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Online Candidate Filing

WELCOME TO LEWIS COUNTY’S ONLINE CANDIDATE FILING PROCESS.

Congratulations on your decision to run for public office!

This is the first step in filing as a candidate. Before you are officially recorded as a candidate for public office, your Declaration of Candidacy must be reviewed by the Elections Division of the Lewis County Auditor’s Office for accuracy and completeness. Filings are not official until validated and approved by the Elections Division of the Auditor’s Office. Your name will appear on the Lewis County website at elections.lewiscountywa.gov as a candidate for office once your Declaration of Candidacy is validated and approved. 

The Auditor’s Office will accept Declarations of Candidacy at this website from 8 a.m. Monday, May 6th through 5 p.m. Friday, May 10th. Assistance with this process is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (360) 740-1278.

Online submissions of Declarations of Candidacy must be completed no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, May 10th. Declarations of Candidacy submitted online after 5 p.m. on Friday, May 10th, will not be accepted. In person submissions may be made at the Auditor's Office the week of filing during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

To submit a Declaration of Candidacy to the Auditor’s Office using this website, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be a registered voter in the district for which you are filing.  
  • You must have a valid e-mail address.
  • You must have a credit card if filing fees will be paid online.

Candidate Voters’ Pamphlet Information
The Lewis County Auditor's Office will be publishing a printed voters' guide and an online voters’ guide for the primary and general elections. You will receive a separate e-mail notification for submitting your candidate information for publication.


Withdrawal of Declaration of Candidacy
A Declaration of Candidacy may be withdrawn by submitting a written request for withdrawal to the Elections Department of the Lewis County Auditor’s Office no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 13, 2024. Filing fees are not refundable. 

Alternative to Filing Fees​
Persons lacking sufficient funds to pay the filing fee and submitting a filing fee petition in lieu of the filing fee, must file in person at the Auditor’s Office, located in the Historic Courthouse, 351 NW North Street, Chehalis, WA. Filing fee petitions may also be mailed to the Lewis County Elections Department, PO Box 29, Chehalis, WA 98532. 
Knowingly providing false information on a Declaration of Candidacy is a class C felony as provided by RCW 29A.84.711.

Online Candidate Filing will begin here at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 6th.