Candidate filing week will take place May 5 through May 9 for the upcoming primary elections on Aug. 5, according to a news release from the Lewis County Auditor’s Office.
During that period, Lewis County residents who wish to run for local office can file their candidacies Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. either online on the Lewis County website or in person at the Lewis County Auditor’s Office Elections Department located on the ground floor of the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.
Those filing online can pay their filing fees using a credit card.
Candidates wishing to file by mail can submit their filing papers starting now. The declaration of candidacy must be received by the Lewis County Elections Department no later than May 9 at 5 p.m.
In order to be eligible to file for a local office, candidates must be registered to vote in the relevant district, meet residency requirements for the desired office, pay the filing fee and provide a working email address.
Candidate names will not appear on candidate lists until their declaration of candidacy is approved and their filing fee is paid, according to the Lewis County Elections Department.
Local offices up for election this fall include four spots on the Centralia City Council and five on the Chehalis City Council.
Interested residents can view the list of more than 100 offices up for election this year on the Lewis County website at https://tinyurl.com/5cb27j83.
Residents can also view a list of approved candidates for any position on the county website at https://tinyurl.com/3b2hprxr.
The Lewis County Elections Department will draw lots promptly at 5 p.m. on May 9 to determine the order in which candidate names will appear on the ballot for the August primary. For offices that have no primary election, the lots drawn will determine the candidate name order for the general election, which will take place on election day Nov. 4, 2025.
For more information on upcoming Lewis County elections, visit https://elections.lewiscountywa.gov/.
