Washington State
 |
BECOME AN ELECTOR
ELECTION INFO: SECRETARY OF STATE |
Minor party and independent candidates:
Nominating Convention: Must be attended by at least one hundred registered voters [29A.20.141]
Dates To Be Held: • From the first Saturday in May through the second Saturday in May; and
• From the first Saturday in June through the fourth Saturday in July. [29A.20.121(2)]
Publish Notice:At least ten days before the convention in a newspaper of general circulation within the county it is to be held.
•Must state the date, hour, and location of the convention; and
•Must include the mailing address of the person or organization sponsoring the convention.
[29A.20.131]
Multiple Nominating Conventions
None of the conventions may be attended by fewer than 100 registered voters. Multiple conventions may be held, and the signatures from each convention may be added together to obtain the 1,000 signatures required.
Petition: 1,000 registered voters [29A.20.141]
•Must clearly identify the name of the independent or minor party candidate.
•Must contain a statement that the person signing the petition is a registered voter of the State of Washington.
•Must have a space for the voter to sign his or her name, and print his or her name and address.
•No person may sign more than one nominating petition for the same office.
Certificates of Nomination must:
•Be in writing;
•Identify the political party or independent candidate on whose behalf the convention was held;
•Contain the name of each person nominated, his or her residence, and the office for which he or she is nominated;
•Provide a sworn statement from nominees, both President and Vice President, giving their consent to the nomination;
•Be verified by the oath of the convention presiding officer and secretary;
•Include the nominating petitions bearing the signatures and addresses of at least 1,000 registered voters; and
•Contain proof of publication of the notice calling the convention.
File with the Secretary of State See Requisites [29A.20.161]
Deadline: One week following the adjournment of the convention [29A.20.161]
ALSO, submit list of electors within 10 days after the adjournment of the convention [29A.20.181]
No filing fees for President
Recognized party qualifications:
Received at least 5% of the total vote cast at the last preceding state general election [29.01.090]
Primary ballot access:
1. Secretary of State Selects nationally recognized candidates for ballot placement [29.19.030 (1)] 2. Petition (for those not selected) 1,000 signatures [29.19.030 (2)]
Deadline: 39 days before the primary [29.19.030 (2)]
Last day to withdraw from the ballot: sixth Tuesday before the primary
Primary date: March 2, 2004 [29.19.020]
Participation Blanket primary— Democratic, Republican or Unaffiliated (the latter ballot having all candidates for both parties listed)
Voter registration: 30 days before election by mail; or 15 days before election in person, but must vote by absentee ballot
Source: The Reform Institute (December 2003). Presidential Ballot Access: State by State Scorecard. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from https://www.policyarchive.org/bitstream/handle/10207/5646/2003scorecard.....
Write-In Information
A person who desires to be a write-in candidate may file a notarized “Declaration of Write-in Candidacy” with the appropriate filing officer. The Declaration of Write-in Candidacy must be filed no later than the day before the election. Candidates for the office of President and Vice President, U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative, statewide office, state Senate, state Representative, the Court of Appeals and Superior Court are eligible for inclusion in the official state Voters’ Pamphlet published by the Office of the Secretary of State. Candidate statements and photographs should be submitted with the Declaration of Candidacy at the time of filing. Specific information regarding fees, space, photographs and statement specifications can be found on the Declaration of Candidacy. The Office of the Secretary of State also provides information through electronic media, including the internet. Information regarding electronic voter guides is made available to candidates at the time of filing.
Source: Frank Moore (May 8, 2008). US Presidential Write-In Candidate Requirements For Each State. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from http://www.writein2008.blogspot.com/
