County adopts rules for local election voters pamphlet

With filing for election coming up next week, Wahkiakum County officials have adopted formal administrative rules for creation of a county voters guide.

Candidates for office and jurisdictions running ballot measures such as special levies are required to furnish information for the pamphlet. Jurisdictions running ballot measures are also required to form committees to create for and against statements for the pamphlet.

Submissions for the primary and general election pamphlets are due on the Friday following filing week.

The county auditor's office is required to compose the pamphlets. After the pamphlets are printed, Elections Coordinator Kaelee Dearmore said Tuesday, they'll be mailed to all boxholders in the county.

If no information or candidate photo is submitted, the text "No photo/information/statement submitted" will appear in the applicable sections.

Candidates or jurisdiction representatives will receive a proof of material as it would appear in the pamphlet; only errors made by the auditor's office will be corrected. The auditor's office won't correct spelling, grammar or punctuation; content will be printed exactly as received.

The auditor's office reserves the right to reject any submission that doesn't meet requirements or that is libelous or otherwise inappropriate.

Jurisdictions running ballot issues are billed for election costs, and now they'll be billed for the cost of preparing the pamphlet, prorated in the same manner as other election costs. Jurisdictions facing financial hardship may appeal to the county board of commissioners for a waiver of financial responsibility.

The rules derive from legislation coming out of the 2020 legislative session.