Who decides when there is an election and what is on the ballot?
There are up to six elections each year in Washington State. The governing body of a jurisdiction makes a request by ordinance or resolution requesting that a special election be conducted for the voters of that jurisdiction to approve or reject a ballot measure. The jurisdiction may choose any of the dates set by state law. State and local laws determine when elected offices are on the ballot. All elected offices, regardless of the length of the term (2, 4, or 6 years) are elected in a General Election of an odd or even year depending on the jurisdiction. The Elections Director position is on the ballot in the February Special Election only because it is a newly established elected office, and the ballot measure approved by voters this past November, established the position also set forth the specific special election date in which the elections director would be elected for the first time.
