Wednesday, November 11, 2026: The Elections Office will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.
File for Office
Candidate Filing 2026 is closed
Online Candidate Filing
- Federal and state candidates must submit Voters' Pamphlet material by 5 p.m., May 19, 2026. This includes positions that do not appear in the primary.
- Deadline for withdrawal of candidacy is 5 p.m., Monday, May 11, 2026. There are no refunds for withdrawal of declaration even if you file for the wrong position.
Quick links:
Requirements to file online
- Be registered to vote in the district for which you are filing.
- Pay with Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
- Provide a valid email address.
- Submit by 5 p.m. on Friday.
File in person or by mail
- Complete a paper filing form.
- Pay with cash or check.
- Make checks payable to "Secretary of State."
- Must be received in office by 5 p.m. on Friday.
- Submit a petition in lieu of filing fee.
- Candidates without sufficient assets or income may submit a filing fee petition to pay the filing fee.
- You may not file signature petitions electronically.
- You may not combine petition signatures and currency to satisfy the filing fee.
- Only signatures of registered voters in the same jurisdiction as the office are valid.
- Each petition sheet must:
- Be printed on uniform paper size and color.
- Include a place for each voter’s registration name, address, city, and county.
- Provide 20 numbered lines or less.
- Display the required warning and statement found in RCW 29A.24.101 and RCW 29A.72.140.
- No additional signatures are accepted after initial submission at time of filing.
- Petition sheets are not returned to the candidate.
- Printable templates: Filing Fee Petition Template.pdf Filing Fee Petition Template.docx
- Petitions must include a total number of valid signatures no fewer than the dollar amount of the filing fee.
- No person may sign more than one nominating petition for the same office.
- Without the required number of signatures, the petition is insufficient and your Declaration of Candidacy is invalid.
Filing office
All candidates are encouraged to file a Declaration of Candidacy online. For help, please contact your filing office.
The Office of the Secretary of State administers the public offices listed below:
- United States Senator
- United States Representative
- Statewide Executive
- State Legislative
- Supreme Court Justice
- Court of Appeals Judge
- Superior Court Judge
Contact your county elections office for all other offices.
Knowingly providing false information on a Declaration of Candidacy is a class C felony as provided by RCW 29A.84.711.
Office of the Secretary of State: call (360) 902-4180, toll free 1 (800) 448-4881, email [email protected]. Assistance is available Monday- Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.