Declarations of candidacy shall be filed with the following filing officers:

     (1) The secretary of state for declarations of candidacy for statewide offices, United States senate, and United States house of representatives;

     (2) The secretary of state for declarations of candidacy for the state legislature, the court of appeals, and the superior court when the candidate is seeking office in a district comprised of voters from two or more counties. The secretary of state and the county auditor may accept declarations of candidacy for candidates for the state legislature, the court of appeals, and the superior court when the candidate is seeking office in a district comprised of voters from one county;

     (3) The county auditor for all other offices. For any nonpartisan office, other than judicial offices and school director in joint districts, where voters from a district comprising more than one county vote upon the candidates, a declaration of candidacy shall be filed with the county auditor of the county in which a majority of the registered voters of the district reside. For school directors in joint school districts, the declaration of candidacy shall be filed with the county auditor of the county designated by the superintendent of public instruction as the county to which the joint school district is considered as belonging under RCW 28A.323.040;

     (4) For all other purposes of this title, a declaration of candidacy for the state legislature, the court of appeals, and the superior court filed with the secretary of state shall be deemed to have been filed with the county auditor when the candidate is seeking office in a district composed of voters from one county.

     Each official with whom declarations of candidacy are filed under this section, within one business day following the closing of the applicable filing period, shall transmit to the public disclosure commission the information required in RCW 29A.24.031 (1) through (4) for each declaration of candidacy filed in his or her office during such filing period or a list containing the name of each candidate who files such a declaration in his or her office during such filing period together with a precise identification of the position sought by each such candidate and the date on which each such declaration was filed. Such official, within three days following his or her receipt of any letter withdrawing a person's name as a candidate, shall also forward a copy of such withdrawal letter to the public disclosure commission.

[2006 c 263 § 614; 2005 c 221 § 1; 2003 c 111 § 607; 2002 c 140 § 4; 1998 c 22 § 1; 1990 c 59 § 84; 1977 ex.s. c 361 § 30; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112 § 1; 1965 c 9 § 29.18.040. Prior: 1907 c 209 § 7; RRS § 5184. Formerly RCW 29.15.030, 29.18.040.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- Purpose -- Part headings not law -- 2006 c 263: See notes following RCW 28A.150.230.

     Implementation -- Captions not law -- 2002 c 140: See notes following RCW 29A.24.040.

     Effective date -- Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 361: See notes following RCW 29A.16.040.

     Construction -- 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112: RCW 42.17.945.

     Severability -- 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112: RCW 42.17.912.

Public disclosure -- Campaign finances, lobbying, records: Chapter 42.17 RCW.