees via credit or debit card can do so any time — day or night — during the week.

Applicants may also download a Declaration of Candidacy form and mail it along with a check for the required fee to Candidate Filing, Office of the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 40229, Olympia, WA 98504-0229, or drop it off in person at the Secretary of State’s office in the Legislative Building, 416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW in Olympia during normal business hours. Filings and fees delivered by mail or in person must be received by 5 p.m. May 19.

Candidates who cannot file online and who need in-person services should contact their county or state elections office to learn more about available services and business hours.

Once their filing is completed by the state or county, candidates will receive an email with instructions for submitting their Voters’ Pamphlet statement and photo online.

For more information, visit the Candidates & Campaigns page on the Secretary of State’s Elections site. There, applicants can download a candidate filing guide, read answers to frequently asked questions, and more. A brief instructional video is also available.

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees a number of areas within state government, including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office also manages the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, oversees the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees, and administers the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.