July 21, 2006

King County launches online candidate filing Monday

Hundreds of candidates likely to kick off busy fall election cycle

People wanting to run for political office can now file online in King County. King County Elections is using online banking technology to make it easier to file for office. Beginning Monday, candidates will be able to file from their personal computers instead of making a trip to downtown Seattle. Candidates still have the option to file in-person or by mail during candidate filing week July 24 to 28.

"Online candidate filing levels the playing field for novice candidates," said Sherril Huff Menees, assistant director of Records, Elections and Licensing Services. "Regardless of your political moxie or geographic location, next week filing for office gets a lot easier. Using the same security standards as electronic banking transactions, anyone can participate in the democratic process."

Filing online is as secure as filing through the mail or filing in-person. No credit card numbers will be stored and all payment information is encrypted with Secure Sockets Layer certificates (SSL), a protocol for transmitting data securely over the internet.

After filing, the candidate will receive an e-mail confirmation of his or her Declaration of Candidacy. Elections staff will also perform a rigorous check of the Declaration of Candidacy for validity before it is posted online. Huff expects the popularity of online candidate filing to ease the traditionally long lines of people who file for office in person during filing week.

Offices which file with King County include:

• State Senators & State Representatives
  (Districts 5, 11, 30, 33, 34, 36, 37, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48)
• King County Prosecuting Attorney
• Seattle City Council Position #9
• Court of Appeals, Div. 1, Dist. 1
• King County District Court Electoral Districts
• Seattle Municipal Court

Mail-in filings must include a notarized Declaration of Candidacy with the appropriate filing fee and must be in the hands of King County Election officials by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 28.

Please note: Late applications will not be accepted.

Like last year's "pick-a-party" primary, those filing for partisan office will self-designate as either a Republican or Democratic candidate and appear on a consolidated ballot for the September primary.

Minor party and independent candidates who have met the petition requirements must also file for office next week but their names will not appear on the primary ballot -- only on the General Election ballot.  Minor party and independent candidates who did not meet the convention requirements may be a write-in candidate for the General Election.

Quick tips for candidates filing for office online:

• Candidates filing electronically must pay their filing fees with a MasterCard, Visa or internet bank check. Online transactions will be charged a small convenience fee by the payment processor.

• Carefully review the candidate filing fee and double check to make sure adequate funds are available in your account. Filing fee information is available online at http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/200609/2006officessubject.asp

• All information submitted on the Declaration of Candidacy is public information. Your mailing address, phone number, and campaign email address will be published on the Web.

• Candidate filings will be posted to the Web at noon and 6 p.m., Monday, July 24 through Friday, July 28, 2006.

• Filing fees are non-refundable.

• Precinct committee officers can not file online.

A lot drawing will be conducted to determine the order of appearance on the ballot.

Updated: July 21, 2006

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