Municipal Elections
This page addresses both the nuts and bolts of municipal elections and the issue of the use of public facilities and public office in election campaigns.
Overview
Municipal elections, like state elections, are governed by the provisions of Title 29A RCW. The Office of the Secretary of State has general authority over the conduct of elections, and its Elections & Voting webpages provide comprehensive information on many election issues. In addition, much of what is involved in elections for municipal offices is addressed in our publication, Getting into Office: Being Elected or Appointed into Office in Washington, Counties, Cities, and Towns.
The prohibition on using public offices or facilities in election campaigns or in support of or in opposition to ballot measures is contained in RCW 42.17A.555 (formerly RCW 42.17.130). Issues potentially implicating this prohibition arise frequently during the months preceding municipal elections. For more information, see our page Use of Public Facilities in Election Campaigns.
The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has regulatory and enforcement authority regarding the prohibition in RCW 42.17A.555, and it is the source of much information concerning its scope. The PDC consists of five part-time commissioners appointed by the governor, an executive director, and a small staff. The PDC is available through its staff to respond to questions concerning ballot measures and campaign issues and to provide informal opinions. The PDC staff encourages local government officials to contact them with questions in advance of a proposed activity that may involve the use of public facilities in a ballot campaign. The PDC also regulates election campaign financing.
Legal References
- Title 29A RCW — Comprehensive list of provisions required for municipal elections in the state
- Ch 42.17A RCW — Addresses campaign disclosure and contributions to campaigns while RCW 42.17A.555 addresses the use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns, notes prohibitions and exceptions
- Title 390 WAC — Establishes the Public Disclosure Commission while WAC 390-05-271 addresses the general applications of RCW 42.17A.555
Recommended Resources
Office of the Secretary of State: Elections and Voting
- Elections Calendar
- County Elections Departments in Washington State, Washington Secretary of State - Links to County Auditor Elections Information
- Election Data & Statistics, Washington Secretary of State - Includes vote by mail and absentee statistics, age and gender election demographics, voter participation, voter registration data, districts, and precincts
- Previous Election Results, Washington Secretary of State
- Redistricting - 2012 Final Plan adopted by the Commission and Amended by the Legislature on February 7, 2012, Washington State Redistricting Commission - Page provides demographics, demographics by district and county, shapefiles and block equivalency files, and Google Earth Layer®
MRSC Insight Blog
- Recent blog posts about elections – Articles written by MRSC staff and contributors about various election-related topics. Articles are listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first.
