Title 29A — Title 29A ELECTIONS

If the secretary of state accepts and files an initiative or referendum petition upon its being submitted for filing or if he or she is required to file it by the court, he or she shall, in the presence of the person submitting such petition for filing if he or she desires to be …

Upon the filing of an initiative or referendum petition, the secretary of state shall proceed to verify and canvass the names of the legal voters on the petition. The verification and canvass of signatures on the petition may be observed by persons representing the advocates and …

Any citizen dissatisfied with the determination of the secretary of state that an initiative or referendum petition contains or does not contain the requisite number of signatures of legal voters may, within five days after such determination, apply to the superior court of Thurs…

If a referendum or initiative petition for submission of a measure to the people is found sufficient, the secretary of state shall at the time and in the manner that he or she certifies to the county auditors of the various counties the names of candidates for state and district …

Whenever any measure proposed by initiative petition for submission to the legislature is rejected by the legislature or the legislature takes no action thereon before the end of the regular session at which it is submitted, the secretary of state shall certify the serial number …

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." Suc…

For a measure designated as "Alternative Measure No. . . . . B," the secretary of state shall obtain from the measure adopting the alternative, or otherwise the attorney general, a concise description of the alternative measure that differs from the concise description of the ori…

The county auditor of each county shall print the serial numbers, ballot titles, and public investment impact disclosures certified by the secretary of state on the official ballots for the election at which initiative and referendum measures are to be submitted to the people for…

(1) It is the responsibility of each county, municipal corporation, and special purpose district with a governing body comprised of internal director, council, or commissioner districts not based on statutorily required land ownership criteria to periodically redistrict its gover…

The legislative authority of each county and each city, town, and special purpose district which lies within the county shall provide the county auditor accurate information describing its geographical boundaries and the boundaries of its director, council, or commissioner distri…

(1) With regard to functions relating to census, apportionment, and the establishment of legislative and congressional districts, the secretary of state shall:(a) Coordinate and monitor precinct mapping functions of the county auditors and county engineers;(b) Maintain official s…

In any change to its electoral system under RCW 29A.92.040 or preparation of a redistricting plan under RCW 29A.92.040, political subdivisions may use population data regarding political parties only to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with chapter 113, Laws of 2018 or f…

Each political party organization may adopt rules governing its own organization and the nonstatutory functions of that organization.[ 2005 c 2 s 14 (Initiative Measure No. 872, approved November 2, 2004); 2003 c 111 s 2001; 1977 ex.s. c 329 s 16; 1965 c 9 s 29.42.010. Prior: 196…

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 Janu…

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 org…

If a vacancy occurs in the office of precinct committee officer by reason of death, resignation, or disqualification of the incumbent, or because of failure to elect, the respective county chair of the county central committee shall fill the vacancy by appointment. However, in a …

(1) Any member of a major political party who is a registered voter in the precinct and who will be at least eighteen years old by the date of the precinct committee officer election may file his or her declaration of candidacy as prescribed under RCW 29A.24.031 with the county a…

The statutory requirements for filing as a candidate at the primaries apply to candidates for precinct committee officer. The office must be voted upon at the primaries, and the names of all candidates in contested races must appear under the proper party and office designations …

Within 45 days after the statewide general election in even-numbered years, the county chair of each major political party shall call separate meetings of all elected precinct committee officers in each legislative district for the purpose of selecting a legislative district chai…

(1) A county auditor who suspects a person of fraudulent voter registration, vote tampering, or irregularities in voting shall transmit his or her suspicions and observations without delay to the canvassing board.(2) The county auditor shall make a good faith effort to contact th…

Every officer who willfully violates RCW 29A.56.110 through 29A.56.270, for the violation of which no penalty is prescribed in this title or who willfully fails to comply with the provisions of RCW 29A.56.110 through 29A.56.270 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.[ 2011 c 10 s 67; 2…

A person who willfully violates any provision of this title regarding the conduct of mail ballot primaries or elections is guilty of a class C felony punishable under RCW 9A.20.021.[ 2003 c 111 s 2103; 2001 c 241 s 21. Formerly RCW 29.38.070.]

A person who removes or defaces lawfully placed political advertising including yard signs or billboards without authorization is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable to the same extent as a misdemeanor that is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021. The defacement or removal of each item …

(1) A person who knowingly destroys, alters, defaces, conceals, or discards a completed voter registration form, signed ballot declaration, or voted ballot is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. This section does not apply to (a) the voter who completed the form or declaration, or (b)…

(1) The attorney general may bring a civil action for such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to carry out the provisions of RCW 29A.40.170 (3) and (4) in the superior court of the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred.(2) A person or federally r…

If any county auditor or registration assistant, including government agency employees providing voter registration services under the requirements of state law or the national voter registration act of 1993:(1) Willfully neglects or refuses to perform any duty required by law in…

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.[ 2003 c 111 s 2106. Prior: 2001 c 41 s 2. Formerly RCW…

Any person who:(1) Knowingly provides false information on an application for voter registration under any provision of this title;(2) Knowingly makes or attests to a false declaration as to his or her qualifications as a voter;(3) Knowingly causes or permits himself or herself t…

A person who knows that he or she does not possess the legal qualifications of a voter and who registers to vote is guilty of a class C felony. This section does not apply to persons age sixteen or seventeen signing up to register to vote as authorized under RCW 29A.08.170 or 29A…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5892.SL) ***Any state or local election officer, or a designee, who has access to any county or statewide voter registration database who knowingly uses or alters information in the database inconsistent with the performance of his or her duties is gui…

Every officer who willfully violates any of the provisions of chapter 29A.72 RCW or RCW 29A.32.010 through 29A.32.121, for the violation of which no penalty is herein prescribed, or who willfully fails to comply with the provisions of chapter 29A.72 RCW or RCW 29A.32.010 through …

Every person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, who:(1) For any consideration, compensation, gratuity, reward, or thing of value or promise thereof, signs or declines to sign any recall petition; or(2) Advertises in any newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication, or in an…

(1) Every person who signs an initiative or referendum petition with any other than his or her true name is guilty of a class C felony punishable under RCW 9A.20.021.(2) Every person who knowingly signs more than one petition for the same initiative or referendum measure or who s…

(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 o…

Every person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who:(1) For any consideration or gratuity or promise thereof, signs or declines to sign any initiative or referendum petition; or(2) Provides or receives consideration for soliciting or procuring signatures on an initiative or referen…

The following apply to persons signing filing fee petitions prescribed by RCW 29A.24.101:(1) A person who signs a petition with any other than his or her name shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.(2) A person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if the person knowingly: Signs more than o…

Any person who with intent to mislead or confuse the electors conspires with another person who has a surname similar to an incumbent seeking reelection to the same office, or to an opponent for the same office whose political reputation has been well established, by persuading s…

The legislature finds that paying a worker, whose task it is to secure the signatures of voters on initiative or referendum petitions, on the basis of the number of signatures the worker secures on the petitions encourages the introduction of fraud in the signature gathering proc…

Every person who:(1) Knowingly provides false information on his or her declaration of candidacy or petition of nomination; or(2) Conceals or fraudulently defaces or destroys a certificate that has been filed with an elections officer under chapter 29A.20 RCW or a declaration of …

A person is guilty of a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW who files a declaration of candidacy for any public office of:(1) A nonexistent or fictitious person; or(2) The name of any person not his or her true name; or(3) A name similar to that of an incumbe…

Any person who is retained or employed by any officer authorized by the laws of this state to procure the printing of any official ballot or who is engaged in printing official ballots is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the person knowingly:(1) Appropriates any official ballot t…

(1) It is a gross misdemeanor for a person to examine, or assist another to examine, any voter record, ballot, or any other state or local government official election material if the person, without lawful authority, conducts the examination:(a) For the purpose of identifying th…

(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 rad…

Any election officer who does any electioneering at a voting center or ballot drop location during the voting period that begins eighteen days before and ends the day of a special election, general election, or primary is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction must be fined…

Deliberately impeding other voters from casting their votes by refusing to leave a voting booth or voting device is a misdemeanor and is subject to the penalties provided in chapter 9A.20 RCW. Election officers may provide assistance in the manner provided by RCW 29A.40.160 to an…

Any person who, without lawful authority, removes a ballot from a voting center or ballot drop location is guilty of a class C felony punishable to the same extent as a class C felony that is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021.[ 2017 c 283 s 3; 2011 c 10 s 72; 2003 c 111 s 2124. Prio…

Anyone who, without authorization, removes from a voting center a paper record produced by a direct recording electronic voting device is guilty of a class C felony punishable under RCW 9A.20.021.[ 2011 c 10 s 73; 2005 c 242 s 6.]Notes:Notice to registered poll voters—Elections b…

Any person who willfully defaces, removes, or destroys any of the supplies or materials that the person knows are intended both for use in a voting center, election office, ballot counting area, ballot storage area, or election system including materials and systems meant for ena…

Any person who willfully and without authority accesses or assists another person or entity with unauthorized access to a voting center, election office, ballot counting area, ballot storage area, or any election system, or provides unauthorized access to another person or entity…

Any person who tampers with or damages or attempts to damage any voting machine or device to be used or being used in a primary or special or general election, or who prevents or attempts to prevent the correct operation of such machine or device, or any unauthorized person who a…