EDITORIAL: State's election system is secure and reliable
While Washington candidates officially throw their hats in the ring next week, other states already are deep into election season. All of which serves as invitation to examine our state's election system and the constitutional decree that results in vastly different processes across the country.
For Washington, that process begins Monday with the arrival of filing week. Candidates have until May 8 to sign up for a spot on the ballot in the August primary. In Clark County, a race for congressional representative from the 3rd District will draw much public attention; but all state representative seats also are on this year's ballot, as are county executive positions, three county council spots, several district court judgeships and one utility commissioner position.
And for those who wish to be involved in local politics but don't desire a significant commitment, the Democratic and Republican parties will hold elections for precinct committee officers.
Numerous potential candidates have announced their intent to run for Congress or county council or a county executive position, and The Columbian has reported on many of them. But filing week always contains some surprises.
Meanwhile, next week's kickoff highlights significant differences between Washington and other states. In Oregon, for example, the statewide primary is May 19 and candidates have been campaigning for months.
That brings up another difference between us and our neighbor to the south. Oregon has a closed primary, meaning voters must be registered as a Republican or Democrat to vote in partisan races and choose a candidate for the general election; independents, who make up nearly 40 percent of registered Oregon voters, are not allowed to weigh in on nominees for Congress or governor or other significant positions.
Washington voters do not register by party affiliation, allowing all to participate in the primary. The top two candidates, regardless of party, then advance to the November election.
The leeway for differing systems flows from Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which says that the time, place and manner of holding elections "shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof." Now, after decades of tinkering by states to meet their needs, 14 have open primaries, 13 have closed primaries and the others have some combination of the two, according to BallotPedia.org.
All of this is significant as President Donald Trump attempts to exert federal control over state elections, as state legislatures engage in partisan redistricting and as the Supreme Court undermines the Voting Rights Act. Those actions could have meaningful impacts on the national stage, but for now Washington residents are content with preserving and protecting our election system.
At the federal level, all three branches of government are working to allow candidates to choose their voters rather than the other way around. Those efforts undermine the democratic processes that have been embraced in our state: Allowing all legal voters to participate in primaries amplifies the voices of citizens; providing vote-by-mail eases the process; and having a top-two primary works to advance the most qualified candidates.
The system is imperfect, and election security must remain a paramount goal. But as Washington's election season begins next week, and as election chaos reigns at the national level, we remain grateful for a secure, reliable and thoughtful system in our state.
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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 7:09 AM.