EPHRATA — Candidate filing week is underway in Grant County, opening a five-day window for residents to officially declare their candidacy for local offices on the 2026 ballot — including several high‑profile races that will be wide open. 

Online and in‑person filing began Monday at 8 a.m. and will close sharply at 5 p.m. Friday, according to the Grant County Elections Division. Candidates may also file by mail, though mailed declarations could not be accepted before April 20. 

“They can either come into our office and file a paper form with us,” Elections Deputy Rebecca Pettingill said. “They can go online onto the Grant County Elections page, and there's a candidate Information section. Then there's a button that says online candidate filing, and it walks them through the process. We receive it through our queue, and then we can go through and approve it, or they can mail in a paper form. However, they want to make sure it has to be received by the end of day on Friday, for in person, mail or online by 5 p.m. on Friday.” 

This election cycle features a full slate of federal, state and county offices, with turnover expected at multiple levels of government. At the federal level, Washington’s 4th Congressional District will be open, as longtime U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse is not seeking reelection, creating an opportunity for new representation in Central Washington. 

The Legislature is also seeing change. In Legislative District 13, the state Senate seat currently held by Judy Warnick will be open, marking the end of her tenure after decades of public service. Several House seats across Grant County will also appear on the ballot, though those contests currently include incumbents. 

At the county level, voters will decide races for assessor, auditor, clerk, coroner, prosecutor, sheriff and treasurer. One county commission seat will be on the ballot, along with a mix of judicial and public utility positions. While many incumbents are eligible to run again, elections officials note that filing week often brings first-time candidates. 

Prospective candidates must be registered voters and meet all legal qualifications for the office they seek. Most local candidates must live within the district boundaries at the time of filing. 

“You must be a registered voter and possess the qualifications specified by law at the time of filing,” Pettingill said.  

Filing can be completed online through the VoteWA portal, which the county recommends for its step-by-step guidance and instant confirmation. The system requires an email address and, when applicable, payment of filing fees by credit card. 

Filing fees vary by office and are based on salary. Offices with no fixed salary have no fee, while those with salaries under $1,000 require a $10 payment. For higher paid positions, the fee equals 1% of the annual salary, according to the Washington Secretary of State.  

Once a declaration is approved, candidates receive email confirmation and their names appear on the county’s public “Who’s Filed” list. After filing closes Friday, elections staff will conduct a public lot draw to determine ballot order. 

Candidates who wish to withdraw must do so by 5 p.m. May 11. Those appearing in the Local Voters’ Pamphlet must submit their photo, biography and statement by 5 p.m. May 19. 

Pettingill said she also wants to remind candidates to file with the Public Disclosure Commission.  

“That relates to any money they get when they're a candidate. If anybody donates any money towards them that they can use for their campaign, they have to file with the PDC. So that is really important,” she said. 

Residents can find filing instructions, a full list of offices on the ballot and filing fee information on the Grant County Elections website.