KLICKITAT COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
PLACEMENT OF BALLOT MEASURES AND OFFICES / Authority:RCW 29A.36.121
WAC 434-230-020, 434-230-030
Revised: 2006
The following procedures are established for order of offices and issues.
General Election Ballot______
PLACEMENT OF STATE MEASURES
All state measures will appear first on the ballot. State measures, certified by the Secretary of State, will appear numerically in the following order:
1)Initiatives to the People
2)Referendum measures
3)Referendum bills
4)Initiatives to the legislature and any alternate proposals
5)Senate Joint Resolutions
6)House Joint Resolutions
PLACEMENT OF COUNTY-WIDE BALLOT MEASURES
All county-wide measures will be listed immediately following the state measures, if any. In the absence of state measures or issues, all county-wide ballot issues will be listed first on the ballot, prior to the listing of any offices or candidates.
PLACEMENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICES
All Federal and State offices will be listed immediately after the State and/or County-wide measures, if any, in the following order:
1)President and Vice-President
2)US Senator
3)US Representative
4)Governor
5)Lieutenant Governor
6)Secretary of State
7)State Treasurer
8)State Auditor
9)Attorney General
10)Commissioner of Public Lands
11)Superintendent of Public Instruction
12)Insurance Commissioner
13)State Senator
14)State Representative
PLACEMENT OF COUNTYOFFICES
1)Assessor
2)Auditor
3)Clerk
4)CountyCommissioners (in numerical order by district)
5)Coroner
6)Prosecuting Attorney
7)Sheriff
8)Treasurer
PLACEMENT OF STATE AND COUNTY JUDICIAL OFFICES
(Sequentially by number and/or position within each category)
1)Justices of the Supreme Court
2)Judges of the Court of Appeals
3)Judges of the Superior Court
4)Judges of the District Court
PLACEMENT OF OTHER COUNTY-WIDE NONPARTISAN OFFICES
1)Public Utility District Commissioner
PLACEMENT OF LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICERS AND ISSUES
Local district offices shall be listed numerically within the district. Directors or Commissioners within each district shall be in the order of the position or director district numbers assigned to those offices. Special ballot measures for a district shall appear immediately before the officers for that district.
Districts will appear in the following order:
Cities and Towns (list mayor first, then council positions)
Cemetery Districts
Park & Recreation District
Fire Districts
Hospital Districts
Emergency Medical Services District (no officers are elected, measures only, this district is not county-wide)
Port Districts
School Districts
Sewer Districts
Water Districts
Please note: The Fort Vancouver Library District hasno positions and is county wide so measures would appear after state measures.
Primary Consolidated Ballot______
Positions or offices on a primary consolidated ballot will be arranged in substantially the following order:
PLACEMENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICES
1)US Senator
2)US Representative
3)Governor
4)Lieutenant Governor
5)Secretary of State
6)State Treasurer
7)State Auditor
8)Attorney General
9)Commissioner of Public Lands
10)Superintendent of Public Instruction
11)Insurance Commissioner
12)State Senator
13)State Representative
PLACEMENT OF COUNTYOFFICES
9)Assessor
10)Auditor
11)Clerk
12)Commissioner ( In order numerically by District)
13)Coroner
14)Prosecuting Attorney
15)Sheriff
16)Treasurer
PLACEMENT OF STATE AND COUNTY JUDICIAL OFFICES
(Sequentially by number and/or position within each category)
5)Justices of the Supreme Court
6)Judges of the Court of Appeals
7)Judges of the Superior Court
8)Judges of the District Court
For all other jurisdictions on the primary consolidated ballot, the offices in each jurisdiction will be grouped together and be in the order of the position numbers assigned to those offices.
Primary Party Ballot______
1)United States Senator
2)United States Representative
3)Governor
4)Lieutenant Governor
5)Secretary of State
6)State Treasurer
7)State Auditor
8)Attorney General
9)Commissioner of Public Lands
10)Insurance Commissioner
11)State Senator
12)State Representative
13)Partisan CountyOfficers.
14)For all other jurisdictions on the primary party ballot, the offices in each jurisdiction will be grouped together and be in the order of the position numbers assigned to those offices, if any.
Precinct Committee Officers will appear at the end of the primary partisan ballot in even years.
Primary Nonpartisan Ballot______
1)Superintendent of Public Instruction
2)Justices of the Supreme Court
3)Judges of the Court of Appeals
4)Judges of the Superior Court
5)Judges of the District Court
6)For all other jurisdictions on the primary nonpartisan ballot, the offices in each jurisdiction will be grouped together and be in the order of the position numbers assigned to those offices, if any, as listed under the General Election ballot above.
KLICKITAT COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST POLICY / Authority: RCW 29A.40, WAC 434-250Revised: 2006
Who May Apply?
Any registered voter or any out-of-state, overseas, or service voter may vote by absentee ballot in any general election, special election, or primary.
When Can Absentee Ballots be Requested?
Absentee ballots can be requested no earlier than 90 days nor later than the day before an election or primary. Ongoing absentee ballot applications may be filled out at any time.
- A registered voter requesting an absentee ballot for a primary may request a ballot for the following general election at the same time.
- A request from an out-of-state, overseas, or service voter for a primary ballot will
automatically be considered a request for the following general election.
- A voter who is a resident of a health care facility, on the day of an election, may apply by messenger for an absentee ballot. Ballots issued to voters in a health care facility are the only absentee ballots, other than replacements, which are issued on Election Day.
How May a Voter Apply for an Absentee Ballot?
A voter may apply for an absentee ballot in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic transmission. Applicants for ongoing absentee status must apply in writing. (Status as an ongoing absentee voter can be requested by indicating this on the standard voter registration form.)
What Information is Required?
A registered voter’s request for an absentee ballot should include:
- Name as registered
- Address to which the ballot should be sent
- Address at which the voter is currently registered to vote
- Applications other than those made in writing with the voter’s signature must
also include the voter’s date of birth.
An out-of-state, overseas, or service voter should include:
- Name
- Address to which the ballot should be sent
- Last residence for voting purposes in the State of Washington and County of
KlickitatCounty
- Written application or oath on the return envelope must include a declaration
of the other qualifications of the applicant as an elector of the state.
Who Can Request a Ballot for a Voter?
Application can be made by either the voter or on the voter’s behalf by an immediate family member. When the application is made in any way that doesn’t bear the signature of the person for whom the ballot is requested, the date of birth will be required, along with the name of the person making the request. If this information is not provided, the request can be denied.
Who Can Pick Up an Absentee Ballot for a Voter?
Only the voter or a member of the voter’s immediate family may pick up an absentee ballot at the Auditor’s Office unless the voter is hospitalized on Election Day and applies by messenger for a hospital ballot. Otherwise, the ballot will be mailed directly to the absentee ballot applicant.
What if the Absentee Request is Incomplete?
If the absentee ballot request is incomplete or lacking the required information, the Elections Department must notify the applicant of the reason why the request cannot be accepted.
- If enough time exists before the primary or election to correct the application, the Elections Department will request the proper information from the voter in order to fill the ballot request.
- If insufficient time exists, the Elections Department will issue the absentee ballot as if the voter had listed the county auditor’s office as his or her residence. Upon its return, the ballot will be referred to the county canvassing board, and only offices or issues common to the entire county and for which it can be conclusively determined the voter is qualified to vote will be tabulated.
What if an Absentee Request is received too early or too late?
When an absentee request is received earlier than ninety days prior to a primary or election, the request will be returned to the voter. A letter explaining why the request is being returned along with an alternative date for submittal of an absentee request will be included.
If an absentee request is received on Election Day, the voter will be notified by phone that the request was received too late to vote by absentee ballot and given information on voting at the Auditor’s Office that day by provisional ballot.
If an absentee request is received after Election Day, the voter will be notified by mail that the request was received too late and provided information on the timeline within which to request absentee ballots.
KLICKITAT COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
Special Absentee Ballots / Authority: RCW 29A.40.050Revised: 2009
SPECIAL ABSENTEE BALLOTS
PERTINENT LAWS:
RCW 29A.40.050---This pertains to voters who can not return a regular absentee ballot by mail delivery within the period provided for regular absentee ballots. This is a write-in paper ballot.
In order to be a valid request for a special ballot, the voter must state that they can not vote a regular absentee ballot in the time allowed by law. The request can be no more than 90 days before the election. If the request is received before the 90 days, write the voter a letter telling them of the deadline and that the request will be processed when possible under the law. A voter can request a ballot by using the Special Absentee Ballot Application form from our office, the Federal Postcard Absentee Ballot Request (FPCA), or any other request that fits the requirements of the law.
The ballot will be a write-in paper ballot. Word Document “Special absentee ballot” on Election Drive. Prepare a list of offices up for election and leave a space for the voter to write in his choices. Also enclose a list of any announced candidates, filed candidates, or issues that will be on the ballot. Use the Service Absentee Ballot Envelopes provided by the state to mail the ballot. On the Affidavit envelope mark that it is a Special Ballot. When the ballot comes back you will be able to tell at a glance what it is and can hold them separate until you see if the regular absentee ballot will be returned (if sent). You will need to keep track of the date the ballot was sent and the date it was returned.
The Special Absentee Ballot should be sent out as soon as possible. When the regular ballots are ready, one will be sent. When the Special Absentee Ballot comes back in, hold it to see if the regular ballot comes back, if not, process the Special Absentee Ballot. If both come back in, process the regular ballot.
Voters using a Special Absentee Ballot may indicate just the party, Democratic or Republican, if they do not know the candidates name. For example: General Election Special Ballot under US Senator -- Republican.
The Special Absentee Ballot shows everything on the ballot. Check what issues the voter is eligible to vote on. For example: This voter is in the 7th District therefore issues for the 12th District the voter is not eligible to vote for. When this ballot is duplicated, do not mark the choices for races the voter is not eligible to vote in.
If the regular ballot is not returned, the inspection board will duplicate the write-in ballot. Any choice not on the regular ballot would be treated like any other write-in vote. Give the voter the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. If they write-in Democrat or Republican and don't give a name of a candidate, use the one on the ballot, if only one candidate is on the ballot. The voter may have been out of touch for some time and wouldn't know the candidates exact name.
SPECIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT INSTRUCTION SHEET
Primary Election
General Election
Enclosed you will find a blank ballot and a list of any candidates or issues for the forthcoming Election. This ballot is being issued to you because you have indicated that:
1.You believe that you will be residing, stationed
or working outside the continental United States;
AND
2.You believe that you will be unable to vote and
return a regular absentee ballot by normal mail
delivery within the period provided for regular
absentee ballots.
You will vote the ballot by writing in the candidate(s) of your choice. Although we have included all the offices for which you are entitled to vote, you vote for as many, or as few, as you desire. Please include political party affiliation, if known, when writing in the candidate of your choice. Your write-in vote will be counted if we can determine for whom you intended to vote, and if the ballot is for a partisan primary, the political party to which the candidate belongs. If the candidate's political affiliation is well known, your ballot well be counted whether you include that information or not.
Please examine this material for any supplementary materials which may have been included. Any information known at the time this material was sent to you-such as state or local ballot measures scheduled to be voted upon, or candidates who have actually filed for office-has been included.
When the regular ballots are ready we will send one to you. Vote it. If your regular absentee ballot is returned in time the regular absentee ballot will be counted and the special absentee will be voided.
***SPECIALABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION ***
I ______hereby request a Special Absentee Ballot
Name of applicant
______
Residence AddressCity/StateZip
For overseas or military voters not registered in Washington, please list your last residence address.
______
Last WashingtonResidence AddressCity/StateZIP
Please send the ballot to me at the following address:
______
Mailing Address City/StateZIP
This application is for the following:
Primary Election ___
Primary and General___
General Election only ___
Special Election ___
(___) Please forward a regular absentee ballot to me as soon as it becomes available.
Your signature is required below.
“I believe that I will be unable to vote and return a regular absentee ballot by mail during the period provided by law for the return of regular absentee ballots.”
Signature X: ______Date: ______
KLICKITAT COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
ISSUING HEALTH CARE FACILITY BALLOTS / Authority: RCW 29A.40.080 RCW 70.37.020WAC 434-250-030
Revised: 2006
A registered voter who is a resident of a health care facility on Election Day can apply by messenger for an absentee ballot. This is the ONLY time a person other than an immediate family member is authorized to pick up a ballot for a voter.
1. The Elections Department will distribute Health Care Facility Ballot Applications to local
hospitals and major treatment centers.
2. Applications must contain the following:
An affidavit stating that the voter requesting the replacement ballot will be confined to
a health care facility on the day of the election; and that the original ballot was not used.
Voter’s name
Voter’s residence address for voting purposes
Voter’s signature
3. Upon receipt of the above information, the Elections Department will issue the ballot to the
messenger in the same manner all other mail ballots are issued. The messenger will be
required to sign for receipt of the ballot.
KLICKITAT COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
Health Care Facility Ballot Application / Authority:Revised: 2009
HEALTH CARE FACILITY BALLOT APPLICATION
DATE ______
This application is for the following:
Special Election ______
Primary Election _____
General Election _____
Messenger Name______Health Care Facility ______
Name of Voter ______Date of Birth ______
Telephone Number ______
For Office use only
Registration Number ______
Precinct/levy Code ______
Issued ______
KLICKITAT COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
Issuing Ballot for Protected Records Voters in the ACP (Address Confidentiality Program) / Authority:RCW 40.24
Revised: 6/2014
Issuing Ballots for Protected Records Voters (PRVs)
As authorized personnel prepare ballots for Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) Protected Records Voters (PRV), please follow these steps:
- Assemble the ballot and all materials just like you do for any absentee voter. The only difference is that the envelope you provide for the PRV to return his/her ballot should be marked so your mailroom personnel know to route the PRV ballot to authorized personnel to verify the signature.
- Address the mailing envelope to the PRV using this format:
Participant name
PMB#### (the participant’s unique ACP authorization code number)
PO Box 257
Olympia, WA98507-0257
- Seal the outer envelope.
To mail the ballots, either:
a. Place all the PRV ballots in one large envelope addressed to
ACP
PO Box 257
Olympia, WA98507, or
- Drop each ballot into the mail separately, addressed directly to the participant
at his or her ACP address.
Putting ballots together in one envelope may save the county postage and it ensures the ACP will receive, document the receipt of, and forward all ballots from the county as a whole. If you choose to send several ballots separately in the mail, that’s fine, too.
If you have questions about ACP procedures or processing ACP ballots, please refer to
RCW 40.24, WAC 434-840, or contact the ACP at (360) 753-2972.
Please note: If a person comes in inquiring about the program and has not already received an ACPauthorization card you may not register them. The person needs to go through Programs for Peaceful Living in Bingen, Washington to apply for this program in KlickitatCounty. If the person has questions, they may call Programs for Peaceful Living or the phone number listed in the instructions above.