Title 29A — Title 29A ELECTIONS

Words and phrases as defined in this chapter, wherever used in Title 29A RCW, 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 pa…

As used in this title:(1) "Ballot" means, as the context implies, either:(a) The issues and offices to be voted upon in a jurisdiction or portion of a jurisdiction at a particular primary, general election, or special election;(b) A facsimile of the contents of a particular ballo…

"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.[ 2019 c 391 s 2.]

"Canvassing" means the process of examining ballots or groups of ballots, subtotals, and cumulative totals in order to determine the official returns of a primary, special, or general election and includes the tabulation of any votes that were not previously tabulated.[ 2013 c 11…

"Counting center" means the facility or facilities designated by the county auditor to count and canvass ballots.[ 2011 c 10 s 3; 2003 c 111 s 104. Prior: 1999 c 158 s 1; 1990 c 59 s 4. Formerly RCW 29.01.042.]Notes:Notice to registered poll voters—Elections by mail—2011 c 10: Se…

"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.[ 2003 c 111 s 105; 1984 c 106 s 1. Formerly RCW 2…

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 vo…

"Disabled voter" means any registered voter who qualifies for special parking privileges under RCW 46.19.010, or who is defined as blind under RCW 74.18.020, or who qualifies to require assistance with voting under RCW 29A.40.160.[ 2011 c 10 s 5; 2010 c 161 s 1103; 2003 c 111 s 1…

"Election" when used alone means a general election except where the context indicates that a special election is included. "Election" when used without qualification does not include a primary.[ 2003 c 111 s 108. Prior: 1990 c 59 s 5; 1965 c 9 s 29.01.050; prior: 1907 c 209 s 1,…

"Election officer" includes any officer who has a duty to perform relating to elections under the provisions of any statute, charter, or ordinance.[ 2003 c 111 s 110. Prior: 1965 c 9 s 29.01.060. Formerly RCW 29.01.060.]

"Election official" when pertaining to voter registration includes any staff member of the office of the secretary of state, staff of state agencies or offices providing voter registration services, or a staff member of a county auditor's office.[ 2023 c 466 s 34; 2019 c 391 s 1.…

"Elector" means any person who possesses all of the qualifications to vote under Article VI of the state Constitution, including persons who are seventeen years of age at the primary election or presidential primary election but who will be eighteen years of age by the general el…

"Filing officer" means the county or state officer with whom declarations of candidacy for an office are required to be filed under this title.[ 2003 c 111 s 112. Prior: 1990 c 59 s 77. Formerly RCW 29.01.068.]Notes:Intent—Effective date—1990 c 59: See notes following RCW 29A.04.…

"Future voter" means a United States citizen and Washington state resident, age sixteen or seventeen, who has provided information related to voter registration to the appropriate state agencies.[ 2023 c 361 s 2; 2018 c 109 s 2.]Notes:Findings—Intent—Effective date—2018 c 109: Se…

"General election" means an election required to be held on a fixed date recurring at regular intervals.[ 2003 c 111 s 113. Prior: 1965 c 9 s 29.01.070. Formerly RCW 29.01.070.]

An "infamous crime" is a crime punishable by death in the state penitentiary or imprisonment in a state or federal correctional facility. Neither an adjudication in juvenile court pursuant to chapter 13.40 RCW, nor a conviction for a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor, is an "infam…

"Major political party" means a political party whose nominees for president and vice president received at least five percent of the total vote cast at the last presidential election. A political party qualifying as a major political party under this section retains such status …

"Measure" includes any proposition or question submitted to the voters.[ 2003 c 111 s 117; 1965 c 9 s 29.01.110. Formerly RCW 29.01.110.]

"Minor political party" means a political organization other than a major political party.[ 2003 c 111 s 116. Prior: 1965 c 9 s 29.01.100; prior: 1955 c 102 s 8; prior: 1907 c 209 s 26, part; RRS s 5203, part. Formerly RCW 29.01.100.]Notes:Minor party convention: RCW 29A.56.600 t…

"Overseas voter" means any elector of the state of Washington outside the territorial limits of the United States.[ 2009 c 369 s 2; 2003 c 111 s 119. Prior: 1987 c 346 s 6. Formerly RCW 29.01.117.]Notes:Legislative intent—Effective date—1987 c 346: See notes following RCW 29A.40.…

"Partisan office" means a public office for which a candidate may indicate a political party preference on his or her declaration of candidacy and have that preference appear on the primary and general election ballot in conjunction with his or her name. The following are partisa…

"Precinct" means a geographical subdivision for voting purposes that is established by a county legislative authority.[ 2003 c 111 s 121; 1965 c 9 s 29.01.120. Prior: 1933 c 1 s 2; RRS s 5114-2; prior: 1915 c 16 s 1; RRS s 5114. Formerly RCW 29.01.120.]

"Primary" or "primary election" means a procedure for winnowing candidates for public office to a final list of two as part of a special or general election. Each voter has the right to cast a vote for any candidate for each office without any limitation based on party preference…

"Qualified" when pertaining to a winner of an election means that for such election:(1) The results have been certified;(2) Any required bond has been posted; and(3) The winner has taken and subscribed an oath or affirmation in compliance with the appropriate statute, or if none …

"Recount" means the process of retabulating ballots and producing amended election returns based on that retabulation, even if the vote totals have not changed.[ 2003 c 111 s 124. Prior: 2001 c 225 s 1. Formerly RCW 29.01.136.]

"Registered voter" means any elector who has completed the statutory registration procedures established by this title. The terms "registered voter" and "qualified elector" are synonymous.[ 2003 c 111 s 125; 1987 c 346 s 7. Formerly RCW 29.01.137.]Notes:Legislative intent—Effecti…

"Residence" for the purpose of registering and voting means a person's permanent address where he or she physically resides and maintains his or her abode. However, no person gains residence by reason of his or her presence or loses his or her residence by reason of his or her ab…

"Service voter" means any elector of the state of Washington who is a member of the armed forces under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973 ff-6 while in active service, is a member of a reserve component of the armed forces, is a student or member of the faculty at a United States military acade…

"Short term" means the brief period of time starting upon certification of the general election or issuance of a certificate of election, and ending with the start of the next full term, and is applicable only when there has been a vacancy in the office after the last election at…

"Special election" means any election that is not a general election and may be held in conjunction with a general election or primary.[ 2003 c 111 s 129; 1965 c 9 s 29.01.170. Prior: Code 1881 s 3056; 1865 p 27 s 2; RRS s 5155. Formerly RCW 29.01.170.]

"Total confinement" has the same meaning as in RCW 9.94A.030, but a sentence of total confinement does not include confinement imposed as a sanction for a community custody violation under RCW 9.94A.633(1).[ 2021 c 10 s 4.]Notes:Effective date—2021 c 10: See note following RCW 29…

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 f…

(1) The rights of Washington voters are protected by its constitution and laws and include the following fundamental rights:(a) The right of qualified voters to vote at all elections;(b) The right of absolute secrecy of the vote. No voter may be required to disclose political fai…

Except for service and overseas voters, only persons registered to vote shall be permitted to vote:(1) At any election held for the purpose of electing persons to public office;(2) At any recall election of a public officer;(3) At any election held for the submission of a measure…

The county auditor of each county shall be ex officio the supervisor of all primaries and elections, general or special, and it shall be the county auditor's duty to provide places for holding such primaries and elections; to provide the supplies and materials necessary for the c…

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 f…

(1) The legislature finds that the elimination of polling places resulting from the transition to vote by mail creates barriers that restrict the ability of many voters with disabilities from achieving the independence and privacy in voting provided by the accessible voting devic…

The secretary of state through the election division shall be the chief election officer for all federal, state, county, city, town, and district elections that are subject to this title. The secretary of state shall keep records of elections held for which he or she is required …

The secretary of state shall ensure that each county auditor is provided with the most recent version of the election laws of the state, as contained in this title. Where amendments have been enacted after the last compilation of the election laws, he or she shall ensure that eac…

The secretary of state shall provide a toll-free media and web page designed to allow voter communication with the office of the secretary of state.[ 2003 c 111 s 141. Prior: 2001 c 41 s 5. Formerly RCW 29.04.091.]

The secretary of state or a county auditor shall accept and file in his or her office electronic transmissions of the following documents:(1) Declarations of candidacy;(2) County canvass reports;(3) Voters' pamphlet statements;(4) Arguments for and against ballot measures that wi…

(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 …

Primaries for general elections to be held in November, and the election of precinct committee officers, must be held on the first Tuesday of the preceding August.[ 2011 c 349 s 2; 2006 c 344 s 1; 2004 c 271 s 105.]Notes:Effective date—2011 c 349: See note following RCW 29A.04.25…

(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 adop…

(1) All city, town, and district general elections shall be held throughout the state of Washington on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in the odd-numbered years.This section shall not apply to:(a) Elections for the recall of any elective public officer;(b…

(1) In each county with a population of two hundred ten thousand or more, first-class school districts containing a city of the first-class shall hold their elections biennially as provided in RCW 29A.04.330.(2) Except as provided in RCW 28A.343.610, the directors to be elected m…

Every county, city, town, and district, and the state is liable for its proportionate share of the costs when such elections are held in conjunction with other elections held under RCW 29A.04.321 and 29A.04.330.Whenever any county, city, town, or district, or the state holds any …

(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 offic…

(1) For any reimbursement of election costs under RCW 29A.04.420, the secretary of state shall pay within thirty days after the receipt of a properly executed and documented voucher for such expenses and the entry of an allotment from specifically appropriated funds for this purp…

(1) The election account is created in the state treasury.(2) The following receipts must be deposited into the account:Amounts received from the federal government under Public Law 107-252 (October 29, 2002), known as the "Help America Vote Act of 2002," including any amounts re…