Candidate Filing Frequently Asked Questions | WA Secretary of State
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:16
Candidate Filing Frequently Asked Questions | WA Secretary of State
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Candidate Filing Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
Candidate Filing Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re a candidate filing for a federal or state position, please review our
State Candidates Guide to the Ballot and General Election Voters' Pamphlet
.
Write-in Candidate Information and Frequently Asked Questions
2026 | Key Dates for Candidate Filing
April 20
- First day filing officer may receive candidate declarations by mail.
May 4
- Official Candidate Filing Week opens.
May 8
- Final day for all candidates to file for office, and Lot Draw for ballot order.
May 11
- Candidate withdrawal deadline.
May 12
- Last day for Secretary of State to certify candidates to County Auditors.
May 19
- Final day to submit candidate statements & photographs for state Voters' Pamphlet. Start yours early!
July 16
- Deadline to file a Write-in Declaration of Candidacy
form
without paying a filing fee for the August Primary.
Oct 15
- Deadline to file a Write-in Declaration of Candidacy
form
without paying a filing fee for the November General.
What are the required qualifications to be a candidate?
You must be a registered voter and possess the qualifications specified by law. Most offices require the candidate to be registered within the district. Exceptions are Superior Court and federal office.
If a candidate must be selected by voters from a geographic subdivision of a jurisdiction in the primary, the candidate must be properly registered to vote within that subdivision (
RCW 29A.24.075
).
Contact the jurisdiction of the office to learn if there are additional qualifications.
Where can I file for office? Who is my Filing Officer?
The
Secretary of State
accepts candidate filings for all federal, statewide executive, legislative, court of appeals, and superior court positions.
Your
county elections office
accepts filings for all other offices. Contact your
county elections office
for directions and hours of operation.
Current list of offices with filing fees:
Offices Open for Election
Write-in candidate should contact their filing officer for instructions. See
Write-in Candidacy Frequently Asked Questions
.
How and where can I file for office?
Candidate filing period- May 4-8, 2026
1. Online – fast and easy!
File online at:
File for Office
Online is available only between May 4 at 8 a.m. and ends May 8 at 5 p.m. sharp. Must be submitted by 5 p.m.
Pay your filing fee online with Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
2. In person
Federal and state positions file with the Secretary of State:
Washington Secretary of State's Office
Legislative Building
416 Sid Snyder Ave SW
Olympia, WA 98501
Monday, May 4, 8 a.m. through Friday, May 8, 5 p.m.
All other positions file with your county elections office:
County Elections Offices in Washington State
3. By mail
The filing office cannot accept prior to 10 business days before the start of filing week and must be in office by close of business of the last day of filing.
Federal and state positions file with the Secretary of State, mail your
declaration
and filing fee to:
Candidate Filing
Office of the Secretary of State Election Division
P.O. Box 40229
Olympia, WA 98504-0229
All other positions file with your county elections office, you can find the mailing address here:
County Elections Offices in Washington State
When can I file for office?
Candidates may submit a declaration of candidacy by mail no earlier than 10 business days before the first day of the candidate filing period.
In-person and online are available during the filing period, which is the first full week of May.
The candidate filing period ends the first Friday after the first Monday in May.
The deadline to withdraw your name from the ballot is 5 p.m. of the Monday following the final day of the filing period.
The deadline to submit your Voters' Pamphlet profile is 5 p.m., 11 calendar days after the final day of the filing period.
How much does it cost to file for office?
Filing fees are 1% of the office annual salary.
Salaries for members of the legislature, elected officials of the executive branch of state government, and judges of the state's supreme court, court of appeals, superior courts, and district courts shall be fixed by an independent commission [
Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials
] created and directed by law to that purpose (
Washington Constitution, Article XXVIII
).
Filing fees for offices filed with your County Auditor are available from your
county elections office
.
Filing fees are nonrefundable
(
RCW 29A.24.131
).
What are the accepted forms of payment?
Online filing
for all offices requires a Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
Federal and state positions file
in person
or
by mail
with the Office of the Secretary of State, pay via:
Check payable to the Secretary of State
Cash (in-person only)
Visa, MasterCard or American Express
Money order
Valid filing fee petition
For all other offices contact your
county elections office
to determine payment methods available.
Filing fee petitions-
Candidates without sufficient assets or income to pay the filing fee may submit a filing fee petition in lieu of filing fee. Each whole dollar of the filing fee requires one signature.
Candidates submitting petition signatures may not file electronically.
Filing fees may not be paid by combining petition signatures and currency.
Only signatures of registered voters in the same jurisdiction as the office are valid.
No person may sign two petitions for the same office in the same election.
We recommend candidates bring petitions into the appropriate Filing Officer as soon as possible as it will take time to check all the signatures. The filing is not valid until the petition is checked and approved.
Only complete petitions are acceptable. You may not pay partial cash to make up the difference.
For more information about filing fee petitions, please review the
State Candidates Guide
.
How is the order of candidates determined?
A random lot draw conducted after candidate filing ends, at 5 p.m. on May 9, sets the order which applies to all candidates for each race. Each filing officer conducts their own lot draw to determine their ballot orders.
How can I withdraw my candidacy?
If you decide you do not want your name on the ballot, your signed withdrawal form must be received by the office where you filed by the end of business on
Monday, May 11
.
Candidate withdrawal forms are available at
Candidate Filing Forms
Filing fees are nonrefundable, even if you filed for the wrong office (
RCW 29A.24.131
).
How do I submit my Voters' Pamphlet statement and photo?
All submissions are done online.
Once the filing officer approves your declaration, you will receive an email with a unique link to allow you access to the online submission tool.
The deadline to submit for the Voters' Pamphlet is 5 p.m. on May 19.
For submission specifications, please read the Voters' Pamphlet instructions in the
State Candidates Guide
, starting on page 15.
Do I have to file my campaign finance information?
Candidates for state or local office should refer to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission for reporting requirements. Forms and information are available at
www.pdc.wa.gov
.
Candidates for U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives must report campaign finance information to the Federal Election Commission at
www.fec.gov
.
Your campaign finance information is public information. A link to your campaign finance information will appear on your page in the online voters' guide.
Can I post campaign signs?
Please contact the respective agency or department about sign restrictions, permits, and deposits.
State - Department of Transportation -
www.wsdot.wa.gov
County - Public works or transportation department
City - City clerk's office
What is public record?
All approved candidate declarations.
Voter pamphlet submissions.
Campaign contact information.
Public disclosure commission documents.
Will my race be in the Primary?
A Primary election depends on the type of office and how many candidates file.
If the office type is nonpartisan (no party preference), then a Primary is held when 3 or more candidates file.
Many state offices are partisan (requires party preference) and
all
these offices appear on the Primary ballot.
Judicial offices fall under
Clearinghouse #15-02
.
Can my “ballot name” be different than the name on my voter registration?
Yes, but the last name must be the same as the last name on the voter registration record. A ballot name can include a nickname, however, the last name must still match the last name on the voter registration record. If you recently changed your name and it's not showing in the online filing module, please wait a day and allow time for the change to process.
I moved recently. Do I need to update my registration before I file for office?
Yes, you must update your voter registration
before
filing for office. At the time of filing, you must be a registered voter in the district and have the qualifications specified by law.
Go to
VoteWA.gov
to update your registration.
You may need to contact your
county elections department
where they will process your update.
After the update is processed, you may complete your filing declaration.
I just filed for office, so why don't I see my name on the list online?
That’s normal. A candidate’s name won’t display until the filing is examined with human eyes and approved by the Candidate Support team. Please give administrators time to process and refresh later. If you have concerns, contact your Filing Officer.
The
Secretary of State
accepts candidate filings for all federal, statewide executive, legislative, court of appeals, and superior court positions.
Your
county elections office
accepts filings for all other offices.
What if I can't pay the filing fee? How do I submit a petition in lieu of a filing fee?
Candidates without sufficient assets or income to pay the filing fee may submit a filing fee petition in lieu of filing fee. Each whole dollar of the filing fee requires one signature.
Candidates submitting petition signatures may not file electronically.
Filing fees may not be paid by combining petition signatures and currency.
Only signatures of registered voters in the same jurisdiction as the office are valid.
No person may sign two petitions for the same office in the same election.
We recommend candidates bring petitions into the appropriate Filing Officer as soon as possible as it will take time to check all the signatures. The filing is not valid until the petition is checked and approved.
Only complete petitions are acceptable. You may not pay partial cash to make up the difference.
For more information about filing fee petitions, please review the
State Candidates Guide
.
I've already filed. How do I change the office or position on my declaration of candidacy?
The only way to change your office or position is to file again. A candidate must withdraw before the close of filing week and submit a new declaration of candidacy. Filing fees are non-refundable.
How do I submit a write-in declaration?
Fill out a form and submit it to your filing officer by 8 p.m. on Election Day. If a filing fee is required, it must be paid in full to be approved.
Declaration of Write-in Candidacy
Presidential Declaration of Write-in Candidacy
For more information visit
Write-in Candidacy
info page.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Top 2 Primary
Recount
Write-in Candidacy
Voting By Mail
Elections in Washington State
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Candidate Filing Frequently Asked Questions
OSOS Home
Elections
Candidates
Frequently Asked Questions
Candidate Filing Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re a candidate filing for a federal or state position, please review our
State Candidates Guide to the Ballot and General Election Voters' Pamphlet
.
Write-in Candidate Information and Frequently Asked Questions
2026 | Key Dates for Candidate Filing
April 20
- First day filing officer may receive candidate declarations by mail.
May 4
- Official Candidate Filing Week opens.
May 8
- Final day for all candidates to file for office, and Lot Draw for ballot order.
May 11
- Candidate withdrawal deadline.
May 12
- Last day for Secretary of State to certify candidates to County Auditors.
May 19
- Final day to submit candidate statements & photographs for state Voters' Pamphlet. Start yours early!
July 16
- Deadline to file a Write-in Declaration of Candidacy
form
without paying a filing fee for the August Primary.
Oct 15
- Deadline to file a Write-in Declaration of Candidacy
form
without paying a filing fee for the November General.
What are the required qualifications to be a candidate?
You must be a registered voter and possess the qualifications specified by law. Most offices require the candidate to be registered within the district. Exceptions are Superior Court and federal office.
If a candidate must be selected by voters from a geographic subdivision of a jurisdiction in the primary, the candidate must be properly registered to vote within that subdivision (
RCW 29A.24.075
).
Contact the jurisdiction of the office to learn if there are additional qualifications.
Where can I file for office? Who is my Filing Officer?
The
Secretary of State
accepts candidate filings for all federal, statewide executive, legislative, court of appeals, and superior court positions.
Your
county elections office
accepts filings for all other offices. Contact your
county elections office
for directions and hours of operation.
Current list of offices with filing fees:
Offices Open for Election
Write-in candidate should contact their filing officer for instructions. See
Write-in Candidacy Frequently Asked Questions
.
How and where can I file for office?
Candidate filing period- May 4-8, 2026
1. Online – fast and easy!
File online at:
File for Office
Online is available only between May 4 at 8 a.m. and ends May 8 at 5 p.m. sharp. Must be submitted by 5 p.m.
Pay your filing fee online with Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
2. In person
Federal and state positions file with the Secretary of State:
Washington Secretary of State's Office
Legislative Building
416 Sid Snyder Ave SW
Olympia, WA 98501
Monday, May 4, 8 a.m. through Friday, May 8, 5 p.m.
All other positions file with your county elections office:
County Elections Offices in Washington State
3. By mail
The filing office cannot accept prior to 10 business days before the start of filing week and must be in office by close of business of the last day of filing.
Federal and state positions file with the Secretary of State, mail your
declaration
and filing fee to:
Candidate Filing
Office of the Secretary of State Election Division
P.O. Box 40229
Olympia, WA 98504-0229
All other positions file with your county elections office, you can find the mailing address here:
County Elections Offices in Washington State
When can I file for office?
Candidates may submit a declaration of candidacy by mail no earlier than 10 business days before the first day of the candidate filing period.
In-person and online are available during the filing period, which is the first full week of May.
The candidate filing period ends the first Friday after the first Monday in May.
The deadline to withdraw your name from the ballot is 5 p.m. of the Monday following the final day of the filing period.
The deadline to submit your Voters' Pamphlet profile is 5 p.m., 11 calendar days after the final day of the filing period.
How much does it cost to file for office?
Filing fees are 1% of the office annual salary.
Salaries for members of the legislature, elected officials of the executive branch of state government, and judges of the state's supreme court, court of appeals, superior courts, and district courts shall be fixed by an independent commission [
Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials
] created and directed by law to that purpose (
Washington Constitution, Article XXVIII
).
Filing fees for offices filed with your County Auditor are available from your
county elections office
.
Filing fees are nonrefundable
(
RCW 29A.24.131
).
What are the accepted forms of payment?
Online filing
for all offices requires a Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
Federal and state positions file
in person
or
by mail
with the Office of the Secretary of State, pay via:
Check payable to the Secretary of State
Cash (in-person only)
Visa, MasterCard or American Express
Money order
Valid filing fee petition
For all other offices contact your
county elections office
to determine payment methods available.
Filing fee petitions-
Candidates without sufficient assets or income to pay the filing fee may submit a filing fee petition in lieu of filing fee. Each whole dollar of the filing fee requires one signature.
Candidates submitting petition signatures may not file electronically.
Filing fees may not be paid by combining petition signatures and currency.
Only signatures of registered voters in the same jurisdiction as the office are valid.
No person may sign two petitions for the same office in the same election.
We recommend candidates bring petitions into the appropriate Filing Officer as soon as possible as it will take time to check all the signatures. The filing is not valid until the petition is checked and approved.
Only complete petitions are acceptable. You may not pay partial cash to make up the difference.
For more information about filing fee petitions, please review the
State Candidates Guide
.
How is the order of candidates determined?
A random lot draw conducted after candidate filing ends, at 5 p.m. on May 9, sets the order which applies to all candidates for each race. Each filing officer conducts their own lot draw to determine their ballot orders.
How can I withdraw my candidacy?
If you decide you do not want your name on the ballot, your signed withdrawal form must be received by the office where you filed by the end of business on
Monday, May 11
.
Candidate withdrawal forms are available at
Candidate Filing Forms
Filing fees are nonrefundable, even if you filed for the wrong office (
RCW 29A.24.131
).
How do I submit my Voters' Pamphlet statement and photo?
All submissions are done online.
Once the filing officer approves your declaration, you will receive an email with a unique link to allow you access to the online submission tool.
The deadline to submit for the Voters' Pamphlet is 5 p.m. on May 19.
For submission specifications, please read the Voters' Pamphlet instructions in the
State Candidates Guide
, starting on page 15.
Do I have to file my campaign finance information?
Candidates for state or local office should refer to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission for reporting requirements. Forms and information are available at
www.pdc.wa.gov
.
Candidates for U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives must report campaign finance information to the Federal Election Commission at
www.fec.gov
.
Your campaign finance information is public information. A link to your campaign finance information will appear on your page in the online voters' guide.
Can I post campaign signs?
Please contact the respective agency or department about sign restrictions, permits, and deposits.
State - Department of Transportation -
www.wsdot.wa.gov
County - Public works or transportation department
City - City clerk's office
What is public record?
All approved candidate declarations.
Voter pamphlet submissions.
Campaign contact information.
Public disclosure commission documents.
Will my race be in the Primary?
A Primary election depends on the type of office and how many candidates file.
If the office type is nonpartisan (no party preference), then a Primary is held when 3 or more candidates file.
Many state offices are partisan (requires party preference) and
all
these offices appear on the Primary ballot.
Judicial offices fall under
Clearinghouse #15-02
.
Can my “ballot name” be different than the name on my voter registration?
Yes, but the last name must be the same as the last name on the voter registration record. A ballot name can include a nickname, however, the last name must still match the last name on the voter registration record. If you recently changed your name and it's not showing in the online filing module, please wait a day and allow time for the change to process.
I moved recently. Do I need to update my registration before I file for office?
Yes, you must update your voter registration
before
filing for office. At the time of filing, you must be a registered voter in the district and have the qualifications specified by law.
Go to
VoteWA.gov
to update your registration.
You may need to contact your
county elections department
where they will process your update.
After the update is processed, you may complete your filing declaration.
I just filed for office, so why don't I see my name on the list online?
That’s normal. A candidate’s name won’t display until the filing is examined with human eyes and approved by the Candidate Support team. Please give administrators time to process and refresh later. If you have concerns, contact your Filing Officer.
The
Secretary of State
accepts candidate filings for all federal, statewide executive, legislative, court of appeals, and superior court positions.
Your
county elections office
accepts filings for all other offices.
What if I can't pay the filing fee? How do I submit a petition in lieu of a filing fee?
Candidates without sufficient assets or income to pay the filing fee may submit a filing fee petition in lieu of filing fee. Each whole dollar of the filing fee requires one signature.
Candidates submitting petition signatures may not file electronically.
Filing fees may not be paid by combining petition signatures and currency.
Only signatures of registered voters in the same jurisdiction as the office are valid.
No person may sign two petitions for the same office in the same election.
We recommend candidates bring petitions into the appropriate Filing Officer as soon as possible as it will take time to check all the signatures. The filing is not valid until the petition is checked and approved.
Only complete petitions are acceptable. You may not pay partial cash to make up the difference.
For more information about filing fee petitions, please review the
State Candidates Guide
.
I've already filed. How do I change the office or position on my declaration of candidacy?
The only way to change your office or position is to file again. A candidate must withdraw before the close of filing week and submit a new declaration of candidacy. Filing fees are non-refundable.
How do I submit a write-in declaration?
Fill out a form and submit it to your filing officer by 8 p.m. on Election Day. If a filing fee is required, it must be paid in full to be approved.
Declaration of Write-in Candidacy
Presidential Declaration of Write-in Candidacy
For more information visit
Write-in Candidacy
info page.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Top 2 Primary
Recount
Write-in Candidacy
Voting By Mail
Elections in Washington State
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