Washington
No candidate petitions, huge measure counts, no distribution rule.
Washington is the rare state where candidate petitioning barely exists. The Top Two primary lets anyone onto the primary ballot with a declaration and a filing fee, and the only petition most candidates ever file is a fee-waiver petition. Ballot measure work, by contrast, is among the most demanding in the country: statewide totals north of 300,000 valid signatures, no geographic distribution to plan around, and a referendum window so short it functions as a sprint.
Signature Requirements
| Office / Measure | Requirement |
|---|---|
| All partisan and most nonpartisan offices | No nominating signatures. File a declaration of candidacy and pay a fee of 1% of the office's annual salary, or $10 where the salary is $1,000 or less. |
| Petition in lieu of filing fee (any office) | A petition signed by registered voters of the jurisdiction equal to the number of dollars in the filing fee — a $1,500 fee means 1,500 signatures (RCW 29A.24.091). |
| Precinct committee officer and per-diem offices | No filing fee and no signature requirement. |
| Minor party and independent presidential candidates | A nominating convention attended by at least 100 registered voters, then 1,000 registered-voter signatures filed with the Secretary of State (RCW 29A.56.610). |
| Initiative to the People | 8% of the vote cast for Governor at the last gubernatorial election — 308,911 valid signatures for the 2026 cycle (2024 base). |
| Initiative to the Legislature | Same 8% threshold; the measure goes to the Legislature first rather than straight to the ballot. |
| Referendum measure (citizen veto of a new law) | 4% of the same gubernatorial base — roughly 154,000 for the 2026 cycle. |
| Geographic distribution | None. Washington has no county or district distribution requirement for measures or for fee-waiver petitions. |
Top Two Removes the Candidate Petition
Because Washington nominates by a Top Two primary, party affiliation is a self-declared preference and there is no separate party nomination to petition for. Any qualified person files a declaration during a single filing week in May, pays the fee, and appears on the primary ballot. The petition-in-lieu route exists strictly as an economic accommodation and is priced at one signature per dollar of fee.
The Referendum Window Is the Tightest in the Region
Referendum petitions must be filed with the Secretary of State no later than 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, and the practical window is shorter still because sponsors cannot begin until the bill is enrolled. Gathering four percent of a gubernatorial electorate in under three months, with no distribution relief, is why successful Washington referenda are rare. Bills carrying an emergency clause are not subject to referendum at all.
Initiative Calendars Run on Different Clocks
An Initiative to the People can be filed starting in early January of the election year, with signatures due in early July — roughly four months before the general election. An Initiative to the Legislature opens in early March of the prior year and closes in late December or early January, at least ten days before the legislative session convenes. Sponsors who pick the wrong track lose most of a year.
Circulators Face Almost No Restrictions
Washington imposes no residency, age, or voter-registration test on petition circulators, and there is no notarization requirement. The Attorney General has concluded that the sworn statement printed on petition sheets is an informational warning rather than a declaration circulators must actually sign. Per-signature pay is legal, which makes Washington one of the friendlier states for professional signature operations.
Random Sample With a Full-Check Backstop
The Secretary of State checks a random sample of at least 3% of submitted signatures and applies a statistical formula that includes an allowance for sampling error and an estimate of duplicate pairs. By statute the office may never reject a petition on sampling alone: if the sample projects failure, staff must proceed to a full check of every signature submitted. There is no cure period and no opportunity to add signatures after the deadline.
Ballot Measures in Washington
Washington offers three citizen routes: the Initiative to the People, which goes directly on the November ballot; the Initiative to the Legislature, which is delivered to lawmakers who may enact it, ignore it, or send it to voters alongside an alternative; and the referendum measure, which suspends and refers a newly passed law. Initiatives require signatures equal to 8% of the last gubernatorial vote — 308,911 for 2026 — while referenda require 4%, roughly 154,000. There is no constitutional initiative in Washington; amendments come only from the Legislature. Signatures are canvassed by a random sample of at least 3%, but sampling can never be the sole basis for rejection, so a close petition triggers a full manual check of every sheet. There is no geographic distribution requirement and no cure period, so the entire margin for error has to be built into the raw collection target.
What Trips Campaigns Up in Washington
We've Worked This Ground
Washington Ballot Access FAQ
Do Washington candidates need signatures to get on the ballot?
Almost never. Candidates file a declaration and pay 1% of the office's salary. The only petition option is a fee-waiver petition requiring one registered-voter signature per dollar of the filing fee.
Can out-of-state circulators work in Washington?
Yes. Washington sets no residency, age, or registration requirement for circulators and does not require a notarized circulator affidavit, which makes it one of the more open states for professional crews.
What happens if the random sample says we came up short?
The Secretary of State cannot reject the petition on the sample alone. Staff must proceed to a full check of every signature submitted, which takes considerably longer but gives a borderline petition a genuine second look.
How long do we have to run a referendum?
Ninety days from the Legislature's adjournment, and less in practice. Bills passed with an emergency clause cannot be referred at all.
Running a Campaign in This State?
Signature requirements are the easy part. Hitting them on deadline is the job.