Campaign season in Washington soon will become official when candidates for public office file with election officials during the week of May 11-15.

Filing by mail, a seldom-used option, opened April 27. But the more popular methods of filing for office, in-person or online, will take place during Filing Week. Depending on the office sought, candidates will file either with the Secretary of State’s Election Office (520 Union Ave. SE in Olympia) or with their county auditor/elections department.

This is an “off-year” election, with no congressional or statewide races on the ballot, and only one legislative contest: a special 30th District, House Position 2 race to complete the unexpired term of Rep. Roger Freeman, who died last October. Most offices on this year’s ballot will be local, such as city council, school district, fire district, port district and other races.

In-person, fax or e-mailed filings will be handled during normal office hours during Candidate Filing Week.  Online filings will be accepted from 9 a.m., May 11, through 4 p.m., May 15. Filings by mail will be accepted through May 15.  Applicable filing fees must accompany any candidate filing.

There are 15 state offices open for filing. Two file with the Secretary of State – the special 30th District House race and a Benton-Franklin Superior Court position. The other 13 offices, a Court of Appeals position in King County and 12 single-county Superior Court races, will be filed with the counties.

For state offices, filing fees are 1 percent of one year’s salary for the office: Legislature, $421.06; Court of Appeals, $1,642.38; and Superior Court, $1,563.63. A petition process is available for those unable to pay the filing fee.

There are about 3,350 local races up for election throughout the state this year.

Secretary of State Kim Wyman and State Elections Director Lori Augino urge strong participation in this year’s filings and elections. Said Wyman:

“People might call this an ‘off-year’ election, but the offices on the ballot this year impact people’s daily lives more than the offices on the ballot in a Presidential Election year.  The offices on the ballot this fall are the local offices that affect every community in Washington. For example, decisions made by local elected officials serving on city and town councils, fire district commissions, and school boards have a daily impact on every resident in our state. If you’re a citizen who wants to make a difference in your community and run for elected office, take that important first step and file for office.”

“These local races, from city councils to schools and ports, are extremely important to communities and their citizens,” Augino said.“It all begins with Filing Week as an important kickoff moment for candidates. Our Elections Division staff has made available some excellent voter education materials for candidates and voters, including print and online voters’ guides.”

Here is a 13-page guide on “How to Become a Candidate in Washington State.”
http://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/how-to-become-a-candidate-2015.pdf

Our Elections Division website (http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/) also lists offices open for elections this year, where to file and the filing fee:
https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/candidatefiling/Pages/OfficesOpenForElection.aspx .