Ford, Washington Public Records

While these traditional economic pillars remain strong, Ford has also seen the emergence of a vibrant small business and artisan community, with residents operating a diverse range of enterprises, from specialty food producers to handcrafted goods. This blend of agricultural, natural resource, and entrepreneurial activities helps to sustain the local economy and provide employment opportunities for the town's 194 residents.

Public safety in Ford is primarily the responsibility of the Ford Police Department, a dedicated local law enforcement agency that serves the community with a focus on maintaining security and responding to emergencies. Residents seeking to obtain arrest records, mugshots, booking information, or criminal history reports can contact the Police Department's records unit, located at 456 Oak Street. For more serious criminal matters that fall outside the jurisdiction of the Ford Police, the Stevens County Sheriff's Office, headquartered in Colville, also plays a vital role in providing law enforcement services to the wider region. Community members can reach out to either agency to initiate requests for specific public records related to criminal justice and public safety.

Ford voters are served by the Stevens County Elections Office, administered by the Stevens County Auditor, located at 215 South Oak Street, Room 104, Colville, WA 99114, phone (509) 684-7514. The county elections website at www.stevenscountywa.gov/auditor/elections provides comprehensive voter information including registration, ballot status, election results, and polling place information. Washington is a vote-by-mail state, meaning all registered voters automatically receive ballots by mail for every election; Ford residents do not need to visit polling places on Election Day but may deposit completed ballots at official drop boxes located throughout the county, listed on the elections website.

Ford residents can register to vote online through the Washington Secretary of State's VoteWA portal at www.vote.wa.gov, which provides online voter registration, address updates, and ballot tracking. Voters must register or update their registration at least eight days before an election (online) or by mail postmarked at least eight days before the election. Washington requires only a driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number, to register online. First-time voters who register by mail may need to provide ID when returning their first ballot. Because Ford is an unincorporated community, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council; Ford residents vote in county, state, and federal elections. Stevens County elections include County Commissioners (three positions elected to staggered six-year terms), Sheriff, Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer, Prosecuting Attorney, and other county offices, typically on a rotating schedule.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Stevens County recorded voter turnout of approximately 73-78% of registered voters, reflecting strong rural engagement typical of northeastern Washington counties. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Ford and Stevens County voters will decide several important races. The 2026 ballot is expected to include: one of Washington's U.S. Senate seats (pending the rotation schedule), all statewide executive offices including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and other constitutional officers; Washington State Legislature races for the 7th Legislative District (which covers Stevens County), including one State Senator and two State Representatives; Stevens County offices that are up for election in the regular rotation, potentially including County Commissioner positions and various elected department heads; and Superior Court and District Court judge positions if any seats are on the ballot cycle. Specific candidate filing occurs in May 2026, and voters can track filed candidates through the Secretary of State's website and the Stevens County Elections Office.

Washington's Public Records Act makes many election records publicly accessible. Voter registration lists are available for purchase by campaigns and political organizations under RCW 29A.08.720, though individual voter registration information including addresses is protected from casual public access. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are searchable online through the Washington Public Disclosure Commission at www.pdc.wa.gov, showing contributions, expenditures, and donors for all campaigns. Candidate filing information, including declarations of candidacy and financial affairs statements, are public and maintained by the elections office. Precinct-level election results are published by Stevens County after each election and archived on the county website, providing detailed geographic breakdowns of voting patterns. Washington voters can request absentee/mail ballots (though all voters automatically receive mail ballots) by updating their registration with a current mailing address through VoteWA or by contacting the Stevens County Elections Office directly. Overseas and military voters can access ballots electronically through the Federal Voting Assistance Program and Washington's special provisions for uniformed and overseas citizens.