Belfair, Washington Public Records

Residents register to vote online through the Washington Secretary of State's VoteWA portal at www.vote.wa.gov, by mail using a voter registration form, or in person at the County Elections Office or any Washington State driver licensing office. Online registration is available up to 8 days before an election; mail and in-person registration must be received by 8 days before Election Day, with postmarks not counting. Washington offers same-day voter registration during the in-person voting period at the Elections Office. Voters must provide a Washington State driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Since the community is unincorporated, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Residents vote in Mason County Commissioner races, with three commissioner districts and staggered four-year terms, plus elections for Mason County Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk, Assessor, and Coroner. State legislative races include Washington State Senate District 35 and House of Representatives District 35, with two positions. Senators serve four-year terms and representatives serve two-year terms. Federal races include U.S. House of Representatives District 6, currently represented by Derek Kilmer's successor following his 2024 retirement, and U.S. Senate seats when up for election. Because Washington is a vote-by-mail state, there are no traditional assigned polling places. However, the Mason County Elections Office operates an accessible voting center at 411 North 5th Street in Shelton where voters can register, obtain replacement ballots, vote in person using accessible equipment, and return ballots in person. Ballot drop boxes are located throughout Mason County, including locations in Belfair such as the North Mason Timberland Library and other secure sites; voters can find drop box locations at www.co.mason.wa.gov/auditor/elections.Current federal, state, and local election schedules, ballot contests, candidate filings, and certified results for Belfair voters are published by the Washington Secretary of State Elections (https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections). Ballot measures, school levies, and local improvement districts may also appear. Washington's Public Records Act makes voter registration lists available to campaigns and the public for political purposes, though residential addresses are exempt for voters requesting confidentiality. Campaign finance disclosure reports are searchable online through the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission at www.pdc.wa.gov, showing contributions and expenditures for state and local candidates. Election results by precinct are published on the Mason County Elections website after certification, typically within two weeks of Election Day. Washington law requires ballots to be postmarked by Election Day or deposited in official drop boxes by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted.