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| Types of Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| + Federal Offices | + State Executive Offices | + Clark County Offices |
| + State Legislative Offices | + County Judicial Offices | |
| + State Judicial Offices | + Special Purpose District Positions | |
| Federal Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| President of the United States | The President must be at least 35 years old, a natural born U.S. citizen, and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. The President is Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces and is empowered within the federal government (with Senate approval). The President is head of one of the three branches of government. The President is also required to report to Congress annually on the state of the union, and may also propose legislation and veto bills. | |
| United States Senator | Senators must be at least 30 years old and citizens of the U.S. for at least nine years. Senators serve six-year terms. The Senate has 100 members; two from each state. The Senate has several exclusive powers, including consenting to treaties, confirming federal appointments made by the President, and trying federal officials impeached by the House of Representatives. | |
| United States Representative | Representatives must be at least 25 years old and citizens of the U.S. for at least seven years. Representatives are not required to be registered voters of their district, but must be registered voters of the state. Representatives serve two-year terms. The House of Representatives has 435 members, all of whom are up for election in even-numbered years. Each state has a different number of members based on population. After the 2010 Census, Washington was given a 10th Congressional District. | |
| State Executive Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Governor | The Governor is the chief executive officer of the state and makes appointments for hundreds of state positions, including directors of state agencies (subject to confirmation by the Senate). The Governor has the power to sign or veto (reject) legislation, and annually submits a budget recommendation and reports on state affairs to the Legislature. | |
| Lieutenant Governor | The Lieutenant Governor is elected independent of the Governor, and serves as the presiding officer of the state Senate. The Lieutenant Governor is first in line of succession and becomes Acting Governor whenever the Governor leaves the state or is otherwise unable to serve. | |
| Secretary of State | The Secretary of State leads the state Elections Division, Corporations and Charities Division, state Archives and Library, and other programs and services. The Office of the Secretary of State manages corporation and charity filings, collects and preserves historical state records, and governs the use of the state flag and seal. The Secretary of State is second in line of succession for Governor. | |
| State Treasurer | As the state’s finance officer, the Treasurer manages the cash flow, investments, and debt of all major state accounts. The Treasurer serves on the State Investment Board, providing guidance for the management of longterm debt and investments, and Chairs the Public Deposit Protection Commission, ensuring the safety of public deposits in qualified banks. | |
| State Auditor | The Auditor works with state and local governments to conduct independent financial and performance audits. The Auditor publicly investigates state employee whistleblower claims about agencies and reports of fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer money received through its citizen hotline. | |
| Attorney General | The Attorney General serves as legal counsel to the Governor, members of the Legislature, state officials, and more than 200 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges, and universities. The Office of the Attorney General protects the public by upholding the Consumer Protection Act and provides public information about consumer rights and scams. | |
| Commissioner of Public Lands | The Commissioner of Public Lands is the head of the Department of Natural Resources, overseeing management of more than 5 million acres of state forest, agricultural, range, aquatic, and commercial lands. The Commissioner manages the state’s largest on-call fire department, preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forest lands. | |
| Superintendent of Public Instruction | The Superintendent heads the state education agency and is chief executive officer of the state Board of Education. The Superintendent is responsible for the administration of the state’s kindergarten through twelfth grade education program. The office certifies teaching personnel, approves and accredits programs, and distributes state and local funds. | |
| Insurance Commissioner | The Office of the Insurance Commissioner regulates insurance companies doing business in Washington, licenses agents and brokers, reviews policies and rates, examines the operations and finances of insurers, and handles inquiries and complaints from the public. | |
| State Legislative Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| State Senator | The Senate has 49 members; one from each legislative district in the state. Senators are elected to four-year terms, and approximately one-half of the membership of the Senate is up for election each even-numbered year. The Senate’s only exclusive duty is to confirm appointments made by the governor. | |
| State Representative | The House of Representatives has 98 members; two from each legislative district in the state. Representatives are elected to two-year terms, so the total membership of the House is up for election each even-numbered year. | |
| State Judicial Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court Justice | The Washington Supreme Court is the highest judiciary in the state. State Supreme Court justices hear appeals and decide cases from Courts of Appeals and other lower courts. Nine justices are elected statewide to serve six-year terms. | |
| Clark County Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Assessor | The Assessor is elected by a public vote to a four year term. The Assessor's duties and responsibilities include identifying and determining the value of all taxable real and personal property in the county. These values are used to calculate and set levy rates for the various taxing districts within the county and to equitably assign tax responsibilities among taxpayers. | |
| Auditor | The Clark County Auditor is elected to a four-year term. In addition to being the county’s chief financial officer, the auditor also oversees several essential county services, including Auto License, Elections, Financial Services and Recording & Marriage. Additionally, the auditor works with various state agencies and the state legislature regarding legislation and issues affecting Clark County citizens. | |
| Clerk | The County Clerk serves and supports the Superior Court by receiving and processing court documents, attending and assisting in all court proceedings, maintaining the court's files, and entering its orders, judgments and decrees. The Clerk authenticates by certificate and/or transcript the records, and files procedures of the court. The Clerk maintains the record for various types of court proceedings. The Clerk also receipts and disburses the court's money and the money of litigants, at the court's direction. | |
| Councilor | Elected to four-year terms, members of the Clark County Council hold legislative authority for Clark County. The Council is responsible for: Adopting the annual budget; Developing and implementing planning and zoning policies; Making appointments to some advisory committees and boards; Adopting all county ordinances. Candidates must be registered voters and residents of their district at the time of filing. | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Pursuant to RCW 36.27.020, the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office provides legal advice to and represents the County Council and other elected County officials. In addition, the Prosecuting Attorney defends and represents the County in litigation, arbitrations and administrative hearings. | |
| Sheriff | In charge of law enforcement, jail facilities, civil and legal processing and emergency operations. A sheriff in Washington State acts as the chief law enforcement officer and conservator of the peace for a county. The office of sheriff is a constitutional office created by Article 11, § 5 of the Washington State Constitution. Unlike municipal police chiefs who answer to city mayors or city managers, a sheriff is an elected official directly accountable to the county voters. | |
| Treasurer | The County Treasurer plays a major role in local government by providing tax and revenue collection, banking services, cash and debt management, investment, financial reporting, and more. The Washington State Constitution provides for a County Treasurer to be elected by the qualified voters of each county. In Clark County an elected Treasurer serves a term of four years and any person who is a qualified voter in the county may serve as County Treasurer. | |
| Charter Review Commissioner | Elected every five years for a term of two years or until the work of the commission concludes, whichever occurs sooner. The Charter Review Commissioners review the county's charter and make recommendations for amendments. Fifteen commissioners are elected in a General Election; three commissioners for each of the five County Councilor districts. Any amendments to the county charter proposed by the Charter Review Commission must be approved by Clark County voters in a General Election. | |
| County Judicial Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| District Court Judge | District court judges are elected to four-year terms. They hear civil, small claims, criminal, and traffic cases. Criminal jurisdiction includes misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors cases that involve traffic or non-traffic offenses. Jurisdiction in civil cases includes damages for injury to individuals or personal property and contract disputes. District courts have jurisdiction to issue domestic violence and antiharassment protection orders and no-contact orders. They also have jurisdiction to hear change-of-name petitions and certain lien foreclosures. | |
| Special Purpose District Positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| City Councilor | A city councilor is an elected member of the local legislative body, responsible for setting community policies, passing local laws, and approving the city budget. | |
| Mayor | The role of a mayor in Washington state depends on the city's form of government, functioning either as the chief executive who runs daily operations or as a ceremonial chair who leads council meetings. | |
| School Director | School Directors govern and oversee their local public school district. School Board hires, supervises, and evaluates the district superintendent. School directors also set the mission, vision, and strategic goals for student learning and district progress. They adopt, review, and revise district policies covering curriculum, student discipline, operations, and safety. Directors establish and oversee the district budget, including local levies and public resource allocation. | |
| Fire Commissioner | A fire district commissioner is an elected official who serves on the governing board of a local fire protection district to oversee its policies, budget, and long-term planning. Commissioners set the annual budget and property tax levy rates, approving expenditures, and ensuring financial stewardship. They hire, supervise, and evaluate the Fire Chief, as well as oversee major property, facility, and equipment purchases. | |
| Cemetery Commissioner | A cemetery commissioner serves as an elected official on a three-member board that manages and oversees the operations, maintenance, and finances of a local public cemetery district. | |
| Sewer & Public Utility District Commissioner | Sewer and Utility districts are governed by an elected board of three commissioners. The commission sets utility policy, approves annual budgets, establishes rates, approves major purchases and investments, and selects a general manager to oversee the utility operations and staff. | |
| Port Commissioner | A port commissioner acts as an elected member of a special-purpose district's governing board, functioning much like a city council to set policy, plan long-term economic development, and oversee the port's budget and executive staff. | |
| Recreation District Commissioner | A recreation district commissioner governs local park and recreation districts by setting operational policies, managing facilities, and overseeing public leisure programs. The Board consists of five commissioners elected for staggered, four-year terms during odd-numbered year general elections. | |
| Diking & Drainage Commissioner | A diking and drainage commissioner governs a special-purpose local district to manage water flow, prevent floods, and maintain local dikes and drainage ditches. They determine annual work schedules and calculate property assessments or tax rates needed to fund maintenance. Commissioners typically serve six-year terms. These special districts rely on local land ownership, and under state rules, elections may be skipped if positions are unopposed. | |
| Precinct Committee Officer | A Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) in Washington state is an elected grassroots party official who represents a local neighborhood precinct within a major political party (Democratic or Republican). PCOs are elected in primary elections held in even-numbered years. If only one person files for a specific precinct position, they are deemed elected without appearing on the ballot. | |