OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State certified candidates for Washington’s August 6 Primary election Tuesday in the Legislative Building. More than 1,000 people filed as candidates for federal, state, judicial, legislative, county, and other offices online, by mail, and in person. Candidates were certified for distribution to county elections offices by Assistant Secretary of State Kevin McMahan.
Individual offices which drew the most candidate filings include the Washington state governor, with 28, and Charter Review Commission — District No. 2 in Whatcom County, with 15. The Office of the Secretary of State has a complete list of candidates who filed. Candidates running for state office must prepare and submit information for the statewide Voters’ Pamphlet by 5 p.m. on May 21. The top two finishers for partisan public offices on the Primary ballot will advance to the November 5 General Election.
“Filing for candidacy is a crucial step in our democratic process,” Assistant Secretary McMahan said. “Washington’s free and fair elections provide equitable opportunities to compete for the chance to support communities statewide.”
Ballots for the August 6 Primary will be mailed to eligible voters by July 19, when drop boxes and Accessible Voting Units at voting centers will open for voter use. Online and mail registrations must be received by July 29 to vote in the Primary. You can register to vote or update registration information in person any time before 8 p.m. on Election Day, August 6.
Ballot positions for the Primary were assigned by random draw May 10, as required by RCW 29A.36.131.
Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office also operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program to provide incentives for efficiency improvements. The Secretary of State also oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.