Burbank, Washington Public Records

Ballots go out approximately 18 days before each election and can be returned by mail postage-paid or dropped in official boxes located throughout Walla Walla County, including at the Auditor's Office. Voter registration is available online through the Washington Secretary of State at www.vote.wa.gov, in person at the County Auditor's Office, or by mail. Online registration requires a Washington driver's license or ID card. The deadline falls eight days before any election for online and mail registration, though in-person registration remains open through Election Day. Same-day registration is offered at voting centers and the County Elections Office. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 by Election Day, and residents of Washington. Since Burbank has no municipal government, there are no city council or mayoral races here. Instead, residents vote in county, state, and federal elections along with local ballot measures and special district contests such as fire district commissioners, port commissioners, and school board members. The county leaned Republican in most statewide contests. However, all U.S.Current federal, state, and local election schedules, ballot contests, candidate filings, and certified results for Burbank voters are published by the Washington Secretary of State Elections (https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections). State-level races include all 98 House seats and roughly half of the 49 state Senate seats based on district rotation. County races will likely feature county commissioners from the three-member board with staggered terms, plus county auditor, treasurer, assessor, prosecuting attorney, and sheriff, depending on the cycle. The Port of Walla Walla Commission, which directly impacts the local economy, has three commissioner positions with six-year staggered terms, and at least one seat typically appears on each general election ballot. Voters should check the County Elections Office website for the official candidate and measure list as the election nears. Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) makes most election records publicly accessible. Voter registration lists can be purchased by campaigns and political organizations, though commercial use is restricted. Campaign finance disclosure reports, covering contributions and expenditures for candidates and political committees, are searchable online through the Washington Public Disclosure Commission at www.pdc.wa.gov. Candidate filings, including declarations of candidacy and personal financial affairs statements for county and state candidates, are kept by the County Elections Office and the Secretary of State. Precinct-level results are published by the County Elections Office after each election and posted on the Walla Walla County website. State law requires ballot preservation for 60 days after certification, or longer if an election contest is filed. Since Washington uses vote-by-mail exclusively, traditional precinct polling places don't exist, though accessible voting centers serve voters needing assistance or preferring to vote in person, including a center at the County Auditor's Office during the 18 days preceding and including Election Day.