Washington Administrative Code

Prior to its use or purchase by any Washington county, an automated signature verification system must be reviewed and approved by the secretary of state for use with that county's particular election management system.Prior to approval, an automated signature verification system…

An agreement by a county auditor to purchase a signature verification system is subject to that system passing an acceptance test that demonstrates the system is operating as it was when it was approved by the secretary of state. The minimum acceptance test standards are listed b…

No more than fourteen days following the approval of an automated signature verification system, the secretary of state must issue a written approval report that specifies the approved use of the system and conditions of its use. The approval must include the prescribed setting f…

These rules are adopted under authority of RCW 29A.04.611 to implement RCW 29A.76.040, the census mapping project administered by the secretary of state for the U.S. Census Bureau.[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. WSR 08-05-120, § 434-369-005, filed 2/19/08, effective 3/21/08…

As used in this chapter:(1) "Census mapping project" includes all functions performed by the secretary of state and each county auditor in the preparation, maintenance, distribution, and filing of precinct maps, detail maps, and census correspondence listings pursuant to RCW 29A.…

(1) Each county auditor shall maintain precinct maps of that county.(2) Upon request, each county auditor shall transmit to the secretary of state one complete set of precinct maps of that county.[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. WSR 08-05-120, § 434-369-020, filed 2/19/08, e…

Upon request, each county auditor shall prepare and transmit to the secretary of state a precinct list of that county. Precinct names shall be listed in alphabetical order or numbered consecutively.[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. WSR 08-05-120, § 434-369-030, filed 2/19/08,…

The secretary of state shall prepare and transmit to each county auditor the following:(1) A set of base maps of that county;(2) A set of census overlay maps for each base map of that county; and(3) A sequential census unit listing, provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, which indic…

Pursuant to the provisions of RCW 29A.76.040, each county auditor shall prepare precinct overlay maps for each base map of the county and each city and town within that county.[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. WSR 08-05-120, § 434-369-050, filed 2/19/08, effective 3/21/08. St…

Pursuant to the provisions of RCW 29A.76.040, each county auditor shall prepare a census correspondence listing according to the following procedures:(1) Record the census tracts or county census divisions (CCD) and the smallest census units in each area for which population coun…

(1) Upon request, each county auditor shall send to the secretary of state the complete set of detail maps and census correspondence listings for that county;(2) The secretary of state shall maintain the original sets of detail maps of each county;(3) The secretary of state shall…

(1) A person desiring to file with the secretary of state a proposed initiative to the people, initiative to the legislature, or referendum measure may do so by filing the following documents:(a) A legible copy of the measure proposed, or the act or part of such act on which a re…

After filing the documents listed in WAC 434-379-005, a copy of the documents is sent to the code reviser. The code reviser shall issue a certificate of review certifying that he or she has reviewed the measure and that any recommendations have been communicated to the sponsor. W…

(1) The secretary of state shall maintain a separate series of serial numbers for initiatives to the people, initiatives to the legislature, referendum bills, and referendum measures.(a) The series for initiatives to the legislature shall be eight characters in length, commencing…

Once the proposed text and certificate of review to an initiative or referendum is received, the secretary of state shall place the assigned serial number and the date filed on the top of the initiative or referendum text submitted by the sponsor. The secretary of state will subm…

A sponsor may withdraw an initiative or referendum by submitting a written request to the secretary of state. The sponsor may withdraw an initiative or referendum until the time when the measure's ballot title and summary are finally established. The ballot title and summary are …

(1) Petitions must be at least eleven inches wide by fourteen inches long.(2) Petitions must include:(a) The initiative or referendum number;(b) The ballot title, which must include:(i) The subject, not more than ten words;(ii) The concise description, not more than thirty words;…

(1) To allow for sufficient personnel to accept and process signed petitions, the sponsor of an initiative or referendum must make an appointment to file the signed petitions at least two business days in advance. Pursuant to RCW 29A.72.170, the secretary of state must reject pet…

In the verification of signatures on initiative and referendum petitions, under RCW 29A.72.230, the following statistical test may be employed:(1) Take a minimum three percent random sample of the signatures submitted;(2) Check each signature sampled to determine the number of va…

(1) The secretary of state must determine if the person who signed a petition is registered to vote. The information may be researched in voter registration records using first name, last name, address, or any combination thereof. A signature may not be rejected merely because:(a…

A signature on a petition sheet must be matched to the signature on file in the voter registration records. The following characteristics must be utilized to evaluate signatures to determine whether they are by the same writer:(1) The signature is handwritten.(2) Agreement in sty…

Every candidate or committee appearing in the state voters' pamphlet shall designate a contact person with whom the secretary shall communicate all matters related to the pamphlet. Within five business days of the appointment of the initial members, the committee shall provide a …

(1) Candidate statements and photographs shall be submitted to the secretary of state no later than 11 days following the last day of the filing period.(a) A declared primary election write-in candidate may submit a statement and photograph to the secretary of state no later than…

Candidate photographs submitted for inclusion in the voters' pamphlet must have been taken within the past five years and not be digitally altered. Photographs must be limited to the head and shoulders, with a light-colored background, but not a white background. Color photograph…

No photograph submitted for inclusion in the voters pamphlet may reveal clothing or insignia suggesting the holding of a public office. Examples of such clothing or insignia include, but are not limited to, judicial robes, law enforcement or military uniforms, official seals or s…

The secretary may reject candidate photographs that do not meet the guidelines outlined by rule.(1) The secretary will notify candidates whose photographs are being rejected;(2) Candidates whose photographs are rejected by the secretary will be allowed to submit a new photograph;…

Committee names and contact information shall be submitted to the secretary of state.(1) Names for publication in the voters pamphlet shall be listed in the order submitted by the committee;(2) Each committee member may use up to eight words as a title or identification. No words…

(1) Statements or arguments submitted for inclusion in the voters' pamphlet shall not exceed the word limit set by statute.(a) Arguments for or against measures may contain up to four headings used to highlight major points in the argument and will count toward the maximum word c…

The secretary of state is not responsible for the content of arguments or statements and shall not edit the content of statements or arguments:(1) The secretary may correct obvious errors in grammar, spelling or punctuation;(2) The secretary shall promptly attempt to notify any c…

(1) The secretary shall be prohibited from using the art work, photography, or other materials provided by candidates for public office in the voters' pamphlet in which the candidate's name appears, except that required by law or rule for the candidate's statements or, informatio…

If a state voters' pamphlet includes a race for partisan office, the pamphlet must include an explanation that each candidate for partisan office may state a political party that the candidate prefers, and that a candidate's preference does not imply that the candidate is nominat…

These regulations are adopted under the provisions of chapter 40.14 RCW as amended by section 1, chapter 10, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and chapter 54, Laws of 1973, in order to furnish procedures for the management, disposition, and preservation of public records of state and local …

"Agency" means any department, office, commission, board, or division of state government; and any county, city, district, or other political subdivision or municipal corporation or any department, office, commission, court, or board or any other state or local government unit, h…

"Public records" means any paper, correspondence, completed form, record book, photograph, map, or drawing, regardless of physical form or characteristics, and including records stored on magnetic, electronic, or optical media, and including all copies thereof, that have been mad…

"Writing" means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostatting, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation, including letters, words, pictures, sounds, symbols, or combinations thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic tape, pun…

"Records classification" means the designation of a record as either an official public record or as an office file and memorandum, as those terms are defined by RCW 40.14.010 and by these regulations.[Statutory Authority: Chapter 40.14 RCW. WSR 93-04-001, § 434-610-030, filed 1/…

"Official public records" means all original or most important copies of vouchers, receipts, and other documents necessary to isolate and prove the validity of every transaction relating to the receipt, use, and disposition of all public property and public income from all source…

"Office files and memoranda" means all records, correspondence, exhibits, record books, booklets, drawings, maps, completed forms, or documents produced or received by the agency but not defined and classified as official public records; all documents and reports made for the int…

"Record series" means any group of related records which is filed and used as a unit and which permits evaluation as a unit for disposition purposes.[Statutory Authority: Chapter 40.14 RCW. WSR 93-04-001, § 434-610-060, filed 1/21/93, effective 2/21/93.]

"Retention period" means the period of time that must elapse before a specific record is eligible for disposal or transfer in accord with approved retention schedules.[Statutory Authority: Chapter 40.14 RCW. WSR 93-04-001, § 434-610-070, filed 1/21/93, effective 2/21/93.]

"Long term records" means records which have an enduring administrative, legal, or financial value and in consequence thereof, must be retained and preserved more than six year.[Statutory Authority: Chapter 40.14 RCW. WSR 93-04-001, § 434-610-080, filed 1/21/93, effective 2/21/93…

"Archival records" means those public records of state and local government agencies which are determined by the state archivist as having continued historical value, must be permanently preserved and have been or may be transferred to the custody of the division of archives afte…

"Retention schedule" means a compilation of records of an office by name and description which indicates the length of time each record series must be retained and authorizing its disposition.[Statutory Authority: Chapter 40.14 RCW. WSR 93-04-001, § 434-610-100, filed 1/21/93, ef…

"Scheduled records" are those public records which have been inventoried in accord with these regulations and approved for disposition and/or transfer to the records center but remain under the jurisdiction of the agency of origin.[Statutory Authority: Chapter 40.14 RCW. WSR 93-0…

"Division records" are those records pertaining to the operations of the division of archives and records management.[Statutory Authority: Chapter 40.14 RCW. WSR 93-04-001, § 434-610-120, filed 1/21/93, effective 2/21/93.]

All public records shall be and remain the property of the state or local agency. They shall be delivered by outgoing officials and employees to their successors and shall be preserved, stored, transferred, destroyed, and otherwise managed, only in accordance with the provisions …

(1) Unless otherwise provided by law, public records must remain in the legal custody of the office in which they were originally filed, which shall be considered the office of record, or shall be destroyed or transferred pursuant to instructions from the state or local records c…