21 Mid-Columbia posts up for grabs this filing week
Filing week has arrived for the 2020 election season, and 21 posts are up for grabs in the Mid-Columbia.
The political races include partisan and nonpartisan positions — from public utility and fire protection district trustees to seats on the judicial bench and in the state Legislature and Congress.
That is not counting the dozens of Democratic and Republican precinct committee officer spots open in Benton County and Franklin County.
Prospective candidates have until Friday to file. They must be registered to vote and live in the district for which they are filing.
County auditors and Secretary of State Kim Wyman are encouraging people to file online this year because many offices are either closed or operating with limited staff due to the stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic.
The primary election is Aug. 4 and the general election is Nov. 3.
Candidates seeking countywide and local offices should file with Benton County Auditor’s Office or the Franklin County Auditor’s Office.
People interested in federal, statewide and multi-county legislative or judicial offices can file online with the Washington Secretary of State Office. The state’s secure web portal opens at 9 a.m. Monday, and will be accessible 24 hours a day until 4 p.m. Friday.
Declaration of Candidacy forms for those positions also can be turned in to the state Elections Division, 520 Union Ave. S.E. in Olympia. The Legislative Building is not open for filing this year.
People who are considering a run for state office can download a candidate guide, get answers to frequently asked questions and read more on the Resources for Candidates page on the Secretary of State’s website.
Wyman advises candidates to submit their voters’ pamphlet statement and photo online once their filing is done.
For additional questions, call the state office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 360-902-4180 or 800-448-4881.
This story was originally published May 10, 2020 at 12:47 PM.