Policy No. 1110

Board of Directors

ELECTION

Board elections shall be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years.

A person is legally qualified to become a board member who is a United States citizen, and a qualified voter resident in the school district and appropriate director district, if any.

A person may become a candidate for a place on the board by filing a declaration of candidacy with the county auditor during the July filing period as prescribed by law. If the school district includes territory in two or more counties, the declaration of candidacy shall be filed with the county auditor of the county designated by the state board of education as county to which the district belongs, pursuant to RCW 28A.323.040. In the event that there are more than two candidates for any position on the board, a primary election shall be held on the third Tuesday of September in the manner prescribed by law. The two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will appear on the election ballot in November.

In the event a school director position becomes vacant or a void in candidacy for a school director position occurs before the sixth Tuesday prior to the primary election, the county auditor shall establish a special three-day filing period.

In the event a school director position becomes vacant or a void in candidacy for a school director position occurs after the sixth Tuesday before the primary election, but before the sixth Tuesday before the general election, then the county auditor shall establish a special three day filing period. In such a case, regardless of the number of candidates, there will be no primary, and the winner of the position will be the candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast.

In the event a school director position becomes vacant or a void in candidacy for a school director position occurs after the sixth Tuesday before the general election, the scheduled election is lapsed, the election deemed stricken from the ballot, no write-in votes counted and no candidate certified as elected.  If an incumbent school director is serving in this instance, the director’s service on the board will continue until the next school board election or until the director resigns.  If no director is currently serving, the position will be filled by the board consistent with the board’s policy on filling vacancies.

Cross Reference:          Board Policy 1115                         Vacancies

1610                        Conflicts of Interest

Legal References:         RCW 28A.323.040                       Joint school districts — Administration — County to which joint school district considered as belonging

                                    RCW 28A.343.300                       Directors — Terms — Numbers

                                    RCW 28A.343.320                       Directors — Declarations of candidacy — Positions as separate offices

                                    RCW 28A.343.330                       Directors — Ballots — Form

                                    RCW 28A.343.340                       Directors — When elected — Eligibility

                                    RCW 29A.04.151                         Residence

                                    RCW 29A.24.191                         Scheduled election lapses, when

                                    RCW 29A.24.181                         Reopening of filing — Occurrences after sixth Tuesday before primary

                                    RCW 29A.52.210                         Local primaries

                                    RCW 42.12.010                            Causes of vacancy

Adoption Date: 11/27/2006