RCW 29B.10.230 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 230
RCW 29B.10.230: Expenditure.
Status: in_force

"Expenditure" includes a payment, contribution, subscription, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, and includes a contract, promise, or agreement, whether or not legally enforceable, to make an expenditure. "Expenditure" also includes a promise to pay, a payment, or a transfer of anything of value in exchange for goods, services, property, facilities, or anything of value for the purpose of assisting, benefiting, or honoring any public official or candidate, or assisting in furthering or opposing any election campaign. For the purposes of this title, agreements to make expenditures, contracts, and promises to pay may be reported as estimated obligations until actual payment is made. "Expenditure" shall not include the partial or complete repayment by a candidate or political or incidental committee of the principal of a loan, the receipt of which loan has been properly reported.
RCW 29A.08.030 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 030
RCW 29A.08.030: Notices, various.
Status: in_force

The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Verification notice" means a notice sent by the county auditor or secretary of state to a voter registration applicant and is used to verify or collect information about the applicant in order to complete the registration. The verification notice must be designed to include a postage prepaid, preaddressed return form by which the applicant may verify or send information. (2) "Acknowledgment notice" means a notice sent by nonforwardable mail by the county auditor or secretary of state to a registered voter to acknowledge a voter registration transaction or an automatic voter registration transaction, which can include initial registration, residential address change, or reactivation of an inactive registration, identifying the registrant's precinct and containing such other information as may be required by the secretary of state. An acknowledgment notice may be a voter registration card. (3) "Automatic voter registration acknowledgment notice package" means a package of information sent by nonforwardable mail by the county auditor, to a registered voter who utilized the automatic voter registration process at the department of licensing, to acknowledge a voter registration transaction, which can include initial registration, residential address change, or reactivation of an inactive registration. The package must include: (a) A postage prepaid, preaddressed return form by which the individual may decline to be registered to vote or decline the update; (b) A statement explaining that the person has become registered to vote or signed up to register to vote, as appropriate, setting forth the qualifications to vote, stating that if the individual does not meet the qualifications to vote, the person shall return the notice and affirmatively decline in writing to register to vote, and that if the person wishes to cancel the voter registration at any time, that the person may contact their county auditor to do so; (c) Instructions regarding how an individual can obtain more information about the notice and assistance in the individual's preferred language, including languages as set forth in RCW 29A.08.270 ; (d) An acknowledgment notice; and (e) Other information required by the secretary of state. (4) "Identification notice" means a notice sent to a provisionally registered voter to confirm the applicant's identity. (5) "Confirmation notice" means a notice sent to a registered voter by first-class forwardable mail at the address indicated on the voter's permanent registration record and to any other address at which the county auditor or secretary of state could reasonably expect mail to be received by the voter in order to confirm the voter's residence address. The confirmation notice must be designed to include a postage prepaid, preaddressed return form by which the registrant may verify the address information.
RCW 29B.25.120 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 25 / Section 120
RCW 29B.25.120: Special reports—Independent expenditures.
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section the term "independent expenditure" means any expenditure that is made in support of or in opposition to any candidate or ballot proposition and is not otherwise required to be reported pursuant to RCW 29B.25.070 , 29B.25.090 , and 29B.25.100 . "Independent expenditure" does not include: An internal political communication primarily limited to the contributors to a political party organization or political action committee, or the officers, management staff, and stockholders of a corporation or similar enterprise, or the members of a labor organization or other membership organization; or the rendering of personal services of the sort commonly performed by volunteer campaign workers, or incidental expenses personally incurred by volunteer campaign workers not in excess of fifty dollars personally paid for by the worker. "Volunteer services," for the purposes of this section, means services or labor for which the individual is not compensated by any person. (2) Within five days after the date of making an independent expenditure that by itself or when added to all other such independent expenditures made during the same election campaign by the same person equals one hundred dollars or more, or within five days after the date of making an independent expenditure for which no reasonable estimate of monetary value is practicable, whichever occurs first, the person who made the independent expenditure shall file with the commission an initial report of all independent expenditures made during the campaign prior to and including such date. (3) At the following intervals each person who is required to file an initial report pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall file with the commission a further report of the independent expenditures made since the date of the last report: (a) On the 21st day and the seventh day preceding the date on which the election is held; and (b) On the 10th day of the first month after the election; and (c) On the 10th day of each month in which no other reports are required to be filed pursuant to this section. However, the further reports required by this subsection (3) shall only be filed if the reporting person has made an independent expenditure since the date of the last previous report filed. The report filed pursuant to (a) of this subsection (3) shall be the final report, and upon submitting such final report the duties of the reporting person shall cease, and there shall be no obligation to make any further reports. (4) All reports filed pursuant to this section shall be certified as correct by the reporting person. (5) Each report required by subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall disclose for the period beginning at the end of the period for the last previous report filed or, in the case of an initial report, beginning at the time of the first independent expenditure, and ending not more than one business day before the date the report is due: (a) The name, address, and electronic contact information of the person filing the report; (b) The name and address of each person to whom an independent expenditure was made in the aggregate amount of more than fifty dollars, and the amount, date, and purpose of each such expenditure. If no reasonable estimate of the monetary value of a particular independent expenditure is practicable, it is sufficient to report instead a precise description of services, property, or rights furnished through the expenditure and where appropriate to attach a copy of the item produced or distributed by the expenditure; (c) The total sum of all independent expenditures made during the campaign to date; (d) A statement from the person making an independent expenditure that: (i) The expenditure is not financed in any part by a foreign national; and (ii) Foreign nationals are not involved in making decisions regarding the expenditure in any way; and (e) Such other information as shall be required by the commission by rule in conformance with the policies and purposes of this title.
RCW 29A.92.050 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 92 / Section 050
RCW 29A.92.050: Voluntary change to electoral system—Notice—New elections—Districting.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1750-S2.SL ) ***

(1)(a) Prior to the adoption of its proposed plan, the political subdivision must provide public notice to residents of the subdivision about the proposed remedy to a potential violation of RCW 29A.92.020 . If a significant segment of the residents of the subdivision have limited English proficiency and speaks a language other than English, the political subdivision must: (i) Provide accurate written and verbal notice of the proposed remedy in languages that diverse residents of the political subdivision can understand, as indicated by demographic data; and (ii) Air radio or television public service announcements describing the proposed remedy broadcast in the languages that diverse residents of the political subdivision can understand, as indicated by demographic data. (b) The political subdivision shall hold at least one public hearing on the proposed plan at least one week before adoption. (c) For purposes of this section, "significant segment of the community" means five percent or more of residents, or five hundred or more residents, whichever is fewer, residing in the political subdivision. (2)(a) If the political subdivision invokes its authority under RCW 29A.92.040 and the plan is adopted during the period of time between the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November and on or before January 15th of the following year, the political subdivision shall order new elections to occur at the next succeeding general election. (b) If the political subdivision invokes its authority under RCW 29A.92.040 and the plan is adopted during the period of time between January 16th and on or before the first Monday of November, the next election will occur as scheduled and organized under the current electoral system, but the political subdivision shall order new elections to occur pursuant to the remedy at the general election the following calendar year. (3) If a political subdivision implements a district-based election system under RCW 29A.92.040 (2), the plan shall be consistent with the following criteria: (a) Each district shall be as reasonably equal in population as possible to each and every other such district comprising the political subdivision. (b) Each district shall be reasonably compact. (c) Each district shall consist of geographically contiguous area. (d) To the extent feasible, the district boundaries shall coincide with existing recognized natural boundaries and shall, to the extent possible, preserve existing communities of related and mutual interest. (e) District boundaries may not be drawn or maintained in a manner that creates or perpetuates the dilution of the votes of the members of a protected class or classes. (f) All positions on the governing body must stand for election at the next election for the governing body, scheduled pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. The governing body may subsequently choose to stagger the terms of its positions. (4) Within forty-five days after receipt of federal decennial census information applicable to a specific local area, the commission established in RCW 44.05.030 shall forward the census information to each political subdivision. (5) No later than November 15th of each year ending in one, the governing body of the political subdivision that had previously invoked its authority under RCW 29A.92.040 to implement a district-based election system, or that was previously charged with redistricting under RCW 29A.92.110 , shall prepare a plan for redistricting its districts, pursuant to RCW 29A.76.010 , and in a manner consistent with this chapter.
RCW 29A.32.070 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 32 / Section 070
RCW 29A.32.070: Format, layout, contents.
Status: in_force

The secretary of state shall determine the format and layout of the voters' pamphlet published under RCW 29A.32.010 . The secretary of state shall print the pamphlet in clear, readable type on a size, quality, and weight of paper that in the judgment of the secretary of state best serves the voters. The pamphlet must contain a table of contents. Measures and arguments must be printed in the order specified by RCW 29A.72.290 . The secretary of state's name may not appear in the voters' pamphlet in an official capacity if the secretary is a candidate for office during the same year. The secretary's name may only be included as part of the information normally included for candidates. The voters' pamphlet must provide the following information for each statewide issue on the ballot: (1) The legal identification of the measure by serial designation or number; (2) The official ballot title of the measure; (3) A statement prepared by the attorney general explaining the law as it presently exists; (4) A statement prepared by the attorney general explaining the effect of the proposed measure if it becomes law; (5) The fiscal impact statement prepared under RCW 29A.72.025 ; (6) The total number of votes cast for and against the measure in the senate and house of representatives, if the measure has been passed by the legislature; (7) An argument advocating the voters' approval of the measure together with any statement in rebuttal of the opposing argument; (8) An argument advocating the voters' rejection of the measure together with any statement in rebuttal of the opposing argument; (9) Each argument or rebuttal statement must be followed by the names of the committee members who submitted them, and may be followed by a telephone number that citizens may call to obtain information on the ballot measure; (10) The full text of the measure.
RCW 29B.10.430 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 430
RCW 29B.10.430: Primary.
Status: in_force

"Primary," for the purposes of RCW 29B.40.020 , means the procedure for nominating a candidate to state or local office under chapter 29A.52 RCW or any other primary for an election that uses, in large measure, the procedures established in chapter 29A.52 RCW.
RCW 29B.10.220 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 220
RCW 29B.10.220: Electioneering communication.
Status: in_force

(1) "Electioneering communication" means any broadcast, cable, or satellite television, radio transmission, digital communication, United States postal service mailing, billboard, newspaper, or periodical that: (a) Clearly identifies a candidate for a state, local, or judicial office either by specifically naming the candidate, or identifying the candidate without using the candidate's name; (b) Is broadcast, transmitted electronically or by other means, mailed, erected, distributed, or otherwise published within 60 days before any election for that office in the jurisdiction in which the candidate is seeking election; and (c) Either alone, or in combination with one or more communications identifying the candidate by the same sponsor during the 60 days before an election, has a fair market value or cost of $1,000 or more. (2) "Electioneering communication" does not include: (a) Usual and customary advertising of a business owned by a candidate, even if the candidate is mentioned in the advertising when the candidate has been regularly mentioned in that advertising appearing at least 12 months preceding the candidate becoming a candidate; (b) Advertising for candidate debates or forums when the advertising is paid for by or on behalf of the debate or forum sponsor, so long as two or more candidates for the same position have been invited to participate in the debate or forum; (c) A news item, feature, commentary, or editorial in a regularly scheduled news medium that is: (i) Of interest to the public; (ii) In a news medium controlled by a person whose business is that news medium; and (iii) Not a medium controlled by a candidate or a political or incidental committee; (d) Slate cards and sample ballots; (e) Advertising for books, films, dissertations, or similar works (i) written by a candidate when the candidate entered into a contract for such publications or media at least 12 months before becoming a candidate, or (ii) written about a candidate; (f) Public service announcements; (g) An internal political communication primarily limited to the members of or contributors to a political party organization or political or incidental committee, or to the officers, management staff, or stockholders of a corporation or similar enterprise, or to the members of a labor organization or other membership organization; (h) An expenditure by or contribution to the authorized committee of a candidate for state, local, or judicial office; or (i) Any other communication exempted by the commission through rule consistent with the intent of this title.
RCW 29A.52.231 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 52 / Section 231
RCW 29A.52.231: Nonpartisan offices specified.
Status: in_force

The offices of superintendent of public instruction, justice of the supreme court, judge of the court of appeals, judge of the superior court, and judge of the district court shall be nonpartisan and the candidates therefor shall be nominated and elected as such. All city, town, and special purpose district elective offices shall be nonpartisan and the candidates therefor shall be nominated and elected as such.
RCW 29B.25.060 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 25 / Section 060
RCW 29B.25.060: Deposit of contributions—Investment—Unidentified contributions.
Status: in_force

(1) All monetary contributions received by a candidate or political committee shall be deposited by candidates, political committee members, paid staff, or treasurers in a depository in an account established and designated for that purpose. Such deposits shall be made within five business days of receipt of the contribution. For online or credit card contributions, the contribution is considered received at the time the transfer is made from the merchant account to a candidate or political committee account, except that a contribution made to a candidate who is a state official or legislator outside the restriction period established in RCW 29B.45.020 , but transferred to the candidate's account within the restricted period, is considered received outside of the restriction period. (2) Political committees that support or oppose more than one candidate or ballot proposition, or exist for more than one purpose, may maintain multiple separate bank accounts within the same designated depository for such purpose only if: (a) Each such account bears the same name; (b) Each such account is followed by an appropriate designation that accurately identifies its separate purpose; and (c) Transfers of funds that must be reported under RCW 29B.25.100 (6) are not made from more than one such account. (3) Nothing in this section prohibits a candidate or political committee from investing funds on hand in a depository in bonds, certificates, or tax-exempt securities, or in savings accounts or other similar instruments in financial institutions, or in mutual funds other than the depository but only if: (a) The commission is notified in writing of the initiation and the termination of the investment; and (b) The principal of such investment, when terminated together with all interest, dividends, and income derived from the investment, is deposited in the depository in the account from which the investment was made and properly reported to the commission before any further disposition or expenditure. (4) Accumulated unidentified contributions, other than those made by persons whose names must be maintained on a separate and private list by a political committee's treasurer pursuant to RCW 29B.25.100 (2), in excess of one percent of the total accumulated contributions received in the current calendar year, or three hundred dollars, whichever is more, may not be deposited, used, or expended, but shall be returned to the donor if his or her identity can be ascertained. If the donor cannot be ascertained, the contribution shall escheat to the state and shall be paid to the state treasurer for deposit in the state general fund.
RCW 29A.04.260 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 260
RCW 29A.04.260: Exemptions from disclosure—In-person inspection.
Status: in_force

(1) In accordance with RCW 42.56.420 , the following are exempt from disclosure: (a) Voter signatures on ballot return envelopes, ballot declarations, and signature correction forms, including the original documents, copies, and electronic images; and (b) A voter's phone number and email address contained on ballot return envelopes, ballot declarations, or signature correction forms. (2) The secretary of state may, by rule, authorize in-person inspection of unredacted ballot return envelopes, ballot declarations, and signature correction forms. Except as provided under subsection (3) of this section, a person may not photocopy, photograph, or otherwise reproduce an image of the ballot return envelope, ballot declaration, or signature correction form. When inspecting a ballot return envelope, ballot declaration, or signature correction form in person, a person may not carry with them any materials or devices that could be used to record any voter information found on the ballot return envelope, ballot declaration, or signature correction form. (3) Nothing in this section or *RCW 42.56.420 (7)(a)(iii) prevents disclosure of any information on ballot return envelopes, ballot declarations, or signature correction forms, other than a voter's signature, phone numbers, and email addresses. Nothing in this section prevents election officials from disclosing information listed in subsection (1) of this section for official purposes. The secretary of state may adopt rules identifying official purposes for which a voter's signature, phone numbers, and email addresses may be disclosed. (4) For purposes of this section, "signature correction form" means any form submitted by a voter for the purpose of curing a missing or mismatched signature on a ballot declaration or otherwise updating the voter signature.
RCW 29A.24.072 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 24 / Section 072
RCW 29A.24.072: Preservation of declarations of candidacy.
Status: in_force

The secretary of state and each county auditor shall preserve all declarations of candidacy filed in their respective offices for six months. All declarations of candidacy must be open to public inspection.
RCW 29A.60.140 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 60 / Section 140
RCW 29A.60.140: Canvassing board—Membership—Authority—Delegation of authority—Rule making.
Status: in_force

(1) Members of the county canvassing board are the county auditor, who is the chair, the county prosecuting attorney, and the chair of the county legislative body. If a member of the board is not available to carry out the duties of the board, then the auditor may designate a deputy auditor, the prosecutor may designate a deputy prosecuting attorney, and the chair of the county legislative body may designate another member of the county legislative body or, in a county with a population over one million, an employee of the legislative body who reports directly to the chair. An "employee of the legislative body" means an individual who serves in any of the following positions: Chief of staff; legal counsel; clerk of the council; policy staff director; and any successor positions to these positions should these original positions be changed. Any such designation may be made on an election-by-election basis or may be on a permanent basis until revoked by the designating authority. Any such designation must be in writing, and if for a specific election, must be filed with the county auditor not later than the day before the first day duties are to be undertaken by the canvassing board. If the designation is permanent until revoked by the designating authority, then the designation must be on file in the county auditor's office no later than the day before the first day the designee is to undertake the duties of the canvassing board. Members of the county canvassing board designated by the county auditor, county prosecuting attorney, or chair of the county legislative body shall complete training as provided in RCW 29A.04.540 and shall take an oath of office similar to that taken by county auditors and deputy auditors in the performance of their duties. (2) The county canvassing board may adopt rules that delegate in writing to the county auditor or the county auditor's staff the performance of any task assigned by law to the canvassing board. (3) The county canvassing board may not delegate the responsibility of certifying the returns of a primary or election, of determining the validity of challenged ballots, or of determining the validity of provisional ballots referred to the board by the county auditor. (4) The county canvassing board shall adopt administrative rules to facilitate and govern the canvassing process in that jurisdiction. (5) Meetings of the county canvassing board are public meetings under chapter 42.30 RCW. Meetings must be conducted at times and locations that are accessible to the public to ensure that the public is informed and able to attend or observe. The time and location of county canvassing board meetings must be published in accordance with chapter 42.30 RCW. All rules adopted by the county canvassing board must be adopted in a public meeting under chapter 42.30 RCW, and once adopted must be available to the public to review and copy under chapter 42.56 RCW.
RCW 29B.10.250 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 250
RCW 29B.10.250: Foreign national.
Status: in_force

"Foreign national" means: (1) An individual who is not a citizen of the United States and is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence; (2) A government, or subdivision, of a foreign country; (3) A foreign political party; and (4) Any entity, such as a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons, that is organized under the laws of or has its principal place of business in a foreign country.
RCW 29A.28.061 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 28 / Section 061
RCW 29A.28.061: Congress—General, primary election laws to apply—Time deadlines, modifications.
Status: in_force

The general election laws and laws relating to partisan primaries shall apply to the special primaries and vacancy elections provided for in chapter 29A.28 RCW to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the provisions of these sections. Statutory time deadlines relating to availability of ballots, certification, canvassing, and related procedures that cannot be met in a timely fashion may be modified for the purposes of a specific primary or vacancy election under this chapter by the secretary of state through emergency rules adopted under RCW 29A.04.611 .
RCW 29A.24.095 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 24 / Section 095
RCW 29A.24.095: Distribution of filing fees.
Status: in_force

Fees paid when filing for office must be collected by the filing officer and distributed as follows: (1) When the candidacy is for a statewide office, the United States senate, the United States house of representatives, or the state supreme court, the fee shall be retained by the secretary of state; (2) When the candidacy is for a Washington state legislative, state court of appeals, or a superior court judicial office, the fees shall be distributed to the office of the county auditor or auditors whose counties comprise the district. When the district includes multiple counties, the distribution must be an equal division between the counties comprising the district; (3) When the candidacy is for a city or town office, the county auditor shall transmit fees to the city or town clerk for deposit in the city or town treasury; and (4) When the candidacy is for any other office, the fees shall be retained by the office of the filing officer.
RCW 29B.10.110 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 110
RCW 29B.10.110: Commercial advertiser.
Status: in_force

"Commercial advertiser" means any person that sells the service of communicating messages or producing material for broadcast or distribution to the general public or segments of the general public whether through brochures, fliers, newspapers, magazines, television, radio, billboards, direct mail advertising, printing, paid internet or digital communications, or any other means of mass communication used for the purpose of appealing, directly or indirectly, for votes or for financial or other support in any election campaign.
RCW 29A.56.140 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 140
RCW 29A.56.140: Determination by superior court—Correction of ballot synopsis.
Status: in_force

Within 15 days after receiving the petition, the superior court shall have conducted a hearing on and shall have determined, without cost to any party, (1) whether or not the acts stated in the charge satisfy the criteria for which a recall petition may be filed, and (2) the adequacy of the ballot synopsis. The court shall notify the person subject to recall and the person demanding recall of the hearing date. Both persons may appear with counsel. The court may hear arguments as to the sufficiency of the charges and the adequacy of the ballot synopsis. The court shall not consider the truth of the charges, but only their sufficiency. An appeal of a sufficiency decision shall be filed in the supreme court as specified by RCW 29A.56.270 . The superior court shall correct any ballot synopsis it deems inadequate. Any decision regarding the ballot synopsis by the superior court is final. The clerk shall certify and transmit the ballot synopsis to the officer subject to recall, the person demanding the recall, and either the secretary of state or the county auditor, as appropriate.
RCW 29A.36.010 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 36 / Section 010
RCW 29A.36.010: Certifying primary candidates.
Status: in_force

Not later than the Tuesday following the regular filing period, the secretary of state shall certify to each county auditor a list of the candidates who have filed declarations of candidacy in his or her office for the primary. For each office, the certificate shall include the name of each candidate, his or her address, and his or her party preference, if any, provided on filed declarations.
RCW 29A.56.650 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 650
RCW 29A.56.650: Multiple certificates of nomination.
Status: in_force

(1) If two or more valid certificates of nomination are filed purporting to nominate different candidates for the same position using the same party name, the filing officer must give effect to both certificates. If conflicting claims to the party name are not resolved either by mutual agreement or by a judicial determination of the right to the name, the candidates must be treated as independent candidates. Disputes over the right to the name must not be permitted to delay the printing of either ballots or a voters' pamphlet. Other candidates nominated by the same conventions may continue to use the partisan affiliation unless a court of competent jurisdiction directs otherwise. (2) A person affected may petition the superior court of the county in which the filing officer is located for a judicial determination of the right to the name of a minor political party, either before or after documents are filed with the filing officer. The court shall resolve the conflict between competing claims to the use of the same party name according to the following principles: (a) The prior established public use of the name during previous elections by a party composed of or led by the same individuals or individuals in documented succession; (b) prior established public use of the name earlier in the same election cycle; (c) the nomination of a more complete slate of candidates for a number of offices or in a number of different regions of the state; (d) documented affiliation with a national or statewide party organization with an established use of the name; (e) the first date of filing of a certificate of nomination; and (f) such other indicia of an established right to use of the name as the court may deem relevant. If more than one filing officer is involved, and one of them is the secretary of state, the petition must be filed in the superior court for Thurston county. Upon resolving the conflict between competing claims, the court may also address any ballot designation for the candidate who does not prevail.
RCW 29A.88.020 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 88 / Section 020
RCW 29A.88.020: High-level repository—Selection of site in state—Special election for disapproval.
Status: in_force

(1) Within seven days after any recommendation by the president of the United States of a site in the state of Washington to be a high-level nuclear waste repository under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10136, the governor shall set the date for a special statewide election to vote on disapproval of the selection of such site. The special election shall be held not less than forty-five nor more than ninety days after the date of the recommendation of the president of the United States. (2) If either the governor or the legislature submits a notice of disapproval to the United States Congress within twenty-one days of the date of the recommendation by the president of the United States, then the governor is authorized to cancel the special election pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.
RCW 29A.24.171 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 24 / Section 171
RCW 29A.24.171: Vacancies in office.
Status: in_force

(1) If, prior to the first day of the regular filing period, a vacancy occurs in an office that is not scheduled to appear on the general election ballot, leaving an unexpired term for which a successor must be elected at the next general election, filings for that office shall be accepted during the regular filing period. The filing officer shall provide notice of the vacancy and filing period to newspapers, radio, and television in the county, and online. The position shall appear on the primary and general election ballots unless no primary is required or unless a candidate for superior court judge is entitled to a certificate of election pursuant to Article 4 [IV], section 29 of the state Constitution. (2) If, on the first day of the regular filing period or later, a vacancy occurs in an office that is not scheduled to appear on the general election ballot, leaving an unexpired term, the election of the successor shall occur at the next succeeding general election that the office is allowed by law to have an election.
RCW 29A.56.090 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 090
RCW 29A.56.090: Voting by electors.
Status: in_force

(1) At the time designated for elector voting and after all vacant positions have been filled under RCW 29A.56.088 , the secretary of state shall provide each elector with a presidential and a vice presidential ballot. The elector shall mark the elector's presidential and vice presidential ballots with the elector's votes for the offices of president and vice president, respectively, along with the elector's signature and the elector's legibly printed name. (2) Except as otherwise provided by law of this state other than RCW 29A.56.080 through 29A.56.092 , each elector shall present both completed ballots to the secretary of state, who shall examine the ballots and accept as cast all ballots of electors whose votes are consistent with their pledges executed under RCW 29A.56.084 or 29A.56.088 (3). Except as otherwise provided by law of this state other than RCW 29A.56.080 through 29A.56.092 , the secretary of state may not accept and may not count either an elector's presidential or vice presidential ballot if the elector has not marked both ballots or has marked a ballot in violation of the elector's pledge. (3) An elector who refuses to present a ballot, presents an unmarked ballot, or presents a ballot marked in violation of the elector's pledge executed under RCW 29A.56.084 or 29A.56.088 (3) vacates the office of elector, creating a vacant position to be filled under RCW 29A.56.088 . (4) The secretary of state shall distribute ballots to and collect ballots from a substitute elector and repeat the process under this section of examining ballots, declaring and filling vacant positions as required, and recording appropriately completed ballots from the substituted electors, until all of this state's electoral votes have been cast and recorded.
RCW 29B.30.100 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 30 / Section 100
RCW 29B.30.100: Top five contributors to political advertisement.
Status: in_force

(1) For any requirement to include the top five contributors under RCW 29B.30.050 or any other provision of this title, the sponsor must identify the five persons or entities making the largest contributions to the sponsor in excess of the threshold aggregate value to be considered an independent expenditure in an election for public office under RCW 29B.10.310 (1)(d) reportable under this title during the 12-month period preceding the date on which the advertisement is initially to be published or otherwise presented to the public. (2) If one or more of the top five contributors identified under subsection (1) of this section is a political committee, the top three contributors to each of those political committees during the same period must then be identified, and so on, until the individuals or entities other than political committees with the largest aggregate contributions to each political committee identified under subsection (1) of this section have also been identified. The sponsor must identify the three individuals or entities, not including political committees, who made the largest aggregate contributions to any political committee identified under subsection (1) of this section in excess of the threshold aggregate value to be considered an independent expenditure in an election for public office under RCW 29B.10.310 (1)(d) reportable under this title during the same period, and the names of those individuals or entities must be displayed in the advertisement alongside the statement "Top Three Donors to PAC Contributors." (3) Contributions to the sponsor or a political committee that are earmarked, tracked, and used for purposes other than the advertisement in question should not be counted in identifying the top five contributors under subsection (1) of this section or the top three contributors under subsection (2) of this section. (4) The sponsor shall not be liable for a violation of this section that occurs because a contribution to any political committee identified under subsection (1) of this section has not been reported to the commission. (5) The commission is authorized to adopt rules, as needed, to prevent ways to circumvent the purposes of the required disclosures in this section to inform voters about the individuals and entities sponsoring political advertisements.
RCW 29A.84.610 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 84 / Section 610
RCW 29A.84.610: Deceptive, incorrect vote recording—Misrepresentation as official ballot drop box.
Status: in_force

A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who knowingly: (1) Deceives any voter in recording his or her vote by providing incorrect or misleading recording information or by providing faulty election equipment or records; (2) Records the vote of any voter in a manner other than as designated by the voter; or (3) Misrepresents an unofficial ballot collection site or device as an official ballot drop box that has been established by the county auditor. Such a gross misdemeanor is punishable to the same extent as a gross misdemeanor that is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021 .
RCW 29B.40.160 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 40 / Section 160
RCW 29B.40.160: Attribution of contributions generally—"Earmarking."
Status: in_force

All contributions made by a person or entity, either directly or indirectly, to a candidate, to a state official against whom recall charges have been filed, or to a political committee, are considered to be contributions from that person or entity to the candidate, state official, or political committee, as are contributions that are in any way earmarked or otherwise directed through an intermediary or conduit to the candidate, state official, or political committee. For the purposes of this section, "earmarked" means a designation, instruction, or encumbrance, whether direct or indirect, expressed or implied, or oral or written, that is intended to result in or does result in all or any part of a contribution being made to a certain candidate or state official. If a conduit or intermediary exercises any direction or control over the choice of the recipient candidate or state official, the contribution is considered to be by both the original contributor and the conduit or intermediary.
RCW 29A.04.205 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 205
RCW 29A.04.205: State policy.
Status: in_force

It is the policy of the state of Washington to encourage every eligible person to register to vote and to participate fully in all elections, and to protect the integrity of the electoral process by providing equal access to the process while guarding against discrimination and fraud. The election registration laws and the voting laws of the state of Washington must be administered without discrimination based upon race, creed, color, national origin, sex, or political affiliation.
RCW 29B.55.030 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 55 / Section 030
RCW 29B.55.030: Statement of financial affairs—Contents.
Status: in_force

(1) The statement of financial affairs required by RCW 29B.55.010 shall disclose the following information for the reporting individual and each member of the reporting individual's immediate family: (a) Occupation, name of employer, and business address; (b) Each bank account, savings account, and insurance policy in which a direct financial interest was held that exceeds *twenty thousand dollars at any time during the reporting period; each other item of intangible personal property in which a direct financial interest was held that exceeds *two thousand dollars during the reporting period; the name, address, and nature of the entity; and the nature and highest value of each direct financial interest during the reporting period; (c) The name and address of each creditor to whom the value of *two thousand dollars or more was owed; the original amount of each debt to each creditor; the amount of each debt owed to each creditor as of the date of filing; the terms of repayment of each debt; and the security given, if any, for each such debt. Debts arising from a "retail installment transaction" as defined in chapter 63.14 RCW (retail installment sales act) need not be reported; (d) Every public or private office, directorship, and position held as trustee; except that an elected official or executive state officer need not report the elected official's or executive state officer's service on a governmental board, commission, association, or functional equivalent, when such service is part of the elected official's or executive state officer's official duties; (e) All persons for whom any legislation, rule, rate, or standard has been prepared, promoted, or opposed for current or deferred compensation. For the purposes of this subsection, "compensation" does not include payments made to the person reporting by the governmental entity for which the person serves as an elected official or state executive officer or professional staff member for the person's service in office; the description of such actual or proposed legislation, rules, rates, or standards; and the amount of current or deferred compensation paid or promised to be paid; (f) The name and address of each governmental entity, corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, association, union, or other business or commercial entity from whom compensation has been received in any form of a total value of *two thousand dollars or more; the value of the compensation; and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation; (g) The name of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, union, or other entity in which is held any office, directorship, or any general partnership interest, or an ownership interest of ten percent or more; the name or title of that office, directorship, or partnership; the nature of ownership interest; and: (i) With respect to a governmental unit in which the official seeks or holds any office or position, if the entity has received compensation in any form during the preceding twelve months from the governmental unit, the value of the compensation and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation; and (ii) the name of each governmental unit, corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, association, union, or other business or commercial entity from which the entity has received compensation in any form in the amount of *ten thousand dollars or more during the preceding twelve months and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation. As used in (g)(ii) of this subsection, "compensation" does not include payment for water and other utility services at rates approved by the Washington state utilities and transportation commission or the legislative authority of the public entity providing the service. With respect to any bank or commercial lending institution in which is held any office, directorship, partnership interest, or ownership interest, it shall only be necessary to report either the name, address, and occupation of every director and officer of the bank or commercial lending institution and the average monthly balance of each account held during the preceding twelve months by the bank or commercial lending institution from the governmental entity for which the individual is an official or candidate or professional staff member, or all interest paid by a borrower on loans from and all interest paid to a depositor by the bank or commercial lending institution if the interest exceeds *two thousand four hundred dollars; (h) A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds *ten thousand dollars in which any direct financial interest was acquired during the preceding calendar year, and a statement of the amount and nature of the financial interest and of the consideration given in exchange for that interest; (i) A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds *ten thousand dollars in which any direct financial interest was divested during the preceding calendar year, and a statement of the amount and nature of the consideration received in exchange for that interest, and the name and address of the person furnishing the consideration; (j) A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds *ten thousand dollars in which a direct financial interest was held. If a description of the property has been included in a report previously filed, the property may be listed, for purposes of this subsection (1)(j), by reference to the previously filed report; (k) A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds *twenty thousand dollars, in which a corporation, partnership, firm, enterprise, or other entity had a direct financial interest, in which corporation, partnership, firm, or enterprise a ten percent or greater ownership interest was held; (l) A list of each occasion, specifying date, donor, and amount, at which food and beverage in excess of $100 was accepted under RCW 42.52.150 (7); (m) A list of each occasion, specifying date, donor, and amount, at which items specified in RCW 42.52.150 (1)(c) (iv) and (vi) were accepted; and (n) Such other information as the commission may deem necessary in order to properly carry out the purposes and policies of this title, as the commission shall prescribe by rule. (2)(a) When judges, prosecutors, sheriffs, participants in the address confidentiality program under RCW 40.24.030 , or their immediate family members are required to disclose real property that is the personal residence of the judge, prosecutor, sheriff, or address confidentiality program participant, the requirements of subsection (1)(h) through (k) of this section may be satisfied for that property by substituting: (i) The city or town; (ii) The type of residence, such as a single-family or multifamily residence, and the nature of ownership; and (iii) Such other identifying information the commission prescribes by rule for the mailing address where the property is located. (b) Nothing in this subsection relieves the judge, prosecutor, or sheriff of any other applicable obligations to disclose potential conflicts or to recuse oneself. (3)(a) Where an amount is required to be reported under subsection (1)(a) through (m) of this section, it may be reported within a range as provided in (b) of this subsection. (b) Code A Less than thirty thousand dollars; Code B At least thirty thousand dollars, but less than sixty thousand dollars; Code C At least sixty thousand dollars, but less than one hundred thousand dollars; Code D At least one hundred thousand dollars, but less than two hundred thousand dollars; Code E At least two hundred thousand dollars, but less than five hundred thousand dollars; Code F At least five hundred thousand dollars, but less than seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars; Code G At least seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, but less than one million dollars; or Code H One million dollars or more. (c) An amount of stock may be reported by number of shares instead of by market value. No provision of this subsection may be interpreted to prevent any person from filing more information or more detailed information than required. (4) Items of value given to an official's or employee's spouse, domestic partner, or family member are attributable to the official or employee, except the item is not attributable if an independent business, family, or social relationship exists between the donor and the spouse, domestic partner, or family member.
RCW 29B.10.360 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 360
RCW 29B.10.360: Lobbyist.
Status: in_force

"Lobbyist" includes any person who lobbies either on the person's own or another's behalf.
RCW 29A.60.010 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 60 / Section 010
RCW 29A.60.010: Conduct of elections—Canvass.
Status: in_force

All elections, whether special or general, held under RCW 29A.04.321 and 29A.04.330 must be conducted by the county auditor as ex officio county supervisor of elections and, except as provided in RCW 29A.60.240 , the returns canvassed by the county canvassing board.
RCW 29A.60.120 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 60 / Section 120
RCW 29A.60.120: Counting ballots—Official returns.
Status: in_force

(1) All voted ballots must be manually inspected for damage, write-in votes, and incorrect or incomplete marks. If it is found that any ballot is damaged so that it cannot properly be counted by the vote tallying system, a true duplicate copy must be made of the damaged ballot in the presence of witnesses and substituted for the damaged ballot. All damaged ballots must be kept by the county auditor until sixty days after the primary or election or according to federal law, whichever is longer. (2) The returns produced by the vote tallying system, to which have been added the counts of questioned ballots, and write-in votes, constitute the official returns of the primary or election in that county.
RCW 29A.56.540 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 540
RCW 29A.56.540: Federal statutes controlling.
Status: in_force

If a congressional measure, which submits to the several states an amendment to the Constitution of the United States for ratification or rejection, provides for or requires a different method of calling and holding conventions to ratify or reject said amendment, the requirements of said congressional measure shall be followed so far as they conflict with the provisions of this chapter.
RCW 29A.56.660 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 660
RCW 29A.56.660: Presidential electors—Selection at convention.
Status: in_force

A minor political party or independent candidate convention nominating candidates for the offices of president and vice president of the United States shall, not later than ten days after the adjournment of the convention, submit a list of presidential electors to the office of the secretary of state. The list shall contain the names and the mailing addresses of the persons selected and shall be verified by the presiding officer of the convention.
RCW 29A.52.210 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 52 / Section 210
RCW 29A.52.210: Local primaries.
Status: in_force

All city and town primaries shall be nonpartisan. Primaries for special purpose districts, except those districts that require ownership of property within the district as a prerequisite to voting, shall be nonpartisan. City, town, and district primaries shall be held as provided in RCW 29A.04.311 . The purpose of this section is to establish the holding of a primary, subject to the exemptions in RCW 29A.52.220 , as a uniform procedural requirement to the holding of city, town, and district elections. These provisions supersede any and all other statutes, whether general or special in nature, having different election requirements.
RCW 29A.56.086 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 086
RCW 29A.56.086: Certificate of ascertainment.
Status: in_force

In submitting this state's certificate of ascertainment as required by 3 U.S.C. Sec. 6, the governor shall certify this state's electors and state in the certificate that: (1) The electors will serve as electors unless a vacancy occurs in the office of elector before the end of the meeting at which elector votes are cast, in which case a substitute elector will fill the vacancy; and (2) If a substitute elector is appointed to fill a vacancy, the governor will submit an amended certificate of ascertainment stating the names on the final list of this state's electors.
RCW 29A.36.151 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 36 / Section 151
RCW 29A.36.151: Sample ballots.
Status: in_force

Except in each county with a population of one million or more, on or before the fifteenth day before a primary or election, the county auditor shall prepare a sample ballot which shall be made readily available to members of the public. The secretary of state shall adopt rules governing the preparation of sample ballots in counties with a population of one million or more. The rules shall permit, among other alternatives, the preparation of more than one sample ballot by a county with a population of one million or more for a primary or election, each of which lists a portion of the offices and issues to be voted on in that county. The position of precinct committee officer shall be shown on the sample ballot for the primary, but the names of candidates for the individual positions need not be shown.
RCW 29A.52.220 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 52 / Section 220
RCW 29A.52.220: No nonpartisan office primary permitted—Procedure—No primary for the office of commissioner of park and recreation district, office of cemetery district commissioner—Names of candidates.
Status: in_force

(1) No primary may be held for any single position in any nonpartisan office if, after the last day allowed for candidates to withdraw, there are no more than two candidates filed for the position. The county auditor shall as soon as possible notify all the candidates so affected that the office for which they filed will not appear on the primary ballot. (2) No primary may be held for the office of commissioner of a park and recreation district or for the office of cemetery district commissioner. (3) Names of candidates for offices that do not appear on the primary ballot shall be printed upon the general election ballot in the manner specified by RCW 29A.36.131 .
RCW 29A.60.050 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 60 / Section 050
RCW 29A.60.050: Questions on validity of ballot—Rejection—Preservation and return.
Status: in_force

Whenever the counting center personnel have a question about the validity of a ballot or the votes for an office or issue that they are unable to resolve, they shall prepare and sign a concise record of the facts in question or dispute. These ballots shall be delivered to the canvassing board for processing. A ballot is not considered rejected until the canvassing board has rejected the ballot individually, or the ballot was included in a batch or on a report of ballots that was rejected in its entirety by the canvassing board. All ballots shall be preserved in the same manner as valid ballots for that primary or election.
RCW 29A.56.500 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 500
RCW 29A.56.500: Meeting—Organization.
Status: in_force

The convention shall meet at the time and place fixed in the governor's proclamation. The secretary of state shall call it to order, who shall then call the roll of the delegates and preside over the convention until its president is elected. The chief justice of the supreme court shall administer the oath of office to the delegates. As far as practicable, the convention shall proceed under the rules adopted by the last preceding session of the state senate. The convention shall elect a president and a secretary and shall thereafter and thereupon proceed with a publicly recorded voice vote upon the proposition submitted by the Congress of the United States.
RCW 29A.32.080 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 32 / Section 080
RCW 29A.32.080: Amendatory style.
Status: in_force

Statewide ballot measures that amend existing law must be printed in the voters' pamphlet so that language proposed for deletion is enclosed by double parentheses and has a line through it. Proposed new language must be underlined. A statement explaining the deletion and addition of language must appear as follows: "Any language in double parentheses with a line through it is existing state law and will be taken out of the law if this measure is approved by voters. Any underlined language does not appear in current state law but will be added to the law if this measure is approved by voters."
RCW 29A.04.025 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 025
RCW 29A.04.025: County auditor.
Status: in_force

"County auditor" means the county auditor in a noncharter county or the officer, irrespective of title, having the overall responsibility to maintain voter registration and to conduct state and local elections in a charter county.
RCW 29A.60.167 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 60 / Section 167
RCW 29A.60.167: Voter signature verification—Forms.
Status: in_force

The secretary of state shall design forms for voters to use in completing incomplete ballot declarations and forms to be used by voters in updating a voter's signature in the county's registration files in the various languages required of state agencies. The forms must include the oath and warning language used on voter registration forms. Each county auditor shall provide these forms on the auditor's website and in the auditor's office.
RCW 29A.04.220 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 220
RCW 29A.04.220: County auditor—Public notice of availability of services.
Status: in_force

The county auditor shall provide public notice of the availability of registration and voting aids, assistance to elderly and disabled persons, and procedures for voting calculated to reach elderly and disabled persons not later than public notice of the closing of registration for a primary or election.
RCW 29A.56.430 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 430
RCW 29A.56.430: Election of convention delegates—Date.
Status: in_force

The date for holding the election of delegates must be not less than one month nor more than six weeks before the date of holding the convention. If a general election is to be held not more than six months nor less than three months from the date of official notice of submission to the state of the proposed amendment, the governor must fix the date of the general election as the date for the election of delegates to the convention.
RCW 29A.92.070 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 92 / Section 070
RCW 29A.92.070: Voter challenge of electoral system—Good faith effort to remedy—Court approval—Safe harbor—Reimbursement of costs.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1750-S2.SL ) ***

(1) The political subdivision shall work in good faith with the person, organization, or tribe providing the notice to implement a remedy that provides the protected class or classes identified in the notice an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. Such work in good faith to implement a remedy may include, but is not limited to consideration of: (a) Relevant electoral data; (b) relevant demographic data, including the most recent census data available; and (c) any other information that would be relevant to implementing a remedy. (2) If the political subdivision adopts a remedy that takes the notice into account, or adopts the notice's proposed remedy, the political subdivision shall seek a court order acknowledging that the political subdivision's remedy complies with RCW 29A.92.020 and was prompted by a plausible violation. The person who submitted the notice may support or oppose such an order, and may obtain public records to do so. The political subdivision must provide all political, census, and demographic data and any analysis of that data used to develop the remedy in its filings seeking the court order and with any documents made public. All facts and reasonable inferences shall be viewed in the light most favorable to those opposing the political subdivision's proposed remedy at this stage. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the court will decline to approve the political subdivision's proposed remedy at this stage. (3) If the court concludes that the political subdivision's remedy complies with RCW 29A.92.020 , an action under this chapter may not be brought against that political subdivision for four years by any party so long as the political subdivision does not enact a change to or deviation from the remedy during this four-year period that would otherwise give rise to an action under this chapter. (4) In agreeing to adopt the person's, organization's, or tribe's proposed remedy, the political subdivision may do so by stipulation, which shall become a public document. (5)(a) If the court issues an order under subsection (2) of this section, the person, organization, or tribe who sent the notice may make a demand to the political subdivision for reimbursement of the costs incurred in conducting the research necessary to send the notice. A demand made under this subsection must: (i) Be in writing; (ii) Be received by the political subdivision within 30 days of the adoption of the new electoral system; and (iii) Include financial documentation, such as a detailed invoice for demographic services, that supports the demand. The political subdivision may request additional documentation if the documentation provided is insufficient for the political subdivision to corroborate the claimed costs. (b) The political subdivision shall, within 60 days of receiving the demand, reimburse the reasonable costs of the person, organization, or tribe who sent the notice, not to exceed $50,000.
RCW 29A.32.125 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 32 / Section 125
RCW 29A.32.125: Deadline for submission of candidate statements and photographs.
Status: in_force

The secretary may, by rule, set a deadline for submission of candidate statements and photographs for inclusion in the statewide voters' pamphlet. The deadline for submission of candidate statements and photographs must be not sooner than 11 days immediately following the deadline for filing declarations of candidacy under RCW 29A.24.050 .
RCW 29A.24.131 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 24 / Section 131
RCW 29A.24.131: Withdrawal of candidacy.
Status: in_force

A candidate may withdraw the candidate's declaration of candidacy at any time before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday following the last day for candidates to file under RCW 29A.24.050 by filing, with the officer with whom the declaration of candidacy was filed, a signed request that the candidate's name not be printed on the ballot. There shall be no withdrawal period for declarations of candidacy filed during special filing periods held under this title. No filing fee may be refunded to any candidate who withdraws under this section. Notice of the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy and that the filing fee is not refundable shall be given to each candidate at the time the candidate files.
RCW 29B.10.210 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 210
RCW 29B.10.210: Election cycle.
Status: in_force

"Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day of January after the date of the last previous general election for the office that the candidate seeks and ending on December 31st after the next election for the office. In the case of a special election to fill a vacancy in an office, "election cycle" means the period beginning on the day the vacancy occurs and ending on December 31st after the special election.
RCW 29A.04.010 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 010
RCW 29A.04.010: By mail.
Status: in_force

"By mail" means delivery of a completed original voter registration application by mail to a county auditor or the office of the secretary of state.
RCW 29A.05.010 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 05 / Section 010
RCW 29A.05.010: Short title—2017 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 735).
Status: in_force

Chapter 1, Laws of 2017 is known and may be cited as the "government of, by, and for the people act."
RCW 29B.15.010 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 15 / Section 010
RCW 29B.15.010: Electronic filing—Availability.
Status: in_force

(1) For each required report, as technology permits, the commission shall make an electronic reporting tool available to all those who are required to file that report under this title. (2) All persons required to file reports under this title must file them electronically where the commission has provided an electronic option. The executive director may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for persons who lack the technological ability to file reports electronically. (3) If the electronic filing system provided by the commission is inoperable for any period of time, the commission must keep a record of the date and time of each instance and post outages on its website. If a report is due on a day the electronic filing system is inoperable, it is not late if filed the first business day the system is back in operation. The commission must provide notice to all reporting entities when the system is back in operation. (4) All persons required to file reports under this title shall, at the time of initial filing, provide the commission an email address, or other electronic contact information, that shall constitute the official address for purposes of all communications from the commission. The person required to file one or more reports must provide any new electronic contact information to the commission within 10 days, if the address has changed from that listed on the most recent report. Committees must provide the committee treasurer's electronic contact information to the commission. Committees must also provide any new electronic contact information for the committee's treasurer to the commission within 10 days of the change. The executive director may waive the electronic contact information requirement and allow use of a postal address, upon the showing of hardship.
RCW 29A.08.646 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 646
RCW 29A.08.646: Request for updated signature.
Status: in_force

After certification of general, primary, and presidential primary election results, county auditors are encouraged to contact each registered voter to obtain an updated signature for the voter's registration file. Failure to respond to contact from the county auditor under this section shall not impact the voter's registration status. Any contact from a county auditor under this section must clearly state that the voter is not required to provide an updated signature and that providing an updated signature is not a requirement to vote in any future election.
RCW 29A.12.130 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 12 / Section 130
RCW 29A.12.130: Tallying systems—Programming tests.
Status: in_force

At least three days before each state primary or general election, the office of the secretary of state shall provide for the conduct of tests of the programming for each vote tallying system to be used at that primary or general election. The test must verify that the system will correctly count the vote cast for all candidates and on all measures appearing on the ballot at that primary or general election. The test shall verify the capability of the vote tallying system to perform all of the functions that can reasonably be expected to occur during conduct of that particular primary or election. If any error is detected, the cause shall be determined and corrected, and an errorless total shall be produced before the primary or election. Such tests shall be observed by at least one representative from each major political party, if representatives have been appointed by the respective major political parties and are present at the test, and shall be open to candidates, the press, and the public. The county auditor and any political party observers shall certify that the test has been conducted in accordance with this section. Copies of this certification shall be retained by the secretary of state and the county auditor. All programming materials, test results, and test ballots shall be securely sealed until the day of the primary or general election.
RCW 29A.08.010 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 010
RCW 29A.08.010: Minimum information required for voter registration.
Status: in_force

(1) The minimum required information provided on a voter registration application in order to place a voter registration applicant on the voter registration rolls includes: (a) Name; (b) Residential address; (c) Date of birth; (d) A signature attesting to the truth of the information provided on the application; (e) An address where the person receives mail, if different from the residence address; and (f) Affirmation of citizenship which confirms the individual is a United States citizen, in one of the following forms: (i) A check or indication in the box on a voter registration form confirming citizenship; or (ii) Presentation of documents as part of another government transaction confirming citizenship. (2) The residential address provided must identify the actual physical residence of the voter in Washington, as defined in RCW 29A.04.151 , with detail sufficient to allow the voter to be assigned to the proper precinct and to locate the voter to confirm his or her residence for purposes of verifying qualification to vote under Article VI, section 1 of the state Constitution. A residential address may be either a traditional address or a nontraditional address. (a) A traditional address consists of a street number and name, optional apartment number or unit number, and city or town, as assigned by a local government, which serves to identify the parcel or building of residence and the unit if a multiunit residence. (b) A nontraditional address consists of a narrative description of the location of the voter's residence, and may be used when a traditional address has not been assigned or affixed to the voter's residence or when a voter resides on an Indian reservation or Indian lands, pursuant to the conditions in RCW 29A.08.112 . (3) All other information supplied is ancillary and not to be used as grounds for not registering an applicant to vote. (4) Modification of the language of the official Washington state voter registration form by the voter will not be accepted and will cause the rejection of the registrant's application.
RCW 29A.04.031 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 031
RCW 29A.04.031: Date of mailing.
Status: in_force

For registered voters voting by mail, "date of mailing" means the date of the postal cancellation on the envelope in which the ballot is returned to the election official by whom it was issued. For all service and overseas voters, "date of mailing" means the date stated by the voter on the declaration.
RCW 29A.60.110 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 60 / Section 110
RCW 29A.60.110: Ballot containers, sealing, opening.
Status: in_force

(1) Immediately after their tabulation, all ballots counted at a ballot counting center must be sealed in containers that identify the primary or election and be retained for at least sixty days or according to federal law, whichever is longer. (2) In the presence of major party observers who are available, ballots may be removed from the sealed containers at the elections department and consolidated into one sealed container for storage purposes. The containers may only be opened by the canvassing board as part of the canvass, to conduct recounts, to conduct a random check under RCW 29A.60.170 , to conduct an audit under RCW 29A.60.185 , or by order of the superior court in a contest or election dispute. If the canvassing board opens a ballot container, it shall make a full record of the additional tabulation or examination made of the ballots. This record must be added to any other record of the canvassing process in that county.
RCW 29B.45.010 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 45 / Section 010
RCW 29B.45.010: Use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns—Prohibition—Exceptions.
Status: in_force

No elective official nor any employee of his or her office nor any person appointed to or employed by any public office or agency may use or authorize the use of any of the facilities of a public office or agency, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition. Facilities of a public office or agency include, but are not limited to, use of stationery, postage, machines, and equipment, use of employees of the office or agency during working hours, vehicles, office space, publications of the office or agency, and clientele lists of persons served by the office or agency. However, this does not apply to the following activities: (1) Action taken at an open public meeting by members of an elected legislative body or by an elected board, council, or commission of a special purpose district including, but not limited to, fire districts, public hospital districts, library districts, park districts, port districts, public utility districts, school districts, sewer districts, and water districts, to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order, or ordinance, or to support or oppose a ballot proposition so long as (a) any required notice of the meeting includes the title and number of the ballot proposition, and (b) members of the legislative body, members of the board, council, or commission of the special purpose district, or members of the public are afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view; (2) A statement by an elected official in support of or in opposition to any ballot proposition at an open press conference or in response to a specific inquiry; (3) Activities which are part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency; (4) This section does not apply to any person who is a state officer or state employee as defined in RCW 42.52.010 .
RCW 29A.28.050 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 28 / Section 050
RCW 29A.28.050: Congress—Notices of special primary and election.
Status: in_force

After calling a special primary and special vacancy election to fill a vacancy in the United States house of representatives or the United States senate from this state, the governor shall immediately notify the secretary of state who shall, in turn, immediately notify the county auditor of each county wholly or partly within which the vacancy exists. Each county auditor shall publish notices of the special primary and the special vacancy election at least once in any legal newspaper published in the county, as provided by RCW 29A.52.355 .
RCW 29A.80.020 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 80 / Section 020
RCW 29A.80.020: State committee.
Status: in_force

The state committee of each major political party consists of one committeeman and one committeewoman from each county elected by the county central committee at its organization meeting. It must have a chair and vice chair of opposite sexes. This committee shall meet during January of each odd-numbered year for the purpose of organization at a time and place designated by a notice mailed at least one week before the date of the meeting to all new state committeemen and committeewomen by the authorized officers of the retiring committee. At its organizational meeting it shall elect its chair and vice chair, and such officers as its bylaws may provide, and adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations. It may: (1) Call conventions at such time and place and under such circumstances and for such purposes as the call to convention designates. The manner, number, and procedure for selection of state convention delegates is subject to the committee's rules and regulations duly adopted; (2) Provide for the election of delegates to national conventions; (3) Provide for the nomination of presidential electors; and (4) Perform all functions inherent in such an organization. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, the committee may not adopt rules governing the conduct of the actual proceedings at a party state convention.
RCW 29A.60.200 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 60 / Section 200
RCW 29A.60.200: Canvassing procedure—Refusal to certify—Penalty.
Status: in_force

(1) Before canvassing the returns of a primary or election, the chair of the county legislative authority or the chair's designee shall administer an oath to the county auditor or the auditor's designee attesting to the authenticity of the information presented to the canvassing board. This oath must be signed by the county auditor or designee and filed with the returns of the primary or election. (2) The county canvassing board shall proceed to verify the results from the ballots received. The board shall execute a certificate of the results of the primary or election signed by all members of the board or their designees. Failure to certify the returns, if they can be ascertained with reasonable certainty, is a crime under RCW 29A.84.720 . (3) If the county canvassing board refuses to certify the results of the election without cause, the secretary of state may examine the records, ballots, and results of the election and certify the results of the election. This must be completed within two business days after the certification deadline in RCW 29A.60.190 after the refusal of the county canvassing board to certify the results of the election.
RCW 29A.08.135 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 135
RCW 29A.08.135: Updating information.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1916-S.SL ) ***

(1) When a person who has previously registered to vote in another state applies for voter registration in Washington, the person shall provide on the registration form all information needed to cancel any previous registration. Notification must be made to the state elections office of the applicant's previous state of registration. (2) A county auditor receiving official information that a voter has registered to vote in another state shall immediately cancel that voter's registration on the official state voter registration list.
RCW 29B.40.130 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 40 / Section 130
RCW 29B.40.130: Personal use of contributions—When permitted.
Status: in_force

Contributions received and reported in accordance with RCW 29B.25.060 through 29B.25.100 and 29B.40.080 may only be paid to a candidate, or a treasurer or other individual or expended for such individual's personal use under the following circumstances: (1) Reimbursement for or payments to cover lost earnings incurred as a result of campaigning or services performed for the political committee. Lost earnings shall be verifiable as unpaid salary, or when the individual is not salaried, as an amount not to exceed income received by the individual for services rendered during an appropriate, corresponding time period. All lost earnings incurred shall be documented and a record shall be maintained by the candidate or the candidate's authorized committee in accordance with RCW 29B.25.090 . (2) Reimbursement for direct out-of-pocket election campaign and postelection campaign related expenses made by the individual. For example, expenses for child care or other direct caregiving responsibilities may be reimbursed if they are incurred directly as a result of the candidate's campaign activities. To receive reimbursement from the political committee, the individual shall provide the political committee with written documentation as to the amount, date, and description of each expense, and the political committee shall include a copy of such information when its expenditure for such reimbursement is reported pursuant to RCW 29B.25.100 . (3) Repayment of loans made by the individual to political committees shall be reported pursuant to RCW 29B.25.100 . However, contributions may not be used to reimburse a candidate for loans totaling more than *four thousand seven hundred dollars made by the candidate to the candidate's own authorized committee.
RCW 29B.50.080 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 50 / Section 080
RCW 29B.50.080: Reports by employers of registered lobbyists, other persons.
Status: in_force

(1) Every employer of a lobbyist registered under this title during the preceding calendar year and every person other than an individual who made contributions aggregating to more than *sixteen thousand dollars or independent expenditures aggregating to more than *eight hundred dollars during the preceding calendar year shall file with the commission on or before the last day of February of each year a statement disclosing for the preceding calendar year the following information: (a) The name of each state elected official and the name of each candidate for state office who was elected to the office and any member of the immediate family of those persons to whom the person reporting has paid any compensation in the amount of eight hundred dollars or more during the preceding calendar year for personal employment or professional services, including professional services rendered by a corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, union, or other entity in which the person holds any office, directorship, or any general partnership interest, or an ownership interest of 10 percent or more, the value of the compensation in accordance with the reporting provisions set out in RCW 29B.55.030 (3), and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation. (b) The name of each state elected official, successful candidate for state office, or members of the official's or candidate's immediate family to whom the person reporting made expenditures, directly or indirectly, either through a lobbyist or otherwise, the amount of the expenditures and the purpose for the expenditures. For the purposes of this subsection, "expenditure" shall not include any expenditure made by the employer in the ordinary course of business if the expenditure is not made for the purpose of influencing, honoring, or benefiting the elected official, successful candidate, or member of his immediate family, as an elected official or candidate. (c) The total expenditures made by the person reporting for lobbying purposes, whether through or on behalf of a registered lobbyist or otherwise. (d) All contributions made to a political committee supporting or opposing a candidate for state office, or to a political committee supporting or opposing a statewide ballot proposition. Such contributions shall be identified by the name and the address of the recipient and the aggregate amount contributed to each such recipient. (e) The name and address of each registered lobbyist employed by the person reporting and the total expenditures made by the person reporting for each lobbyist for lobbying purposes. (f) The names, offices sought, and party affiliations of candidates for state offices supported or opposed by independent expenditures of the person reporting and the amount of each such expenditure. (g) The identifying proposition number and a brief description of any statewide ballot proposition supported or opposed by expenditures not reported under (d) of this subsection and the amount of each such expenditure. (h) Any other information the commission prescribes by rule. (2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, an employer of a lobbyist registered under this title shall file a special report with the commission if the employer makes a contribution or contributions aggregating more than one hundred dollars in a calendar month to any one of the following: A candidate, elected official, officer or employee of an agency, or political committee. The report shall identify the date and amount of each such contribution and the name of the candidate, elected official, agency officer or employee, or political committee receiving the contribution or to be benefited by the contribution. The report shall be filed on a form prescribed by the commission and shall be filed within 15 days after the last day of the calendar month during which the contribution was made. (b) The provisions of (a) of this subsection do not apply to a contribution that is made through a registered lobbyist and reportable under RCW 29B.40.080 .
RCW 29A.08.260 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 260
RCW 29A.08.260: Production, supply, and distribution.
Status: in_force

(1) All registration applications required under RCW 29A.08.210 and 29A.08.340 shall be produced and furnished by the secretary of state to the county auditors and the department of licensing. (2) The county auditor shall distribute forms by which a person may register to vote by mail and update the address for any previous registration in this state. The county auditor shall keep a supply of voter registration forms in the auditor's office at all times for people and organizations interested in assisting in voter registration, and shall make every effort to make these forms generally available to the public. The county auditor shall provide voter registration forms to city and town clerks, state offices, schools, fire stations, public libraries, and any other locations considered appropriate by the auditor or secretary of state for extending registration opportunities to all areas of the county. After the initial distribution of voter registration forms to a given location, a representative designated by the official in charge of that location shall notify the county auditor of the need for additional voter registration supplies.
RCW 29A.36.180 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 36 / Section 180
RCW 29A.36.180: Disqualified candidates in nonpartisan elections—Special procedures for conduct of election.
Status: in_force

This section applies if a candidate for an elective office of a city, town, or special purpose district would, under this chapter, otherwise qualify to have his or her name printed on the general election ballot for the office, but the candidate has been declared to be unqualified to hold the office by a court of competent jurisdiction. (1) In a case in which a primary is conducted for the office: (a) If ballots for the general election for the office have not been ordered by the county auditor, the candidate who received the third greatest number of votes for the office at the primary shall qualify as a candidate for general election and that candidate's name shall be printed on the ballot for the office in lieu of the name of the disqualified candidate. (b) If general election ballots for the office have been so ordered, votes cast for the disqualified candidate at the general election for the office shall not be counted for that office. (2) In a case in which a primary is not conducted for the office: (a) If ballots for the general election for the office have not been ordered by the county auditor, the name of the disqualified candidate shall not appear on the general election ballot for the office. (b) If general election ballots for the office have been so ordered, votes cast for the disqualified candidate at the general election for the office shall not be counted for that office. (3) If the disqualified candidate is the only candidate to have filed for the office during a regular or special filing period for the office, a void in candidacy for the office exists.
RCW 29A.60.021 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 60 / Section 021
RCW 29A.60.021: Write-in voting—Declaration of candidacy—Counting of vote.
Status: in_force

(1) For any office, except precinct committee officer, at any election or primary, any voter may write in on the ballot the name of any person for an office. Votes must be individually tallied for a candidate who has filed as a write-in candidate for the office in the manner provided by RCW 29A.24.311 as long as the requirements of subsection (6), (7), or (8) of this section are met. No write-in vote for a declared write-in candidate may be rejected due to variation in the form of the name if the canvassing board can determine the person and office for which the voter intended to vote. (2) The total number of write-in votes cast for each office must be recorded and reported with the canvass for the election. (3) A write-in vote for an individual candidate for an office whose name is printed on the ballot for that same office is a valid vote for that candidate as long as the candidate's name is clearly discernible, even if the voter also marked a vote for that candidate such as to otherwise register an overvote. (4) Write-in votes cast for an individual candidate for an office whose name does not appear on the ballot need not be individually tallied unless the candidate has filed a timely declaration of write-in candidacy. (5) In the case of write-in candidates for a statewide office or any office whose jurisdiction encompasses more than one county, write-in votes for an individual candidate must be tallied when the county auditor is notified by the filing officer for that office that a candidate has filed a timely declaration of write-in candidacy. In all other cases, the county auditor determines, in accordance with this section, whether a candidate has filed a timely declaration of write-in candidacy and thus, write-in votes must be individually tallied. The county canvassing board must certify write-in votes including the vote total received by a candidate that has filed a timely declaration of write-in candidacy if the requirements of subsection (6), (7), or (8) of this section are met. Final results must consolidate the vote total associated with each candidate after the canvassing board has reconciled any variation in the spelling of names for those candidates. (6) In a primary, if the name of only a single candidate appears on the ballot for an office, and the total number of write-in votes cast for that office exceeds one percent of the total number of votes cast for that office, the individual write-in votes for each candidate who has filed a timely declaration of write-in candidacy must be canvassed and reported. Otherwise, individual tallying of write-in votes is not required. (7) In a primary, if two or more candidates appear on the ballot for an office and the total number of write-in votes cast for that office exceeds the number of votes cast for the candidate with the second highest number of votes, then the individual write-in votes for each candidate who has filed a timely declaration of write-in candidacy must be canvassed and reported. Otherwise, individual tallying of write-in votes is not required. (8) In a general election, if the total number of write-in votes cast for an office exceeds the number of votes cast for the candidate apparently elected to that office, then the individual write-in votes for each candidate who has filed a timely declaration of write-in candidacy must be canvassed and reported. Otherwise, individual tallying of write-in votes is not required.
RCW 29A.64.011 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 64 / Section 011
RCW 29A.64.011: Application—Requirements—Application of chapter.
Status: in_force

An officer of a political party or any person for whom votes were cast in a primary who did not qualify for the general election may file a written application for a recount of the votes or a portion of the votes cast at that primary for all persons for whom votes were cast for that office. An officer of a political party or any person for whom votes were cast at any election may file a written application for a recount of the votes or a portion of the votes cast at that election for all candidates for election to that office. Any group of five or more registered voters may file a written application for a recount of the votes or a portion of the votes cast upon any question or issue. They shall designate one of the members of the group as chair and shall indicate the voting residence of each member of the group. An application for a recount of the votes cast for an office or on a ballot measure must be filed with the officer with whom filings are made for the jurisdiction. An application for a recount must specify whether the recount will be done manually or by the vote tally system. A recount done by the vote tally system must use programming that recounts and reports only the office or ballot measure in question. The county shall also provide for a test of the logic and accuracy of that program. An application for a recount must be filed within two business days after the county canvassing board or secretary of state has declared the official results of the primary or election for the office or issue for which the recount is requested. This chapter applies to the recounting of votes cast by paper ballots and to the recounting of votes recorded on ballots counted by a vote tally system.
RCW 29A.56.060 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 060
RCW 29A.56.060: Costs.
Status: in_force

Subject to available funds specifically appropriated for this purpose, whenever a presidential primary is held as provided by this chapter, the state of Washington shall assume all costs of holding the primary if it is held alone. If any other election or elections are held at the same time, the state is liable only for a prorated share of the costs. The county auditor shall determine the costs, including the state's prorated share, if applicable, in the same manner as provided under RCW 29A.04.410 and shall file a certified claim with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall include in his or her biennial budget requests sufficient funds to carry out this section. Reimbursements for primary costs must be from appropriations specifically provided by law for that purpose.
RCW 29A.72.270 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 72 / Section 270
RCW 29A.72.270: Alternatives to initiatives to the legislature.
Status: in_force

If the legislature, having rejected a measure submitted to it by initiative petition, proposes a different measure dealing with the same subject, the secretary of state shall give that measure the same number as that borne by the initiative measure followed by the letter "B." Such measure so designated as "Alternative Measure No. . . . . B," together with the ballot title thereof, when ascertained, shall be certified by the secretary of state to the county auditors for printing on the ballots for submission to the voters for their approval or rejection in like manner as initiative measures for submission to the people are certified.
RCW 29A.32.032 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 32 / Section 032
RCW 29A.32.032: Party preference.
Status: in_force

The voters' pamphlet must also contain the political party preference or independent status where a candidate appearing on the ballot has expressed such a preference on his or her declaration of candidacy.
RCW 29A.72.130 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 72 / Section 130
RCW 29A.72.130: Referendum petitions—Form.
Status: in_force

Petitions ordering that acts or parts of acts passed by the legislature be referred to the people at the next ensuing general election, or special election ordered by the legislature, must be substantially in the following form: The warning prescribed by RCW 29A.72.140 ; followed by: PETITION FOR REFERENDUM To the Honorable . . . . . ., Secretary of State of the State of Washington: We, the undersigned citizens and legal voters of the State of Washington, respectfully order and direct that Referendum Measure No. . . . . ., filed to revoke a (or part or parts of a) bill that (concise statement required by RCW 29A.72.050 ) and that was passed by the . . . . . . legislature of the State of Washington at the last regular (special) session of said legislature, shall be referred to the people of the state for their approval or rejection at the regular (special) election to be held on the . . . . day of November, (year); and each of us for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition; I am a legal voter of the State of Washington, in the city (or town) and county written after my name, my residence address is correctly stated, and I have knowingly signed this petition only once. The following declaration must be printed on the reverse side of the petition: I, . . . . . . . . . . . ., swear or affirm under penalty of law that I circulated this sheet of the foregoing petition, and that, to the best of my knowledge, every person who signed this sheet of the foregoing petition knowingly and without any compensation or promise of compensation willingly signed his or her true name and that the information provided therewith is true and correct. I further acknowledge that under chapter 29A.84 RCW, forgery of signatures on this petition constitutes a class C felony, and that offering any consideration or gratuity to any person to induce them to sign a petition is a gross misdemeanor, such violations being punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. RCW 9A.46.020 applies to any conduct constituting harassment against a petition signature gatherer. This penalty does not preclude the victim from seeking any other remedy otherwise available under law. The petition must include a place for each petitioner to sign and print his or her name, and the address, city, and county at which he or she is registered to vote.
RCW 29A.32.031 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 32 / Section 031
RCW 29A.32.031: Contents.
Status: in_force

The voters' pamphlet published or distributed under RCW 29A.32.010 must contain: (1) Information about each ballot measure initiated by or referred to the voters for their approval or rejection as required by RCW 29A.32.070 ; (2) In even-numbered years, statements, if submitted, from candidates for the office of president and vice president of the United States, United States senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, commissioner of public lands, superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner, state senator, state representative, justice of the supreme court, judge of the court of appeals, or judge of the superior court. Candidates may also submit campaign contact information and a photograph not more than five years old in a format that the secretary of state determines to be suitable for reproduction in the voters' pamphlet; (3) In odd-numbered years, statements, if submitted, from candidates for any office listed in subsection (2) of this section that appears on the ballot due to a vacancy. Candidates may also submit campaign contact information and a photograph not more than five years old in a format that the secretary of state determines to be suitable for reproduction in the voters' pamphlet; (4) Contact information for the public disclosure commission established under RCW 42.17A.100 , including the following statement: "For a list of the people and organizations that donated to state and local candidates and ballot measure campaigns, visit www.pdc.wa.gov." The statement must be placed in a prominent position, such as the first two pages of the voters' pamphlet. The secretary of state may substitute such language as is necessary for accuracy and clarity and consistent with the intent of this section; (5) Contact information for major political parties; (6) A brief statement explaining the deletion and addition of language for proposed measures under RCW 29A.32.080 ; (7) A list of all student engagement hubs as designated under RCW 29A.40.180 ; (8) A page providing information about how to access the internet presentation of the information created in RCW 44.48.160 about the state budgets, including a uniform resource locator, a quick response code, and a phone number for the legislative information center. The uniform resource locator and quick response codes will lead the voter to the internet information required in RCW 44.48.160 ; and (9) Any additional information pertaining to elections as may be required by law or in the judgment of the secretary of state is deemed informative to the voters.
RCW 29A.72.070 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 72 / Section 070
RCW 29A.72.070: Ballot title and summary—Notice.
Status: in_force

Upon the filing of the ballot title and summary for a state initiative or referendum measure in the office of secretary of state, the secretary of state shall notify by telephone and by mail, and, if requested, by other electronic means, the person proposing the measure, the prime sponsor of a referendum bill or alternative to an initiative to the legislature, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, and any other individuals who have made written request for such notification of the exact language of the ballot title and summary.
RCW 29B.20.040 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 20 / Section 040
RCW 29B.20.040: Suspension or modification of reporting requirements.
Status: in_force

(1) The commission may suspend or modify any of the reporting requirements of this title if it finds that literal application of this title works a manifestly unreasonable hardship in a particular case and the suspension or modification will not frustrate the purposes of this title. The commission may suspend or modify reporting requirements only to the extent necessary to substantially relieve the hardship and only after a hearing is held and the suspension or modification receives approval. A suspension or modification of the financial affairs reporting requirements in RCW 29B.55.030 may be approved for an elected official's term of office or for up to three years for an executive state officer. If a material change in the applicant's circumstances or relevant information occurs or has occurred, the applicant must request a modification at least one month prior to the next filing deadline rather than at the conclusion of the term. (2) A manifestly unreasonable hardship exists if reporting the name of an entity required to be reported under RCW 29B.55.030 (1)(g)(ii) would be likely to adversely affect the competitive position of any entity in which the person filing the report, or any member of the person's immediate family, holds any office, directorship, general partnership interest, or an ownership interest of 10 percent or more. (3) Requests for reporting modifications may be heard in a brief adjudicative proceeding as set forth in RCW 34.05.482 through 34.05.494 and in accordance with the standards established in this section. The commission, the commission chair acting as presiding officer, or another commissioner appointed by the chair to serve as presiding officer, may preside over a brief adjudicatory proceeding. If a modification is requested by a filer because of a concern for personal safety, the information submitted regarding that safety concern shall not be made public prior to, or at, the hearing on the request. Any information provided or prepared for the modification hearing shall remain exempt from public disclosure under this title and chapter 42.56 RCW to the extent it is determined at the hearing that disclosure of such information would present a personal safety risk to a reasonable person. (4) If the commission, or presiding officer, grants a modification request, the commission or presiding officer may apply the modification retroactively to previously filed reports. In that event, previously reported information of the kind that is no longer being reported is confidential and exempt from public disclosure under this title and chapter 42.56 RCW. (5) Any citizen has standing to bring an action in Thurston county superior court to contest the propriety of any order entered under this section within one year from the date of the entry of the order. (6) The commission shall adopt rules governing the proceedings.
RCW 29B.10.370 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 370
RCW 29B.10.370: Lobbyist's employer.
Status: in_force

"Lobbyist's employer" means the person or persons by whom a lobbyist is employed and all persons by whom the lobbyist is compensated for acting as a lobbyist.
RCW 29A.68.120 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 68 / Section 120
RCW 29A.68.120: Election set aside—Appeal period.
Status: in_force

If an election is set aside by the judgment of the superior court and if no appeal is taken therefrom within ten days, the election of the person challenged or the outcome of the measure challenged, shall be thereby rendered void.
RCW 29B.40.110 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 40 / Section 110
RCW 29B.40.110: Candidates' political committees—Limitations.
Status: in_force

A candidate may not knowingly establish, use, direct, or control more than one political committee for the purpose of supporting that candidate during a particular election campaign. This does not prohibit: (1) In addition to a candidate's having his or her own political committee, the candidate's participation in a political committee established to support a slate of candidates that includes the candidate; or (2) joint fund-raising efforts by candidates when a separate political committee is established for that purpose and all contributions are disbursed to and accounted for on a pro rata basis by the benefiting candidates.
RCW 29A.24.070 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 24 / Section 070
RCW 29A.24.070: Declaration of candidacy—Where filed—Copy to public disclosure commission.
Status: in_force

(1) Declarations of candidacy shall be filed with the following filing officers: (a) The secretary of state for declarations of candidacy for statewide offices, United States senate, United States house of representatives, Washington state legislature, court of appeals, and superior court. The secretary of state shall establish contingency plans, consistent with this subsection, to support candidate filing for state legislative candidates who have not yet filed their declaration of candidacy in the case that a localized or system-wide internet outage or a disruption to the secretary of state's candidate filing website occurs during the two hours immediately preceding the filing deadline. The secretary of state shall immediately process all filings received pursuant to the contingency plan; (b) The county auditor for all other offices. For any nonpartisan office, other than judicial offices and school director in joint districts, where voters from a district comprising more than one county vote upon the candidates, a declaration of candidacy shall be filed with the county auditor of the county in which a majority of the registered voters of the district reside. For school directors in joint school districts, the declaration of candidacy shall be filed with the county auditor of the county designated by the superintendent of public instruction as the county to which the joint school district is considered as belonging under RCW 28A.323.040 . (2) Each official with whom declarations of candidacy are filed under this section, within one business day following the closing of the applicable filing period, shall transmit to the public disclosure commission the information required in RCW 29A.24.031 (1) through (4) for each declaration of candidacy filed with the official's office during such filing period or a list containing the name of each candidate who files such a declaration with the official's office during such filing period together with a precise identification of the position sought by each such candidate and the date on which each such declaration was filed. Such official, within three days following the receipt of any letter withdrawing a person's name as a candidate, shall also forward a copy of such withdrawal letter to the public disclosure commission.
RCW 29A.40.180 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 40 / Section 180
RCW 29A.40.180: Student engagement hubs.
Status: in_force

(1) Each state university, regional university, and The Evergreen State College as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 and each higher education campus as defined in RCW 28B.45.012 shall open a nonpartisan student engagement hub on its campus. The student engagement hub may be open during business hours beginning eight days before, and ending at 8:00 p.m. on the day of, the general election. All student engagement hubs must allow students to download their exact ballot from an online portal. Upon request of the student government organization to the administration and the county auditor, the student engagement hub at a state university, regional university, or The Evergreen State College as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 must allow voters to register in person pursuant to RCW 29A.08.140 (1)(b) and provide voter registration materials and ballots. (2) Each institution shall contract with the county auditor for the operation of a student engagement hub under this section. (3) Student engagement hubs are not voting centers as outlined in RCW 29A.40.160 and must be operated in a manner that avoids partisan influence or electioneering.
RCW 29A.72.180 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 72 / Section 180
RCW 29A.72.180: Petitions—Review of refusal to file.
Status: in_force

If the secretary of state refuses to file an initiative or referendum petition when submitted for filing, the persons submitting it for filing may, within ten days after the refusal, apply to the superior court of Thurston county for an order requiring the secretary of state to bring the petitions before the court, and for a writ of mandate to compel the secretary of state to file it. The application takes precedence over other cases and matters and must be speedily heard and determined. If the court issues the citation, and determines that the petition is legal in form and apparently contains the requisite number of signatures and was submitted for filing within the time prescribed in the Constitution, it shall issue its mandate requiring the secretary of state to file it as of the date of submission for filing. The decision of the superior court granting a writ of mandate is final.
RCW 29A.60.270 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 60 / Section 270
RCW 29A.60.270: Local officers, beginning of terms—Organization of district boards of directors.
Status: in_force

The term of every city, town, and district officer elected to office on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of the odd-numbered years begins in accordance with *RCW 29A.20.040 . However, a person elected to less than a full term shall assume office as soon as the election returns have been certified and he or she is qualified in accordance with RCW 29A.04.133 . Each board of directors of every district shall be organized at the first meeting held after one or more newly elected directors take office.
RCW 29A.64.061 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 64 / Section 061
RCW 29A.64.061: Amended abstracts.
Status: in_force

(1) Upon completion of the canvass of a recount, the canvassing board shall prepare and certify an amended abstract showing the votes cast in each precinct for which the recount was conducted. Copies of the amended abstracts must be transmitted to the same officers who received the abstract on which the recount was based. (2) If the office or issue for which the recount was conducted was filed with the county auditor, the canvassing board shall file the amended abstract with the original results of that election or primary. (3) If the office or issue for which a recount was conducted was filed with the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall canvass the amended abstracts and shall file an amended abstract with the original results of that election. The secretary of state may require that the amended abstracts be certified by each canvassing board on a uniform date. (4) An amended abstract certified under this section supersedes any prior abstract of the results for the same offices or issues at the same primary or election.
RCW 29A.56.310 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 310
RCW 29A.56.310: Date of election—Number.
Status: in_force

On the Tuesday after the first Monday of November in the year in which a president of the United States is to be elected, there shall be elected as many electors of president and vice president of the United States as there are senators and representatives in Congress allotted to this state.
RCW 29A.05.040 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 05 / Section 040
RCW 29A.05.040: Joint resolution for amendment to United States Constitution.
Status: in_force

The voters of the state of Washington urge immediate action by the current and future Washington state congressional delegations to propose a joint resolution for an amendment to the Constitution of the United States clarifying that: (1) The rights listed and acknowledged in the Constitution of the United States are the rights of individual human beings only. (2) The judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to be free speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Federal, state, and local governments shall be fully empowered to regulate political contributions and expenditures to ensure that no person or artificial legal entity gains undue influence over government and the political process. (3) All political contributions and expenditures shall be disclosed promptly and in a manner accessible to voters prior to elections. (4) Chapter 1, Laws of 2017 does not limit the people's rights to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, or freedom of association.
RCW 29B.10.010 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 010
RCW 29B.10.010: Scope of definitions.
Status: in_force

Words and phrases as defined in this chapter, wherever used in this title, shall have the meaning as in this chapter ascribed to them, unless where used the context thereof shall clearly indicate to the contrary or unless otherwise defined in the chapter of which they are a part.
RCW 29A.36.220 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 36 / Section 220
RCW 29A.36.220: Expense of printing and mailing ballots, envelopes, and instructions.
Status: in_force

The cost of printing and mailing ballots, envelopes, and instructions shall be an election cost that shall be borne as determined under RCW 29A.04.410 and 29A.04.420 , as appropriate.
RCW 29A.04.321 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 321
RCW 29A.04.321: State and local general elections—Statewide general election—Exceptions—Special county elections.
Status: in_force

(1) All state, county, city, town, and district general elections for the election of federal, state, legislative, judicial, county, city, town, and district officers, and for the submission to the voters of the state, county, city, town, or district of any measure for their adoption and approval or rejection, shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, in the year in which they may be called. A statewide general election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November of each year. However, the statewide general election held in odd-numbered years shall be limited to (a) city, town, and district general elections as provided for in RCW 29A.04.330 , or as otherwise provided by law; (b) the election of federal officers for the remainder of any unexpired terms in the membership of either branch of the Congress of the United States; (c) the election of state and county officers for the remainder of any unexpired terms of offices created by or whose duties are described in Article II, section 15, Article III, sections 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, and Article IV, sections 3 and 5 of the state Constitution and RCW 2.06.080 ; (d) the election of county officers in any county governed by a charter containing provisions calling for general county elections at this time; and (e) the approval or rejection of state measures, including proposed constitutional amendments, matters pertaining to any proposed constitutional convention, initiative measures and referendum measures proposed by the electorate, referendum bills, and any other matter provided by the legislature for submission to the electorate. (2) A county legislative authority may call a special county election by presenting a resolution to the county auditor prior to the proposed election date. A special election called by the county legislative authority shall be held on one of the following dates as decided by such governing body: (a) The second Tuesday in February; (b) The fourth Tuesday in April; (c) The day of the primary as specified by RCW 29A.04.311 ; or (d) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. (3) A resolution calling for a special election on a date set forth in subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section must be presented to the county auditor at least sixty days prior to the election date. A resolution calling for a special election on a date set forth in subsection (2)(c) of this section must be presented to the county auditor no later than the Friday immediately before the first day of regular candidate filing. A resolution calling for a special election on a date set forth in subsection (2)(d) of this section must be presented to the county auditor no later than the day of the primary. (4) In addition to the dates set forth in subsection (2)(a) through (d) of this section, a special election to validate an excess levy or bond issue may be called at any time to meet the needs resulting from fire, flood, earthquake, or other act of God. Such county special election shall be noticed and conducted in the manner provided by law. (5) This section shall supersede the provisions of any and all other statutes, whether general or special in nature, having different dates for such city, town, and district elections, the purpose of this section being to establish mandatory dates for holding elections. This section shall not be construed as fixing the time for holding primary elections, or elections for the recall of any elective public officer.
RCW 29A.08.362 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 362
RCW 29A.08.362: Automatic registration—Health benefit exchange.
Status: in_force

(1) The health benefit exchange shall provide the following information to the secretary of state's office for consenting Washington healthplanfinder applicants who affirmatively indicate that they are interested in registering to vote, including applicants who file changes of address, who reside in Washington, are age eighteen years or older, and are verified citizens, for voter registration purposes: (a) Names; (b) Traditional or nontraditional residential addresses; (c) Mailing addresses, if different from the traditional or nontraditional residential address; and (d) Dates of birth. (2) The health benefit exchange shall consult with the secretary of state's office to ensure that sufficient information is provided to allow the secretary of state to obtain a digital copy of the person's signature when available from the department of licensing and establish other criteria and procedures that are secure and compliant with federal and state voter registration and privacy laws and rules. (3)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the health benefit exchange may provide the information identified in subsection (1)(a) through (d) of this section to the secretary of state's office for Washington healthplanfinder applicants, including applicants who file changes of address, who reside in Washington, who are age 18 years or older, and whose citizenship is reliably verified through an electronic database match as part of the eligibility determination process, if: (i) The health benefit exchange sends the applicant a notice within five business days of the original application informing the applicant that the health benefit exchange will provide the information identified in subsection (1)(a) through (d) of this section to the secretary of state's office for voter registration purposes unless the applicant declines; and (ii) The applicant does not respond to the notice identified in (a)(i) of this subsection to decline to provide their information for voter registration within 15 days from the date of mailing. (b) If the secretary of state provides voter registration data to the health benefit exchange showing that an applicant has an existing voter registration and the information identified in subsection (1)(a) through (d) of this section shows no name change or change of residence or mailing address, the health benefit exchange is not required to send the notice identified in subsection (a)(i) of this subsection or transmit the information identified in subsection (1)(a) through (d) of this section to the secretary of state. The secretary of state may serve as the agent of the health benefit exchange for purposes of this subsection. (4) Upon receipt of the information through the procedure identified in subsection (3) of this section, the secretary of state shall implement automatic voter registration through a procedure that substantially meets the requirements of RCW 29A.08.359 . (5) If the health benefit exchange determines, in consultation with the health care authority, that implementation of an automatic voter registration system requires approval from the centers for medicare and medicaid services, then any implementation is contingent on receiving that approval.
RCW 29A.08.365 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 365
RCW 29A.08.365: Automatic voter registration—Other agencies.
Status: in_force

(1) The governor shall make a decision, in consultation with the office of the secretary of state, as to whether each agency identified in subsection (2) of this section shall implement automatic voter registration. The final decision is at the governor's sole discretion. (2) This section applies to state agencies, other than the health benefit exchange, providing public assistance or services to persons with disabilities, designated pursuant to RCW 29A.08.310 (1), that collect, process, and store the following information as part of providing assistance or services: (a) Names; (b) Traditional or nontraditional residential addresses; (c) Dates of birth; (d) A signature attesting to the truth of the information provided on the application for assistance or services; and (e) Verification of citizenship information, via social security administration data match or manually verified by the agency during the client transaction. (3) Once an agency has implemented automatic voter registration, it shall continue to provide automatic voter registration unless legislation is enacted that directs the agency to do otherwise. (4) Agencies may not begin verifying citizenship as part of an agency transaction for the sole purpose of providing automatic voter registration. (5) The governor shall make a decision, in consultation with the office of the secretary of state, as to whether state agencies that collect, possess, and store the information identified in subsection (2) of this section may implement automatic voter registration through a procedure that substantially meets the requirements of RCW 29A.08.359 , or as to whether state agencies that collect, possess, and store the information in subsection (2)(a) through (c) of this section may implement automatic updates of existing voter registrations through a procedure that substantially meets the requirements of RCW 29A.08.359 . The governor shall make the same decision, in consultation with the office of the secretary of state, as to local, federal, or tribal agencies, including but not limited to federal agencies administering naturalization ceremonies, provided that such agencies consent to implementing automatic voter registration or automatic updates of existing voter registrations. The final decision is at the governor's sole discretion. (6) After confirming that the application for assistance or services identified in subsection (2) of this section contains a signature attesting to the truth of the information provided on the application, the secretary of state may obtain a digital copy of the applicant's signature image from the department of licensing, if available, for purposes of voter registration.
RCW 29A.72.190 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 72 / Section 190
RCW 29A.72.190: Petitions—Appellate review.
Status: in_force

The decision of the superior court refusing to grant a writ of mandate may be reviewed by the supreme court within five days after the decision of the superior court. The review must be considered an emergency matter of public concern, and be heard and determined with all convenient speed. If the supreme court decides that the petitions are legal in form and apparently contain the requisite number of signatures of legal voters, and were filed within the time prescribed in the Constitution, it shall issue its mandate directing the secretary of state to file the petition as of the date of submission.
RCW 29A.36.210 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 36 / Section 210
RCW 29A.36.210: Property tax levies—Ballot form.
Status: in_force

(1) The ballot proposition authorizing a taxing district to impose the regular property tax levies authorized in RCW 36.68.525 , 36.69.145 , 67.38.130 , 84.52.069 , or 84.52.135 must contain in substance the following: "Will the . . . . . . (insert the name of the taxing district) be authorized to impose regular property tax levies of . . . . . . (insert the maximum rate) or less per thousand dollars of assessed valuation for each of . . . . . . (insert the maximum number of years allowable) consecutive years? Yes . . . . . . . . . . . .□ No . . . . . . . . . . . .□" Each voter may indicate either "Yes" or "No" on his or her ballot in accordance with the procedures established under this title. (2) The ballot proposition authorizing a taxing district to impose a permanent regular tax levy under RCW 84.52.069 must contain in substance the following: "Will the . . . . . (insert the name of the taxing district) be authorized to impose a PERMANENT regular property levy of . . . . . (insert the maximum rate) or less per thousand dollars of assessed valuation? Yes . . . . . . . . . . . .□ No . . . . . . . . . . . .□"
RCW 29A.56.410 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 410
RCW 29A.56.410: Governor's proclamation calling convention—When.
Status: in_force

Within thirty days after the state is officially notified that the Congress of the United States has submitted to the several states a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States to be ratified or rejected by a convention, the governor shall issue a proclamation fixing the time and place for holding the convention and fixing the time for holding an election to elect delegates to the convention.
RCW 29A.72.150 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 72 / Section 150
RCW 29A.72.150: Petitions—Signatures—Number necessary.
Status: in_force

When the person proposing any initiative measure has obtained signatures of legal voters equal to or exceeding eight percent of the votes cast for the office of governor at the last regular gubernatorial election prior to the submission of the signatures for verification, or when the person or organization demanding any referendum of an act or part of an act of the legislature has obtained a number of signatures of legal voters equal to or exceeding four percent of the votes cast for the office of governor at the last regular gubernatorial election prior to the submission of the signatures for verification, the petition containing the signatures may be submitted to the secretary of state for filing.
RCW 29A.92.720 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 92 / Section 720
RCW 29A.92.720: Construction of laws concerning right to vote.
Status: in_force

In further recognition of the protections for the right to vote provided by the Constitution of the state of Washington, statutes, rules and regulations, and local laws, town charters, and ordinances related to the right to vote shall be construed liberally in favor of: (1) Protecting the right to cast an effective ballot; (2) Ensuring that eligible voters are not impaired in registering to vote or voting including having their votes counted; and (3) Ensuring that voters of race, color, and language minority groups have equitable access to fully participate in the electoral process in registering to vote and voting free from improper dilution or abridgement of voting power.
RCW 29B.25.070 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 25 / Section 070
RCW 29B.25.070: Filing and reporting by continuing political committee.
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to the provisions of this section, a continuing political committee shall file and report on the same conditions and at the same times as any other committee in accordance with the provisions of RCW 29B.25.020 , 29B.25.040 , and 29B.25.060 . (2) A continuing political committee shall file with the commission a report on the tenth day of each month detailing expenditures made and contributions received for the preceding calendar month. This report need only be filed if either the total contributions received or total expenditures made since the last such report exceed two hundred dollars. The report shall be on a form supplied by the commission and shall include the following information: (a) The information required by RCW 29B.25.100 ; (b) Each expenditure made to retire previously accumulated debts of the committee identified by recipient, amount, and date of payments; (c) Other information the commission shall prescribe by rule. (3) If a continuing political committee makes a contribution in support of or in opposition to a candidate or ballot proposition within 60 days before the date that the candidate or ballot proposition will be voted upon, the committee shall report pursuant to RCW 29B.25.090 . (4)(a) A continuing political committee shall file reports as required by this title until the committee has ceased to function and intends to dissolve, at which time, when there is no outstanding debt or obligation and the committee is concluded in all respects, a final report shall be filed. Upon submitting a final report, the continuing political committee so intending to dissolve must file notice of intent to dissolve with the commission and the commission must post the notice on its website. (b) The continuing political committee may dissolve 60 days after it files its notice to dissolve, only if: (i) The continuing political committee does not make any expenditures other than those related to the dissolution process or engage in any political activity or any other activities that generate additional reporting requirements under this title after filing such notice; (ii) No complaint or court action, pursuant to this title, is pending against the continuing political committee; and (iii) All penalties assessed by the commission or court order have been paid by the continuing political committee. (c) The continuing political committee must continue to report regularly as required under this title until all the conditions under (b) of this subsection are resolved. (d) Upon dissolution, the commission must issue an acknowledgment of dissolution, the duties of the treasurer shall cease, and there shall be no further obligations under this title. Dissolution does not absolve the candidate or board of the committee from responsibility for any future obligations resulting from the finding after dissolution of a violation committed prior to dissolution. (5) The treasurer shall maintain books of account, current within five business days, that accurately reflect all contributions and expenditures. During the 10 calendar days immediately preceding the date of any election that the committee has received any contributions or made any expenditures, the books of account shall be kept current within one business day and shall be open for public inspection in the same manner as provided for candidates and other political committees in RCW 29B.25.090 (6). (6) All reports filed pursuant to this section shall be certified as correct by the treasurer. (7) The treasurer shall preserve books of account, bills, receipts, and all other financial records of the campaign or political committee for not less than five calendar years following the year during which the transaction occurred.
RCW 29A.08.020 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 020
RCW 29A.08.020: Registration date.
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, for voter registration applicants, the date the voter registration application is received by an election official will be used as the registration date for the purpose of registering and meeting the registration cutoff deadline.
RCW 29A.56.510 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 510
RCW 29A.56.510: Quorum—Proceedings—Record.
Status: in_force

Two-thirds of the elected members of said convention shall constitute a quorum to do business, and a majority of those elected shall be sufficient to adopt or reject any proposition coming before the convention. If such majority votes in favor of the ratification of the amendment submitted to the convention, the said amendment shall be deemed ratified by the state of Washington; and if a majority votes in favor of rejecting or not ratifying the amendment, the same shall be deemed rejected by the state of Washington.
RCW 29B.30.050 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 30 / Section 050
RCW 29B.30.050: Identification of sponsor—Exemptions.
Status: in_force

(1) All written political advertising, whether relating to candidates or ballot propositions, shall include the sponsor's name and address. All radio and television political advertising, whether relating to candidates or ballot propositions, shall include the sponsor's name. The use of an assumed name for the sponsor of electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or political advertising shall be unlawful. For partisan office, if a candidate has expressed a party or independent preference on the declaration of candidacy, that party or independent designation shall be clearly identified in electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or political advertising. (2) In addition to the information required by subsection (1) of this section, except as specifically addressed in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, all political advertising undertaken as an independent expenditure or an electioneering communication by a person or entity other than a bona fide political party must include as part of the communication: (a) The statement: "No candidate authorized this ad. It is paid for by (name, address, city, state)"; (b) If the sponsor is a political committee, the statement: "Top Five Contributors," followed by a listing of the names of the five persons making the largest contributions as determined by RCW 29B.30.100 (1); and if necessary, the statement "Top Three Donors to PAC Contributors," followed by a listing of the names of the three individuals or entities, other than political committees, making the largest aggregated contributions as determined by RCW 29B.30.100 (2); and (c) If the sponsor is a political committee established, maintained, or controlled directly, or indirectly through the formation of one or more political committees, by an individual, corporation, union, association, or other entity, the full name of that individual or entity. (3) The information required by subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall: (a) Appear on the first page or fold of the written advertisement or communication in at least 10-point type, or in type at least ten percent of the largest size type used in a written advertisement or communication directed at more than one voter, such as a billboard or poster, whichever is larger; (b) Not be subject to the half-tone or screening process; and (c) Be set apart from any other printed matter. No text may be before, after, or immediately adjacent to the information required by subsections (1) and (2) of this section. (4) In an independent expenditure or electioneering communication transmitted via television or other medium that includes a visual image, the following statement must either be clearly spoken, or appear in print and be visible for at least four seconds, appear in letters greater than four percent of the visual screen height on a solid black background on the entire bottom one-third of the television or visual display screen, or bottom one-fourth of the screen if the sponsor does not have or is otherwise not required to list its top five contributors, and have a reasonable color contrast with the background: "No candidate authorized this ad. Paid for by (name, city, state)." If the advertisement or communication is undertaken by a nonindividual other than a party organization, then the following notation must also be included: "Top Five Contributors" followed by a listing of the names of the five persons making the largest aggregate contributions as determined by RCW 29B.30.100 (1); and if necessary, the statement "Top Three Donors to PAC Contributors," followed by a listing of the names of the three individuals or entities other than political committees making the largest aggregate contributions to political committees as determined by RCW 29B.30.100 (2). Abbreviations may be used to describe contributing entities if the full name of the entity has been clearly spoken previously during the broadcast advertisement. (5) The following statement shall be clearly spoken in an independent expenditure or electioneering communication transmitted by a method that does not include a visual image: "No candidate authorized this ad. Paid for by (name, city, state)." If the independent expenditure or electioneering communication is undertaken by a nonindividual other than a party organization, then the following statement must also be included: "Top Five Contributors" followed by a listing of the names of the five persons making the largest contributions as determined by RCW 29B.30.100 (1); and if necessary, the statement "Top Three Donors to PAC Contributors," followed by a listing of the names of the three individuals or entities, other than political committees, making the largest aggregate contributions to political committees as determined by RCW 29B.30.100 (2). Abbreviations may be used to describe contributing entities if the full name of the entity has been clearly spoken previously during the broadcast advertisement. (6) Political advertising costing one thousand dollars or more supporting or opposing ballot measures sponsored by a political committee must include the information on the top five contributors and top three contributors, other than political committees, as required by RCW 29B.30.100 . A series of political advertising sponsored by the same political committee, each of which is under one thousand dollars, must include the top five contributors and top three contributors, other than political committees, as required by RCW 29B.30.100 once their cumulative value reaches one thousand dollars or more. (7) Political yard signs are exempt from the requirements of this section that the top five contributors and top three PAC contributors as required by RCW 29B.30.100 be listed on the advertising. In addition, the public disclosure commission shall, by rule, exempt from the identification requirements of this section forms of political advertising such as campaign buttons, balloons, pens, pencils, sky-writing, inscriptions, and other forms of advertising where identification is impractical. (8) For the purposes of this section, "yard sign" means any outdoor sign with dimensions no greater than eight feet by four feet.
RCW 29A.56.230 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 230
RCW 29A.56.230: Destruction of insufficient recall petition.
Status: in_force

If it is found that the recall petition does not contain the requisite number of signatures of certified legal voters, the officer shall so notify the persons filing the petition, and at the expiration of thirty days from the conclusion of the count the officer shall destroy the petitions unless prevented therefrom by the injunction or mandate of a court.
RCW 29A.32.220 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 32 / Section 220
RCW 29A.32.220: Notice of production—Local governments' decision to participate.
Status: in_force

(1) Not later than 90 days before the publication and distribution of a local voters' pamphlet by a county, the county auditor shall notify each city, town, or special taxing district with issues or offices appearing on ballots within that county that a pamphlet will be produced. (2) All voters' pamphlets published by the county pursuant to RCW 29A.32.210 must include the elective offices and ballot measures of the county and the elective offices and ballot measures of each unit of local government within the county which will appear on the ballot at that primary or election. If the required appearance in a county's voters' pamphlet of the offices or measures of a unit of local government would create undue financial hardship for the unit of government, the legislative authority of the unit may petition the legislative authority of the county to waive this requirement. The legislative authority of the county may provide such a waiver if it does so not later than 60 days before the publication of the pamphlet and it finds that the requirement would create such hardship. (3) If a city, town, or district is located within more than one county, all appropriate information for that jurisdiction must appear in the local voters' pamphlet for each of the counties containing the jurisdiction. Arguments, candidate statements, and photographs must be submitted to the county auditor of the county that accepted any resolutions or candidate filings for that jurisdiction. The auditor that receives this information shall provide it to the other county auditors after reviewing and accepting the submissions.
RCW 29B.10.530 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 530
RCW 29B.10.530: Technical correction.
Status: in_force

"Technical correction" means the correction of a minor or ministerial error in a required report that does not materially harm the public interest and needs to be corrected for the report to be in full compliance with the requirements of this title.
RCW 29A.84.655 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 84 / Section 655
RCW 29A.84.655: Tabulation of invalid ballots.
Status: in_force

Any election officer who intentionally tabulates or causes to be tabulated, through any act or omission, an invalid ballot when the person has actual knowledge that the ballot is invalid, is guilty of a class C felony punishable under RCW 9A.20.021 .
RCW 29A.56.520 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 520
RCW 29A.56.520: Certification and transmittal of result.
Status: in_force

The vote of each member shall be recorded in the journal of the convention, which shall be preserved by the secretary of state as a public document. The action of the convention shall be enrolled, signed by its president and secretary and filed with the secretary of state and it shall be the duty of the secretary of state to properly certify the action of the convention to the Congress of the United States as provided by general law.
RCW 29A.92.115 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 92 / Section 115
RCW 29A.92.115: Increase in number of elected county commissioners—Remedy for vote dilution concerning Indian tribal status.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1750-S2.SL ) ***

(1) A county may reasonably increase the number of elected commissioners to remedy a potential violation of RCW 29A.92.020 if the protected class or one of the protected classes subject to alleged vote dilution is Indian tribal status. (2) After finding a violation of RCW 29A.92.020 or upon stipulation of the parties, the court may order a reasonable increase in the number of elected officials on a county commission if the defendant political subdivision is a county and the protected class or one of the protected classes subject to alleged vote dilution is Indian tribal status.
RCW 29A.64.030 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 64 / Section 030
RCW 29A.64.030: Deposit of fees—Notice—Public proceeding.
Status: in_force

An application for a recount shall state the office or ballot measure for which a recount is requested, and whether the request is for all precincts or only a portion of the precincts in that jurisdiction. The person filing an application for a manual recount shall, at the same time, deposit with the county canvassing board or secretary of state, in cash or by certified check, a sum equal to twenty-five cents for each ballot cast in the jurisdiction or portion of the jurisdiction for which the recount is requested as security for the payment of any costs of conducting the recount. If the application is for a machine recount, the deposit must be equal to fifteen cents for each ballot. These charges shall be determined by the county canvassing board or boards under RCW 29A.64.081 . The county canvassing board shall determine the date, time, and place or places at which the recount will be conducted. Not less than one day before the date of the recount, the county auditor shall notify the applicant or affected parties and, if the recount involves an office, to any person for whom votes were cast for that office of the date, time, and place of the recount. Each person entitled to receive notice of the recount may attend, witness the recount, and be accompanied by counsel. Proceedings of the canvassing board are public under chapter 42.30 RCW. Subject to reasonable and equitable guidelines adopted by the canvassing board, all interested persons may attend and witness a recount.
RCW 29A.56.020 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 020
RCW 29A.56.020: Date.
Status: in_force

(1) On the second Tuesday in March of each year in which a president of the United States is to be nominated and elected, a presidential primary shall be held at which voters may vote for the nominee of a major political party for the office of president. (2)(a) The secretary of state may propose an alternative date for the primary, including to coordinate a regional primary with any of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, no later than the first day of September of the year before the year in which a president is to be nominated and elected. The proposed date must not be prior to the earliest date permitted by the national rules of the major political parties. (b) No later than the fifteenth day of September of the year before the year in which a presidential nominee is selected, the state committee of any major political party that will use the primary results for candidates of that party may propose an alternative date for that primary. (3) If an alternative date is proposed under subsection (2)(a) or (b) of this section, a committee consisting of the chair and the vice chair of the state committee of each major political party, the secretary of state, the majority leader and minority leader of the senate, and the speaker and the minority leader of the house of representatives shall meet and, if affirmed by a two-thirds vote of the members of the committee, the date of the primary shall be changed. The committee shall meet and decide on the proposed alternate date not later than the first day of October of the year before the year in which a presidential nominee is selected. The secretary of state shall convene and preside over the meeting of the committee. A committee member other than a legislator may appoint, in writing, a designee to serve on his or her behalf. A legislator who is a member of the committee may appoint, in writing, another legislator to serve on his or her behalf. (4) If an alternate date is approved under this section, the secretary of state shall adopt rules under RCW 29A.04.620 to adjust the deadlines in RCW 29A.56.031 and related provisions of this chapter to correspond with the date that has been approved.
RCW 29A.72.140 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 72 / Section 140
RCW 29A.72.140: Warning statement—Further requirements.
Status: in_force

The word "warning" and the following warning statement regarding signing petitions must appear on petitions as prescribed by this title and must be printed on each petition sheet such that they occupy not less than four square inches of the front of the petition sheet. WARNING Every person who signs this petition with any other than his or her true name, knowingly signs more than one of these petitions, signs this petition when he or she is not a legal voter, or makes any false statement on this petition may be punished by fine or imprisonment or both.
RCW 29A.84.120 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 84 / Section 120
RCW 29A.84.120: Disenfranchisement or discrimination.
Status: in_force

An election officer or a person who intentionally disenfranchises an eligible citizen or discriminates against a person eligible to vote by denying voter registration is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable under RCW 9A.20.021 .
RCW 29B.40.220 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 40 / Section 220
RCW 29B.40.220: Prohibition on use of contributions for a different office.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a candidate for public office or the candidate's authorized committee may not use or permit the use of contributions, whether or not surplus, solicited for or received by the candidate or the candidate's authorized committee to further the candidacy of the individual for an office other than the office designated on the statement of organization. A contribution solicited for or received on behalf of the candidate is considered solicited or received for the candidacy for which the individual is then a candidate if the contribution is solicited or received before the general election for which the candidate is a nominee or is unopposed. (2) With the written approval of the contributor, a candidate or the candidate's authorized committee may use or permit the use of contributions, whether or not surplus, solicited for or received by the candidate or the candidate's authorized committee from that contributor to further the candidacy of the individual for an office other than the office designated on the statement of organization. If the contributor does not approve the use of his or her contribution to further the candidacy of the individual for an office other than the office designated on the statement of organization at the time of the contribution, the contribution must be considered surplus funds and disposed of in accordance with RCW 29B.40.090 .
RCW 29A.84.240 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 84 / Section 240
RCW 29A.84.240: Violations by signers, officers—Recall petitions—Penalty.
Status: in_force

(1) Every person who signs a recall petition with any other than his or her true name is guilty of a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW. (2) Every person who knowingly (a) signs more than one petition for the same recall, (b) signs a recall petition when he or she is not a legal voter, or (c) makes a false statement as to residence on any recall petition is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. (3) Every registration officer who makes any false report or certificate on any recall petition is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
RCW 29A.56.300 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 300
RCW 29A.56.300: States' agreement—Presidential election—National popular vote.
Status: in_force

The agreement among the states to elect the president by national popular vote is hereby entered into and enacted into law with all jurisdictions legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows: ARTICLE I - Membership Any state of the United States and the District of Columbia may become a member of this agreement by enacting this agreement. ARTICLE II - Right of the People in Member States to Vote for President and Vice President Each member state shall conduct a statewide popular election for president and vice president of the United States. ARTICLE III - Manner of Appointing Presidential Electors in Member States Prior to the time set by law for the meeting and voting by the presidential electors, the chief election official of each member state shall determine the number of votes for each presidential slate in each state of the United States and in the District of Columbia in which votes have been cast in a statewide popular election and shall add such votes together to produce a "national popular vote total" for each presidential slate. The chief election official of each member state shall designate the presidential slate with the largest national popular vote total as the "national popular vote winner." The presidential elector certifying official of each member state shall certify the appointment in that official's own state of the elector slate nominated in that state in association with the national popular vote winner. At least six days before the day fixed by law for the meeting and voting by the presidential electors, each member state shall make a final determination of the number of popular votes cast in the state for each presidential slate and shall communicate an official statement of such determination within twenty-four hours to the chief election official of each other member state. The chief election official of each member state shall treat as conclusive an official statement containing the number of popular votes in a state for each presidential slate made by the day established by federal law for making a state's final determination conclusive as to the counting of electoral votes by congress. In event of a tie for the national popular vote winner, the presidential elector certifying official of each member state shall certify the appointment of the elector slate nominated in association with the presidential slate receiving the largest number of popular votes within that official's own state. If, for any reason, the number of presidential electors nominated in a member state in association with the national popular vote winner is less than or greater than that state's number of electoral votes, the presidential candidate on the presidential slate that has been designated as the national popular vote winner shall have the power to nominate the presidential electors for that state and that state's presidential elector certifying official shall certify the appointment of such nominees. The chief election official of each member state shall immediately release to the public all vote counts or statements of votes as they are determined or obtained. This article shall govern the appointment of presidential electors in each member state in any year in which this agreement is, on July 20, in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes. ARTICLE IV - Other Provisions This agreement shall take effect when states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes have enacted this agreement in substantially the same form and the enactments by such states have taken effect in each state. Any member state may withdraw from this agreement, except that a withdrawal occurring six months or less before the end of a president's term shall not become effective until a president or vice president shall have been qualified to serve the next term. The chief executive of each member state shall promptly notify the chief executive of all other states of when this agreement has been enacted and has taken effect in that official's state, when the state has withdrawn from this agreement, and when this agreement takes effect generally. This agreement shall terminate if the electoral college is abolished. If any provision of this agreement is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall not be affected. ARTICLE V - Definitions For purposes of this agreement: "Chief executive" shall mean the governor of a state of the United States or the mayor of the District of Columbia; "Elector slate" shall mean a slate of candidates who have been nominated in a state for the position of presidential elector in association with a presidential slate; "Chief election official" shall mean the state official or body that is authorized to certify the total number of popular votes for each presidential slate; "Presidential elector" shall mean an elector for president and vice president of the United States; "Presidential elector certifying official" shall mean the state official or body that is authorized to certify the appointment of the state's presidential electors; "Presidential slate" shall mean a slate of two persons, the first of whom has been nominated as a candidate for president of the United States and the second of whom has been nominated as a candidate for vice president of the United States, or any legal successors to such persons, regardless of whether both names appear on the ballot presented to the voter in a particular state; "State" shall mean a state of the United States and the District of Columbia; and "Statewide popular election" shall mean a general election in which votes are cast for presidential slates by individual voters and counted on a statewide basis.
RCW 29A.72.040 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 72 / Section 040
RCW 29A.72.040: Numbering—Transmittal to attorney general.
Status: in_force

The secretary of state shall give a serial number to each initiative, referendum bill, or referendum measure, using a separate series for initiatives to the legislature, initiatives to the people, referendum bills, and referendum measures, and forthwith transmit one copy of the measure proposed bearing its serial number to the attorney general. Thereafter a measure shall be known and designated on all petitions, ballots, and proceedings as "Initiative Measure No. . . . .," "Referendum Bill No. . . . .," or "Referendum Measure No. . . . .."
RCW 29B.25.130 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 25 / Section 130
RCW 29B.25.130: Special reports—Political advertising.
Status: in_force

(1) The sponsor of political advertising shall file a special report to the commission within 24 hours of, or on the first working day after, the date the political advertising is first published, mailed, or otherwise presented to the public, if the political advertising: (a) Is published, mailed, or otherwise presented to the public within 21 days of an election; and (b) Either: (i) Qualifies as an independent expenditure with a fair market value or actual cost of one thousand dollars or more, for political advertising supporting or opposing a candidate; or (ii) Has a fair market value or actual cost of one thousand dollars or more, for political advertising supporting or opposing a ballot proposition. (2) If a sponsor is required to file a special report under this section, the sponsor shall also deliver to the commission within the delivery period established in subsection (1) of this section a special report for each subsequent independent expenditure of any size supporting or opposing the same candidate who was the subject of the previous independent expenditure, supporting or opposing that candidate's opponent, or, in the case of a subsequent expenditure of any size made in support of or in opposition to a ballot proposition not otherwise required to be reported pursuant to RCW 29B.25.070 , 29B.25.090 , or 29B.25.100 , supporting or opposing the same ballot proposition that was the subject of the previous expenditure. (3) The special report must include: (a) The name and address of the person making the expenditure; (b) The name and address of the person to whom the expenditure was made; (c) A detailed description of the expenditure; (d) The date the expenditure was made and the date the political advertising was first published or otherwise presented to the public; (e) The amount of the expenditure; (f) The name of the candidate supported or opposed by the expenditure, the office being sought by the candidate, and whether the expenditure supports or opposes the candidate; or the name of the ballot proposition supported or opposed by the expenditure and whether the expenditure supports or opposes the ballot proposition; (g) A statement from the sponsor that: (i) The political advertising is not financed in any part by a foreign national; and (ii) Foreign nationals are not involved in making decisions regarding the political advertising in any way; and (h) Any other information the commission may require by rule. (4) All persons required to report under RCW 29B.25.070 , 29B.25.090 , 29B.25.100 , 29B.25.120 , and 29B.30.020 are subject to the requirements of this section. The commission may determine that reports filed pursuant to this section also satisfy the requirements of RCW 29B.25.120 . (5) The sponsor of independent expenditures supporting a candidate or opposing that candidate's opponent required to report under this section shall file with each required report an affidavit or declaration of the person responsible for making the independent expenditure that the expenditure was not made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, the candidate, the candidate's authorized committee, or the candidate's agent, or with the encouragement or approval of the candidate, the candidate's authorized committee, or the candidate's agent.
RCW 29B.20.070 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 20 / Section 070
RCW 29B.20.070: Application of reporting requirements in small political subdivisions.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2), (3), and (7) of this section, the reporting provisions of this title do not apply to: (a) Candidates, elected officials, and agencies in political subdivisions with fewer than 2,000 registered voters as of the date of the most recent general election in the jurisdiction; (b) Political committees formed to support or oppose candidates or ballot propositions in such political subdivisions; or (c) Persons making independent expenditures in support of or opposition to such ballot propositions. (2) The reporting provisions of this title apply in any exempt political subdivision from which a "petition for disclosure" containing the valid signatures of 15 percent of the number of registered voters, as of the date of the most recent general election in the political subdivision, is filed with the commission. The commission shall by rule prescribe the form of the petition. After the signatures are gathered, the petition shall be presented to the auditor or elections officer of the county, or counties, in which the political subdivision is located. The auditor or elections officer shall verify the signatures and certify to the commission that the petition contains no less than the required number of valid signatures. The commission, upon receipt of a valid petition, shall order every known affected person in the political subdivision to file the initially required statement and reports within 14 days of the date of the order. (3) The reporting provisions of this title apply in any exempt political subdivision that by ordinance, resolution, or other official action has petitioned the commission to make the provisions applicable to elected officials and candidates of the exempt political subdivision. A copy of the action shall be sent to the commission. If the commission finds the petition to be a valid action of the appropriate governing body or authority, the commission shall order every known affected person in the political subdivision to file the initially required statement and reports within 14 days of the date of the order. (4) The commission shall void any order issued by it pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) of this section when, at least four years after issuing the order, the commission is presented a petition or official action so requesting from the affected political subdivision. Such petition or official action shall meet the respective requirements of subsection (2) or (3) of this section. (5) Any petition for disclosure, ordinance, resolution, or official action of an agency petitioning the commission to void the exemption in RCW 29B.25.010 (3) shall not be considered unless it has been filed with the commission: (a) In the case of a ballot proposition, at least 60 days before the date of any election in which campaign finance reporting is to be required; (b) In the case of a candidate, at least 60 days before the first day on which a person may file a declaration of candidacy for any election in which campaign finance reporting is to be required. (6) Any person exempted from reporting under this title may at the person's option file the statement and reports. (7) The reporting provisions of this title apply to a candidate in any political subdivision if the candidate receives or expects to receive five thousand dollars or more in contributions.
RCW 29A.36.161 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 36 / Section 161
RCW 29A.36.161: Arrangement of instructions, measures, offices—Order of candidates.
Status: in_force

(1) On the top of each ballot must be printed: (a) Clear and concise instructions directing the voter how to mark the ballot, including write-in votes; and (b) The following statement: "For a list of the people and organizations that donated to state and local candidates and ballot measure campaigns, visit www.pdc.wa.gov." The secretary of state may substitute such language as is necessary for accuracy and clarity and consistent with the intent of this section. Alternately, at the discretion of the county auditor or local election official, the statement required by this subsection (1)(b) may be printed in a prominent position on the ballot envelope and in the materials that accompany the ballot. (2) The ballot must have a clear delineation between the ballot instructions and the first ballot measure or office through the use of white space, illustration, shading, color, symbol, font size, or bold type. The secretary of state shall establish standards for ballot design and layout consistent with this section and RCW 29A.04.611 . (3) The questions of adopting constitutional amendments or any other state measure authorized by law to be submitted to the voters at that election must appear after the instructions and before any offices. (4) In a year that president and vice president appear on the general election ballot, the names of candidates for president and vice president for each political party must be grouped together with a single response position for a voter to indicate his or her choice. The major political party that received the highest number of votes from the electors of this state for the office of president of the United States at the last presidential election must appear first. Other major political parties must follow according to the votes cast for their nominees for president at the last presidential election. Independent candidates and minor parties must follow major parties and be listed in the order of their qualification with the secretary of state.
RCW 29A.04.525 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 525
RCW 29A.04.525: Complaint procedures.
Status: in_force

The state-based administrative complaint procedures required in the Help America Vote Act (P.L. 107-252) and detailed in administrative rule apply to all primary, general, and special elections administered under this title.
RCW 29A.84.510 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 84 / Section 510
RCW 29A.84.510: Acts prohibited near voting centers, student engagement hubs, and ballot drop boxes.
Status: in_force

(1) During the voting period that begins eighteen days before and ends the day of a special election, general election, or primary, no person may: (a) Within a voting center or student engagement hub or in any public street or room in any public manner within 100 feet measured radially from the entrance to a voting center or student engagement hub or 25 feet measured radially from a ballot drop box as described in RCW 29A.40.170 : (i) Suggest or persuade or attempt to suggest or persuade any voter to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure; (ii) Circulate cards or handbills of any kind; (iii) Solicit signatures to any kind of petition; or (iv) Engage in any practice which interferes with the freedom of voters to exercise their franchise or disrupts the administration of the voting center; (b) Engage in any activities restricted under (a) of this subsection through electronic amplification located more than 100 feet from an entrance to a voting center or student engagement hub or 25 feet from an entrance to a ballot drop box if the person is capable of being understood within 100 feet of the voting center or student engagement hub or 25 feet of the ballot drop box; (c) Obstruct the doors or entries to a building in which a voting center or ballot drop location is located or prevent free access to and from any voting center or ballot drop location. (2) The auditor shall post a sign at the point or points specified at each voting center as required by RCW 29A.40.160 during the voting period providing notice of the prohibition in subsection (1)(a) of this section. (3) Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or municipal law enforcement officer shall stop the prohibited activity, and may arrest any person engaging in the prohibited activity. (4) Any violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor, punishable to the same extent as a gross misdemeanor that is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021 , and the person convicted may be ordered to pay the costs of prosecution. (5) Nothing in this section may be construed to limit or otherwise restrict the access of an authorized political party observer to a voting center, student engagement hub, or ballot drop box for the purpose of observing the election process.
RCW 29B.60.040 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 60 / Section 040
RCW 29B.60.040: Enforcement—Attorney general.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The attorney general may bring civil actions in the name of the state for any appropriate civil remedy, including but not limited to the special remedies provided in RCW 29B.60.010 upon: (i) Referral by the commission pursuant to RCW 29B.60.020 (4); (ii) Receipt of a notice provided in accordance with RCW 29B.60.020 (5); or (iii) Receipt of a notice of intent to commence a citizen's action, as provided under RCW 29B.60.060 (3). (b) Within 45 days of receiving a referral from the commission or notice of the commission's failure to take action provided in accordance with RCW 29B.60.020 (5), or within 10 days of receiving a citizen's action notice, the attorney general must publish a decision whether to commence an action on the attorney general's office website. Publication of the decision within the 45 day period, or ten-day period, whichever is applicable, shall preclude a citizen's action pursuant to RCW 29B.60.060 . (c) The attorney general should use the enforcement powers in this section in a consistent manner that provides guidance in complying with the provisions of this title to candidates, political committees, or other individuals subject to the regulations of this title. (2) The attorney general may investigate or cause to be investigated the activities of any person who there is reason to believe is or has been acting in violation of this title, and may require any such person or any other person reasonably believed to have information concerning the activities of such person to appear at a time and place designated in the county in which such person resides or is found, to give such information under oath and to produce all accounts, bills, receipts, books, paper and documents which may be relevant or material to any investigation authorized under this title. (3) When the attorney general requires the attendance of any person to obtain such information or produce the accounts, bills, receipts, books, papers, and documents that may be relevant or material to any investigation authorized under this title, the attorney general shall issue an order setting forth the time when and the place where attendance is required and shall cause the same to be delivered to or sent by registered mail to the person at least 14 days before the date fixed for attendance. The order shall have the same force and effect as a subpoena, shall be effective statewide, and, upon application of the attorney general, obedience to the order may be enforced by any superior court judge in the county where the person receiving it resides or is found, in the same manner as though the order were a subpoena. The court, after hearing, for good cause, and upon application of any person aggrieved by the order, shall have the right to alter, amend, revise, suspend, or postpone all or any part of its provisions. In any case where the order is not enforced by the court according to its terms, the reasons for the court's actions shall be clearly stated in writing, and the action shall be subject to review by the appellate courts by certiorari or other appropriate proceeding.
RCW 29A.56.490 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 490
RCW 29A.56.490: Election of delegates—Ascertaining result.
Status: in_force

The election officials shall count and determine the number of votes cast for each individual; and shall also count and determine the aggregate number of votes cast for all candidates whose names appear under each of the respective headings. Where more than the required number have been voted for, the ballot must be rejected. The vote must be canvassed in each county by the county canvassing board, and certificate of results must be transmitted to the secretary of state. Upon receiving the certificate, the secretary of state may require precinct returns from any county to be forwarded for the secretary's examination. Where a district embraces precincts of more than one county, the secretary of state shall combine the votes from all the precincts included in each district. The delegates elected in each district will be the number of candidates corresponding to the number of state representatives from the district, who receive the highest number of votes in the group (either "for" or "against") that received an aggregate number of votes for all candidates in the group greater than the aggregate number of votes for all the candidates in the other group. The secretary of state shall issue certificates of election to the delegates so elected.
RCW 29B.40.240 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 40 / Section 240
RCW 29B.40.240: Agency shop fees as contributions.
Status: in_force

(1) A labor organization may not use agency shop fees paid by an individual who is not a member of the organization to make contributions or expenditures to influence an election or to operate a political committee, unless affirmatively authorized by the individual. (2) A labor organization does not use agency shop fees when it uses its general treasury funds to make such contributions or expenditures if it has sufficient revenues from sources other than agency shop fees in its general treasury to fund such contributions or expenditures.
RCW 29A.08.820 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 820
RCW 29A.08.820: Times for filing challenges—Hearings—Treatment of challenged ballots.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1916-S.SL ) ***

(1) Challenges must be filed with the county auditor of the county in which the challenged voter is registered no later than 45 days before the election. The county auditor presides over the hearing. (2) Challenges may be filed after 45 days before the election, only when the challenged voter registered to vote less than 60 days before the election, or changed residence less than 60 days before the election without updating the residence address of the voter's voter registration. A challenge may then be filed not later than 10 days before any primary or election, general or special, or within 10 days of the voter being added to the voter registration database, whichever is later. (a) If the challenge is filed after 45 days before an election at which the challenged voter is eligible to vote, a notation of the challenge must be made immediately to the challenged voter's registration in the voter registration system, and the county canvassing board shall preside over the hearing. (b) If the challenge is filed before the challenged voter's ballot is received, the ballot must be processed as a challenged ballot, and held until the challenge is resolved. (c) If the challenge is filed after the challenged voter's ballot is received, the challenge cannot affect the current election. However, the process shall proceed until the challenge is resolved.
RCW 29A.04.420 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 420
RCW 29A.04.420: State share.
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever federal officers, state officers, or measures are voted upon at a state primary or general election held under RCW 29A.04.321 , the state of Washington shall assume a prorated share of the costs of that state primary or general election for the federal and state offices and measures, including the prorated cost of return postage, required to be included on return envelopes pursuant to RCW 29A.40.091 . (2) Whenever a primary or vacancy election is held to fill a vacancy in the position of United States senator or United States representative under chapter 29A.28 RCW, the state of Washington shall assume a prorated share of the costs of that primary or vacancy election. (3) The county auditor shall apportion the state's share of these expenses when prorating election costs under RCW 29A.04.410 and in accordance with the state budgeting, accounting, and reporting system, shall file such expense claims with the secretary of state. (4) The secretary of state shall include in his or her biennial budget requests sufficient funds to carry out this section. Reimbursements for election costs shall be from appropriations specifically provided by law for that purpose. (5) State and federal offices are to be considered one entity for purposes of election cost proration and reimbursement.
RCW 29A.08.410 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 410
RCW 29A.08.410: Address change—Deadlines.
Status: in_force

A registered voter who changes residence from one address to another may transfer the voter's registration to the new address in one of the following ways: (1) Sending the county auditor a request stating both the voter's present address and the address from which the voter was last registered received by an election official by the eighth day prior to a primary or election; (2) Appearing in person before a county auditor, or at a voting center or other location designated by the county auditor, and making such a request up until 8:00 p.m. on the day of the primary or election; (3) Telephoning or emailing the county auditor to update the voter's registration address by the eighth day prior to a primary or election; (4) Submitting a voter registration application received by an election official by the eighth day prior to a primary or election; (5) Submitting information to the department of licensing and received by an election official by the eighth day prior to a primary or election; (6) Submitting voter registration information through the health benefit exchange and received by an election official by the eighth day prior to a primary or election; or (7) Submitting information to an agency designated under RCW 29A.08.365 and received by an election official by the eighth day prior to a primary or election once automatic voter registration is implemented at the agency.
RCW 29A.08.310 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 310
RCW 29A.08.310: Voter registration services—Designation of agencies, facilities, programs, etc.
Status: in_force

(1) The governor, in consultation with the secretary of state, shall designate agencies to provide voter registration services in compliance with federal statutes. The governor, in consultation with the secretary of state, may designate local, federal, or tribal agencies, including but not limited to federal agencies administering naturalization ceremonies, to provide voter registration services, provided that such agencies consent to providing voter registration services. (2) A federally recognized tribe may request that the governor designate one or more state facilities or state-funded facilities or programs that are located on the lands of the requesting Indian tribe or that are substantially engaged in providing services to Indian tribes, as selected by the tribe, to provide voter registration services. This provision does not alter the state's obligations under the national voter registration act. (3) Each state agency designated shall provide voter registration services for employees and the public within each office of that agency. (4) The secretary of state shall design and provide a standard notice informing the public of the availability of voter registration, which notice shall be posted in each state agency where such services are available. (5) Each institution of higher education shall put in place an active prompt on its course registration website, or similar website that students actively and regularly use, that, if selected, will link the student to the secretary of state's voter registration website. The prompt must ask the student if he or she wishes to register to vote. (6) If the governor, in consultation with the secretary of state, designates the department of corrections to provide voter registration services under this section, a county auditor shall process a voter registration application from a person transmitted by the department of corrections as an application to sign up to register to vote. A person who signs up to register to vote under this subsection is classified as pending until such time as he or she will be eligible to vote in the next election. An acknowledgment notice shall not be sent prior to receipt of notice from the department of corrections that a person is released from, or transferred to partial confinement from, total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.
RCW 29A.80.030 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 80 / Section 030
RCW 29A.80.030: County central committee—Organization meetings.
Status: in_force

The county central committee of each major political party consists of the precinct committee officers of the party from the several voting precincts of the county. Following each state general election held in even-numbered years, this committee shall meet for the purpose of organization at an easily accessible location within the county, subsequent to the certification of precinct committee officers by the county auditor and no later than the second Saturday of the following January. The authorized officers of the retiring committee shall cause notice of the time and place of the meeting to be mailed to each precinct committee officer at least seventy-two hours before the date of the meeting. At its organization meeting, the county central committee shall elect a chair and vice chair of opposite sexes.
RCW 29A.08.357 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 357
RCW 29A.08.357: Automatic registration—Enhanced driver's licenses and identicards—Application submission.
Status: in_force

(1) For applicants served under RCW 29A.08.355 , the application is submitted pursuant to RCW 29A.08.350 and marked as an automatic voter registrant. (2) For each such application, the secretary of state must obtain a digital copy of the applicant's signature image from the department of licensing.
RCW 29B.30.070 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 30 / Section 070
RCW 29B.30.070: Political advertising or electioneering communication—Libel or defamation per se.
Status: in_force

(1) It is a violation of this title for a person to sponsor with actual malice a statement constituting libel or defamation per se under the following circumstances: (a) Political advertising or an electioneering communication that contains a false statement of material fact about a candidate for public office; (b) Political advertising or an electioneering communication that falsely represents that a candidate is the incumbent for the office sought when in fact the candidate is not the incumbent; (c) Political advertising or an electioneering communication that makes either directly or indirectly, a false claim stating or implying the support or endorsement of any person or organization when in fact the candidate does not have such support or endorsement. (2) For the purposes of this section, "libel or defamation per se" means statements that tend (a) to expose a living person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, or to deprive him or her of the benefit of public confidence or social intercourse, or to injure him or her in his or her business or occupation, or (b) to injure any person, corporation, or association in his, her, or its business or occupation. (3) It is not a violation of this section for a candidate or his or her agent to make statements described in subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section about the candidate himself or herself because a person cannot defame himself or herself. It is not a violation of this section for a person or organization referenced in subsection (1)(c) of this section to make a statement about that person or organization because such persons and organizations cannot defame themselves. (4) Any violation of this section shall be proven by clear and convincing evidence. If a violation is proven, damages are presumed and do not need to be proven.
RCW 29B.10.280 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 280
RCW 29B.10.280: Immediate family.
Status: in_force

"Immediate family" includes the spouse or domestic partner, dependent children, and other dependent relatives, if living in the household. For the purposes of the definition of "intermediary" in RCW 29B.10.320 , "immediate family" means an individual's spouse or domestic partner, and child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother, half brother, sister, or half sister of the individual and the spouse or the domestic partner of any such person and a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother, half brother, sister, or half sister of the individual's spouse or domestic partner and the spouse or the domestic partner of any such person.
RCW 29A.08.210 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 08 / Section 210
RCW 29A.08.210: Application—Contents.
Status: in_force

An applicant for voter registration shall complete an application providing the following information concerning the applicant's qualifications as a voter in this state: (1) The applicant's full name; (2) The applicant's date of birth; (3) The address of the applicant's residence for voting purposes; (4) The mailing address of the applicant if that address is not the same as the address in subsection (3) of this section; (5) The gender of the applicant; (6) The former address of the applicant if previously registered to vote; (7) The applicant's Washington state driver's license number, Washington state identification card number, or the last four digits of the applicant's social security number if the applicant does not have a Washington state driver's license or Washington state identification card; (8) A check box allowing the applicant to indicate membership in the armed forces, national guard, or reserves, or overseas voter status; (9) Clear and conspicuous language, designed to draw the applicant's attention, stating that: (a) The applicant must be a United States citizen in order to register to vote; and (b) The applicant may register to vote if the applicant is at least sixteen years old and may vote if the applicant will be at least eighteen years old by the next general election, or is at least eighteen years old for special elections; (10) A check box and declaration confirming that the applicant is a citizen of the United States; (11) The following warning: "If you knowingly provide false information on this voter registration form or knowingly make a false declaration about your qualifications for voter registration you will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both." (12) The oath required by RCW 29A.08.230 and a space for the applicant's signatures. The secretary of state is encouraged to provide applications for voter registration with multiple signature blocks to assist in comparing signatures on ballot declarations; and (13) Any other information that the secretary of state determines is necessary to establish the identity of the applicant and prevent duplicate or fraudulent voter registrations. This information shall be recorded on a single registration form to be prescribed by the secretary of state.
RCW 29A.04.097 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 097
RCW 29A.04.097: Minor political party.
Status: in_force

"Minor political party" means a political organization other than a major political party.
RCW 29A.56.530 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 56 / Section 530
RCW 29A.56.530: Expenses—How paid—Delegates receive filing fee.
Status: in_force

The delegates attending the convention shall be paid the amount of their filing fee, upon vouchers approved by the president and secretary of the convention and state warrants issued thereon and payable from the general fund of the state treasury. The delegates shall receive no other compensation or mileage. All other necessary expenses of the convention shall be payable from the general fund of the state upon vouchers approved by the president and secretary of the convention.
RCW 29B.10.460 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 460
RCW 29B.10.460: Recall campaign.
Status: in_force

"Recall campaign" means the period of time beginning on the date of the filing of recall charges under RCW 29A.56.120 and ending 30 days after the recall election.
RCW 29A.32.230 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 32 / Section 230
RCW 29A.32.230: Administrative rules.
Status: in_force

The county auditor or, if applicable, the city clerk of a first-class or code city shall, in consultation with the participating jurisdictions, adopt and publish administrative rules necessary to facilitate the provisions of any ordinance authorizing production of a local voters' pamphlet. Any amendment to such a rule shall also be adopted and published. Copies of the rules shall identify the date they were adopted or last amended and shall be made available to any person upon request. One copy of the rules adopted by a county auditor and one copy of any amended rules shall be submitted to the county legislative authority. One copy of the rules adopted by a city clerk and one copy of any amended rules shall be submitted to the city legislative authority. These rules shall include but not be limited to the following: (1) Deadlines for decisions by cities, towns, or special taxing districts on being included in the pamphlet; (2) Limits on the length and deadlines for submission of arguments for and against each measure; (3) The basis for rejection of any explanatory or candidates' statement or argument deemed to be libelous or otherwise inappropriate. Any statements by a candidate shall be limited to those about the candidate himself or herself; (4) Limits on the length of candidates' statements; (5) Deadlines for submission of candidates' statements not sooner than 11 days following the deadline for filing declarations of candidacy under RCW 29A.24.050 ; (6) An appeal process in the case of the rejection of any statement or argument.
RCW 29A.36.230 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 36 / Section 230
RCW 29A.36.230: Regional transportation investment district and regional transit authority single ballot.
Status: in_force

The election on the single ballot proposition described in RCW 36.120.070 and 81.112.030 (10) must be conducted by the auditor of each component county in accordance with the general election laws of the state, except as provided in this section. Notice of the election must be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in each component county in the manner provided in the general election laws. The single joint ballot proposition required under RCW 36.120.070 and 81.112.030 (10) must be in substantially the following form: "REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT DISTRICT (RTID) AND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY (RTA) PROPOSITION #1 REGIONAL ROADS AND TRANSIT SYSTEM To reduce transportation congestion, increase road capacity, promote safety, facilitate mobility, provide for an integrated regional transportation system, and improve the health, welfare, and safety of the citizens of Washington, shall a regional transit authority (RTA) implement a regional rail and transit system to link [insert geographic references] as described in [insert plan name], financed by [insert taxes] imposed by RTA, all as provided in Resolution No. [insert number]; and shall a regional transportation investment district (RTID) be formed and authorized to implement and invest in improving the regional transportation system by replacing vulnerable bridges, improving safety, and increasing capacity on state and local roads to further link major education, employment, and retail centers described in [insert plan name] financed by [insert taxes] imposed by RTID, all as provided in Resolution No. [insert number]; further provided that the RTA taxes shall be imposed only within the boundaries of the RTA, and the RTID taxes shall be imposed only within the boundaries of the RTID? Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .□ No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .□"
RCW 29A.32.210 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 32 / Section 210
RCW 29A.32.210: Duty to print and distribute—Contents—Format.
Status: in_force

Before any primary or general election, or any special election held under RCW 29A.04.321 or 29A.04.330 , each county auditor shall print and distribute a local voters' pamphlet. The pamphlet shall provide information on all measures and candidates appearing on ballots within that county. The format of any local voters' pamphlet shall, whenever applicable, comply with the provisions of this chapter regarding the publication of the state candidates' and voters' pamphlets.
RCW 29A.04.630 — Washington Code / Title 29A / Chapter 04 / Section 630
RCW 29A.04.630: Joint powers and duties with board.
Status: in_force

(1) The secretary of state and the board created in RCW 29A.04.510 shall jointly adopt rules, in the manner specified for the adoption of rules under the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, governing: (a) The training of persons officially designated by major political parties as elections observers under this title, and the training and certification of election administration officials and personnel; (b) The policies and procedures for conducting election reviews under RCW 29A.04.570 ; and (c) The policies and standards to be used by the board in reviewing and rendering decisions regarding appeals filed under RCW 29A.04.570 . (2) The board created in RCW 29A.04.510 may adopt rules governing its procedures.
RCW 29B.10.540 — Washington Code / Title 29B / Chapter 10 / Section 540
RCW 29B.10.540: Treasurer—Deputy treasurer.
Status: in_force

"Treasurer" and "deputy treasurer" mean the individuals appointed by a candidate or political or incidental committee, pursuant to RCW 29B.25.040 , to perform the duties specified in that section.