Precinct Committee Officer - Eligibility and Term

Eligibility and Term

RCW 29A.80.041, Precinct committee officer, eligibility., states: Any member of a major political party who is a registered voter in the precinct may file his or her declaration of candidacy as prescribed under RCW 29A.24.031 with the county auditor for the office of precinct committee officer of his or her party in that precinct. When elected at the primary, the precinct committee officer shall serve so long as the committee officer remains an eligible voter in that precinct.

Additionally, per RCW 29A.80.51, Precinct committee officer — Election — Term., states: he statutory requirements for filing as a candidate at the primaries apply to candidates for precinct committee officer. The office must be voted upon at the primaries, and the names of all candidates must appear under the proper party and office designations on the ballot for the primary for each even-numbered year, and the one receiving the highest number of votes will be declared elected. However, to be declared elected, a candidate must receive at least ten percent of the number of votes cast for the candidate of the candidate's party receiving the greatest number of votes in the precinct. The term of office of precinct committee officer is two years, commencing the first day of December following the primary.

RCW 29A.80.51 was updated in 2012 by ENGROSSED THIRD SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1860, which affects how PCOs are deemed "elected" in the following manner:

• Section 3.1; The office of precinct committee officer must be voted upon at the primary election in each even-numbered year. If no one files for the office, the office shall be filled in accordance with RCW 29A.28.071. If, after the last day to withdraw, only one candidate has filed for the office in a precinct, that candidate is deemed elected and the auditor shall issue a certificate of election. Only contested races may appear on the ballot.

Specifically, this changes the requirement so that, if you are the only one on the ballot, you no longer require the 10% necessary and are, effectively, elected by acclamation.

An individual may be appointed to be the PCO in their precinct, with one exception. Pursuant to RCW 29A.28.071, hen a vacancy in the office of precinct committee officer exists because of failure to elect at a state primary, the vacancy may not be filled until after the organization meeting of the county central committee and the new county chair has been selected as provided by RCW 29A.80.030. The Chair of the County Central Committee makes that appointment. However, in counties where the population is greater than 1 million, currently only King County, the Chair of the Legislative District must make a recommendation to the County Chair, usually by having the members of their district organization vote to "elect" the PCO.

An individual may also be appointed to be the Precinct Captain in a precinct where they do not reside. Their first responsibility is to find someone within that precinct who is willing to be appointed to the role and then run in the next Primary election.