Policy 1110 - Election

A school board election shall be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years. 

A person is legally qualified to become a board member who is a United States citizen and a qualified voter resident in the school district. 

A person may become a candidate for a school board position by filing a declaration of candidacy with the county auditor during the May filing period as prescribed by law. 

In the event that there are more than two candidates for any position on the board, a primary election shall be held on the first Tuesday of August in the manner prescribed by law. The two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will appear on the election ballot in November. 

If, prior to the first day of the regular filing period, a vacancy occurs in a school director position that is not scheduled to appear on the general election ballot, leaving an unexpired term for which a successor must be elected at the next general election, filings for that position will be accepted during the regular filing period. The filing officer will provide notice of the vacancy and filing period to newspapers, radio, and television in the county, and online. The position will appear on the primary and general election ballots unless no primary is required. 

If, on the first day of the regular filing period or later, a vacancy occurs in a school director position that is not scheduled to appear on the general election ballot leaving an unexpired term, the vacancy will be filled according to Policy 1114. 

If, following the regular filing period and deadline to withdraw, but prior to the day for the primary, a void in candidacy occurs, the filing officer will reopen the filing period of three normal business days. The filing officer will provide notice of the special filing period to newspapers, radio, and television in the county, and online. The candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast for that school director in the general election is deemed elected. 

Legal References

RCW 28A.323.040 Joint school districts – Designation of county to which joint school district belongs 
RCW 28A.343.300 Directors – Terms – Numbers 
RCW 28A.343.320 Declarations of Candidacy - Positions as separate offices 
RCW 28A.343.330 Ballots – Form 
RCW 28A.343.340 When elected – Eligibility 
RCW 29A.04.151 Residence 
RCW 29A.24.141 Void in candidacy 
RCW 29A.24.181 Regular filing period – Voids in candidacy 
RCW 29.24.191 Scheduled election lapses, when 
RCW 29A.52.210 Local primaries 
RCW 42.12.010 Causes of vacancy 

Adoption

Adopted: March 24, 1987 
Revised: November 8, 2005 
Revised: July 8, 2025 

(Formerly Policy #1025)