OLYMPIA—Interested in running for public office in Washington? The opportunity to formally declare candidacy for the 2024 elections opens May 6 at 8 a.m. online and at elections offices across the state. Mailed declarations are being accepted now and must be received with payment no later than 5 p.m. on May 10, when candidate filing week ends.
During the May 6-10 filing period, candidacies can be declared for more than 400 federal, state, judicial, legislative, county, and other offices scheduled for 2024 elections. All statewide Executive offices, all Congressional seats, a U.S. Senate position, and the majority of state Legislature seats will be on the ballot. This year for the first time, candidates for Superior Court and all legislative districts must file with the Office of the Secretary of State, which can be done via the office’s website, by mail, or in person.
Full information on state offices and filing fees can be found at the Office of the Secretary of State’s Elections website. Applicants are encouraged to file online if possible.
“Filing for candidacy online is the easiest option, and you can do it from the convenience of home,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “This year, the candidate filing period is a week earlier than in prior years, so we’re providing notice to the public early to ensure everyone interested in running can get prepared.”
Applicants who do not wish to file online can print a Declaration of Candidacy form and mail it along with a check payable to the Office of the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 40229, Olympia, WA, 98504-0229. State candidates may also file in person at the Secretary of State’s office in the Legislative Building, 416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW in Olympia.
All candidates for federal, statewide, legislative, Court of Appeals, and Superior Court positions must file with the Office of the Secretary of State online, in person, or by mail. For filing information and state Voters’ Pamphlets guidelines, see the State Candidate Guide. For a complete list of FAQs and deadlines, visit the Candidate Filing FAQ page.
For filing questions, contact the Elections office at (800) 448-4881 or elections@sos.wa.gov.
“Serving as an elected official is an opportunity to help your community,” Secretary Hobbs said. “Holding office enables you to be involved with crucial decisions, whether at the local, state, or federal level.”
Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office also operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program to provide incentives for efficiency improvements. The Secretary of State also oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.
SOURCE: Office of the Secretary of State
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
