Candidate filing for November 2020 elections begins soon

— from Milene Henley, San Juan County Auditor —

If you have ever wanted to be an elected official, now is your chance.  Candidate filing for positions open for election in 2020 is about to begin.

The list of offices available for filing is below. In addition to President (sorry, you can’t file for that one), all statewide elected officials and all State Legislative District 40 positions are open for filing. Locally, the San Juan County Superior Court Judge and two County Council positions are open. In
addition, local voters will be electing a new Charter Review Commission to review and possibly make recommendations for changes to the County Home Rule Charter.

During filing week, candidates may submit their filings online, by email, by fax, or in person at the San Juan County Elections Office at 55 Second Street, Suite A, Friday Harbor. Online candidate filing will be available Monday, May 11, at 9 a.m. through Friday, May 15, at 4 p.m. In person, emailed and faxed filings will be accepted Monday, May 11, at 8 a.m. through Friday, May 15, at 4:30 p.m.

Mail-in filings will be accepted no earlier than Monday, April 27, and will be processed on May 11. Mailed filings will be accepted if they are received at the Elections Office no later than Friday, May 15. If filing by mail, forms should be mailed to San Juan County Auditor, Elections Office, PO Box 638, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

Candidates should consider filing online. Candidates who file online will receive emails confirming their filing. Candidates can file from home on their personal computers or may file on a computer at the Elections Office. To file online, go to the Elections webpage at www.sanjuanco.com/elections and navigate to “Online Candidate Filing” under “Candidate Information.” Candidates filing for Federal or State offices will file with the Secretary of State.

The names of candidates facing two or more challengers, other than charter review commissioners, will appear on the August 4 primary ballot. Offices with one or two candidates filed will go directly to the November 3 general election ballot. Precinct Committee Officers are elected on the August 4 primary ballot, if opposed; if unopposed, they are deemed elected.

For more information about filing, call the Elections Office at (360) 378-3357 or email elections@sanjuanco.com.

The following offices will be open for filing: