Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Washington

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# Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Washington

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

## Contents

* 1 Year-specific filing information
* 1.1 2020
* 1.1.1 U.S. House
* 1.1.2 State House
* 1.1.3 State Senate
* 2 Process to become a candidate
* 2.1 For write-in candidates
* 3 Petition requirements
* 3.1 Format requirements
* 4 Election-related agencies
* 5 Term limits
* 5.1 State executives
* 5.2 State legislators
* 6 Congressional partisanship
* 7 State legislative partisanship
* 7.1 Washington State Senate
* 7.2 Washington House of Representatives
* 8 Recent news
* 9 See also
* 10 External links
* 10.1 Official state and federal links
* 10.2 Other information
* 11 Footnotes

In order to get on the ballot in Washington, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Washington. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Washington." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

See state election laws

## Year-specific filing information

### 2020

#### U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Washington in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Washington, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020

State  | Office  | Party  | Signatures required  | Signature formula  | Filing fee  | Filing fee formula  | Filing deadline  | Source
Washington | 1st Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source
Washington | 2nd Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source
Washington | 3rd Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source
Washington | 4th Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source
Washington | 5th Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source
Washington | 6th Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source
Washington | 7th Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source
Washington | 8th Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source
Washington | 9th Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source
Washington | 10th Congressional District | All candidates | N/A | N/A | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 5/15/2020 | Source

#### State House

The table below details filing requirements for Washington House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020

Chamber name  | Party  | Signatures required  | Filing fee  | Filing deadline  | Source
Washington House of Representatives | All candidates | N/A | $568.81 | 5/15/2020 | Source

#### State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Washington State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020

Chamber name  | Party  | Signatures required  | Filing fee  | Filing deadline  | Source
Washington State Senate | All candidates | N/A | $568.81 | 5/15/2020 | Source

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

### 2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Washington elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

May 18, 2018

### 2016

See also: Washington elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Washington in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016

Deadline  | Event type  | Event description
January 11, 2016 | Campaign finance | Monthly C-4 and C-3 due, if required
February 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Monthly C-4 and C-3 due, if required
March 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Monthly C-4 and C-3 due, if required
April 11, 2016 | Campaign finance | Monthly C-4 and C-3 due, if required
May 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Monthly C-4 and C-3 due, if required
May 20, 2016 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for all candidates
June 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Monthly C-4 due, if required
July 12, 2016 | Campaign finance | 21-day pre-primary C-4 due
July 15, 2016 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for write-in primary candidates
July 26, 2016 | Campaign finance | 7-day pre-primary C-4 due
August 2, 2016 | Election date | Primary election
September 12, 2016 | Campaign finance | Post-primary C-4 due
October 18, 2016 | Campaign finance | 21-day pre-general C-4 due
October 21, 2016 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for write-in general election candidates
November 1, 2016 | Campaign finance | 7-day pre-general C-4 due
November 8, 2016 | Election date | General election
December 12, 2016 | Campaign finance | Post-general C-4 due (and C-3, if required)
January 10, 2017 | Campaign finance | End of election cycle C-4 due (and C-3, if required)
Note: Beginning June 1, 2016, C-3 reports must be filed weekly for deposits made during the previous seven days.
Sources: Washington Secretary of State, "2016 Elections Calendar," accessed June 12, 2015
Washington Public Disclosure Commission, "2016 Key Reporting Dates for Candidates," accessed November 25, 2015

### 2015

To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section.

|

See also: Washington elections, 2015

There were no regularly scheduled state executive, state legislative or congressional elections in Washington in 2015.

### 2014

To view historical information for 2014, click [show] to expand the section.

|

See also: Washington elections, 2014

Washington held a nonpartisan primary on August 8, 2014 and a general election on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices:

* 10 seats in the United States House of Representatives
* 25 seats in the Washington State Senate
* 98 seats in the Washington House of Representatives

The 2014 filing deadline for all party candidates running for office was May 17, 2014.[1] The filing deadline for write-in candidates participating in the primary election was July 21, 2014.[1] The filing deadline for write-in candidates participating in the general election was October 17, 2014.[1]

Legend: Ballot access Campaign finance Election date

| Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014

Deadline  | Event type  | Event description
Within 2 weeks of becoming a candidate | Campaign finance | Statement of Organization, Personal Financial Affairs Statement, and Candidate Registration forms due
May 17, 2014 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for party candidates participating in the top-2 primary
Within 5 business days of receipt for each deposit | Campaign finance | Cash Receipts (Form C3) due
June 10, 2014 | Campaign finance | Campaign Summary Report (Form C4) due
July 15, 2014 | Campaign finance | 21-days before primary report due (Form C4)
July 21, 2014 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for write-in candidates participating in the top-2 primary
July 29, 2014 | Campaign finance | 7-days before primary report due (Form C4)
August 8, 2014 | Election date | Primary date
September 10, 2014 | Campaign finance | Post-primary report due (Form C4)
October 14, 2014 | Campaign finance | 21-days before general election report due (Form C4)
October 17, 2014 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for write-in candidates participating in the general election
October 28, 2014 | Campaign finance | 7-days before general election report due (Form C4)
November 4, 2014 | Election date | General election
December 10, 2014 | Campaign finance | Post-general report due (Form C4)

## Process to become a candidate

Declaration of candidacy form, 2013

See statutes: Chapter 29A.24 of the Washington Election Code

A candidate who desires to have his or her name printed on the ballot for election to an office other than president must complete and file a declaration of candidacy. The candidate must do the following:

* declare that he or she is a registered voter within the jurisdiction of the office for which he or she is filing (the candidate must include the address at which he or she is registered)
* indicate the position for which he or she is filing
* state a party preference, if the office is a partisan office
* indicate the amount of the filing fee accompanying the declaration of candidacy (the candidate may also indicate that he or she is filing a petition in lieu of the filing fee)
* sign the declaration of candidacy, stating that the information provided on the form is true and swearing or affirming that he or she will support the constitution and laws of the United States and the constitution and laws of the state of Washington[2]

The filing period for candidates begins on the Monday two weeks before Memorial Day and ends the following Friday in the year in which the office is scheduled to be voted upon. Candidates must also submit the declaration of candidacy to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission within one business day after the filing period has ended.[3][4]

A filing fee equal to 1 percent of the annual salary of the office at the time of filing must accompany the declaration of candidacy for any office with a fixed annual salary of more than $1,000.

A candidate who lacks sufficient assets or income at the time of filing may submit with his or her declaration of candidacy a filing fee petition. The petition must contain signatures from registered voters equal to the number of dollars of the filing fee.

### For write-in candidates

Any person who desires to be a write-in candidate and have his or her votes counted at a primary or general election can file a declaration of candidacy with the Washington Secretary of State and the Washington Public Disclosure Commission no later than 18 days before a primary or general election. A declaration of candidacy for a write-in candidate must be accompanied by a filing fee or a filing fee petition with the required signatures (fee amounts and signature requirements are the same as those stated above). Write-in votes cast for any candidates who fail to file this form will only be counted if the voter indicates "the office sought or position number, if the manner in which the write-in is done does not make the office or position clear."[5]

## Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

* * *

See the articles listed below for more information about ballot access requirements for the 2018 election cycle.

* * *

State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018
Independent candidate petition requirements for:
Gubernatorial candidates
U.S. Senate candidates
U.S. House candidates

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Washington.

### Format requirements

See statutes: Chapter 29A.24.101 of the Washington Election Code

In lieu of paying a filing fee, candidates can submit a filing fee petition with a number of signatures equivalent to the dollar amount of the filing fee for the specific office. The petition must be in substantially the following form:

“  | (FILING FEE PETITION FOR CANDIDATES)

We, the undersigned registered voters of (the state of Washington or the political subdivision for which the nomination is made), hereby petition that the name of (candidate’s name) be printed on the official primary ballot for the office of (insert name of office).[6][7]

| ”

|
|

The relevant statutes do not stipulate clearly any information on petition challenges or circulator requirements.

## Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Washington Secretary of State

520 Union Avenue SE

Olympia, Washington 98501-1429

Telephone: 360-902-4180

Toll-free: 1-800-448-4881

Website: http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/

Email: elections@sos.wa.gov

Washington State Public Disclosure Commission

711 Capitol Way #206

P.O. Box 40908

Olympia, Washington 98504-0908

Phone: 360-753-1111

Website: http://www.pdc.wa.gov/

## Term limits

### State executives

See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

There are no provisions specifying state executive term limits in Washington.

### State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

There are no term limits for Washington state legislators.

## Congressional partisanship

See also: List of United States Representatives from Washington and List of United States Senators from Washington

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Washington.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Washington

Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total
Democratic | 2 | 7 | 9
Republican | 0 | 3 | 3
Independent | 0 | 0 | 0
Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0
Total | 2 | 10 | 12

## State legislative partisanship

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Washington.

### Washington State Senate

Party  | As of December 2021

|

| Democratic Party | 28
| Republican Party | 20
| Vacancies  | 1
Total |  49

### Washington House of Representatives

Party  | As of December 2021

|

| Democratic Party | 57
| Republican Party | 41
| Vacancies  | 0
Total |  98

## Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Washington ballot access. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Washington - Google News

## See also

* Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Washington
* Ballot access requirements for political parties in Washington
* Washington elections, 2020
* Campaign finance requirements in Washington
* Counties in Washington
* List of United States Representatives from Washington
* List of United States Senators from Washington
* Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
* State executives with term limits
* States with gubernatorial term limits
* State legislatures with term limits

## External links

### Official state and federal links

* Washington Secretary of State, Elections and Voting
* Washington Public Disclosure Commission
* Federal Election Commission
* 2016 candidate guide, from the Washington Secretary of State

### Other information

* Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
* ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
* National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives

## Footnotes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Washington Secretary of State, "Washington State Election Calendar," accessed November 6, 2013
2. ↑ Washington Election Code, "Chapter 29A.24.031," accessed March 7, 2014
3. ↑ Washington Election Code, "Chapter 29A.24.050," accessed March 10, 2014
4. ↑ Washington Election Code, "Chapter 29A.24.070," accessed March 10, 2014
5. ↑ Washington Election Code, "Chapter 29A.24.311," accessed March 10, 2014
6. ↑ Washington Election Code, "Chapter 29A.24.101," accessed March 11, 2014
7. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

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