Candidate filing starts today

For candidates throughout Washington, including local offices and three State Senate seats, today marks the beginning of Candidate Filing Week.

For state offices, online filing begins Monday at 9 a.m. and runs night and day until 4 p.m. Friday, May 17. Some county elections departments provide online filing. In-person filing with the Secretary of State starts Monday at 8 a.m. and ends at close of business (5 p.m.) on Friday.

Candidates file with either the Secretary of State or the County Auditor, depending on the office.

Candidates running for a legislative or judicial office encompassing more than one county must file with the Secretary of State. Candidates can file online, by mail, or in person. In-person candidate filing at the Secretary of State’s office will be at the Elections Division's office, 520 Union Ave. SE in Olympia.

Candidates running for a legislative or judicial office within one county must file with their county’s elections office.

All declarations must be received by the end of the business day on May 17. May 20 is the last day for candidates to withdraw.

For those planning to run for Appeals Court judge or Superior Court judge this year, Governor Inslee has signed a Top Two elections bill into law that requires the two primary favorites for each race for Supreme Court, Appeals Court and Superior Court to advance to the 2013 General Election ballot.