Ione, Washington Public Records

Public safety in Ione is primarily overseen by the Ione Police Department, which works in partnership with the Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office to maintain order and respond to emergencies. The Ione Police Department, headquartered at 205 Regal Street, is the primary point of contact for residents seeking information about local law enforcement, including requests for arrest records, mugshots, or other criminal history data. For more complex investigations or situations that require additional resources, the Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office, located at 625 West 4th Street in Newport, provides support and oversight.

Ione voters are served by the Pend Oreille County Auditor's Office, which administers elections for the county. The office is located at 625 West 4th Street, Newport, WA 99156 (phone: 509-447-4117, website: www.pendoreilleco.org/auditor.html). Washington is an entirely vote-by-mail state, meaning all registered voters automatically receive ballots mailed to their registered address approximately 18 days before each election. Ione residents register to vote online through the Washington Secretary of State at www.vote.wa.gov, by mail, or in person at the County Auditor's office. Online registration requires a Washington driver's license or state ID. The registration deadline is 8 days before any election for online and mail registration, or in-person registration is available through Election Day. The Town of Ione holds municipal elections for mayor and town council positions, typically in odd-numbered years during the November general election. The next municipal elections would occur in November 2025 for town positions. Candidate filings and local measures specific to Ione are filed with and certified by the Pend Oreille County Elections office. Because Washington uses universal mail voting, Ione residents do not have assigned polling places; instead, voters return completed ballots by mail (postage-paid) or at official ballot drop boxes located throughout Pend Oreille County, including locations in Newport and Ione. Ballot drop box locations are listed on the County Auditor's website. Washington's public disclosure laws make extensive election records publicly accessible: voter registration lists are available for political purposes through data requests to the county auditor; campaign finance disclosure reports for local candidates and ballot measure committees are searchable online through the Washington Public Disclosure Commission at www.pdc.wa.gov; candidate filings and declarations are public records at the county elections office; and precinct-level election results are published by the county and compiled statewide by the Secretary of State. In the November 2024 presidential election, Pend Oreille County reported approximately 63% voter turnout with roughly 7,500 ballots counted from approximately 11,900 registered voters, reflecting the county's conservative-leaning electorate. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Ione and Pend Oreille County voters will decide several significant races: the U.S. Senate seat is not up in 2026 (Washington's Class 1 and Class 3 Senate seats are contested in 2024 and 2028/2022 cycles), but voters will elect one U.S. Representative for Washington's 5th Congressional District; all 98 Washington State House of Representatives seats and approximately half of the 49 State Senate seats (District 7 covers Pend Oreille County); Pend Oreille County Commissioner positions (three-member board with staggered terms); Pend Oreille County Sheriff, Auditor, Treasurer, Assessor, Prosecuting Attorney, and Clerk positions depending on the election cycle; and potentially local school board, fire district, and special purpose district positions. Washington does not elect governors in even-numbered midterm years (next gubernatorial election is 2024). Ione voters can also expect ballot measures addressing local levies, bonds, or county initiatives. To request an absentee/mail ballot (though all voters automatically receive them), or to update registration addresses, Ione residents contact the Pend Oreille County Auditor's elections division at 509-447-4117 or update information online at vote.wa.gov.