Rice, Washington Public Records

Law enforcement services for the Rice community are provided by the Stevens County Sheriff's Office. This agency is responsible for patrolling the unincorporated areas of the county, responding to emergency calls, and conducting investigations of criminal activity. Residents can contact the Sheriff's Office non-emergency line to report suspicious behavior or request assistance. The office also maintains records related to arrests, incident reports, and other public safety activities within its jurisdiction.

Rice, Washington voters are served by the Stevens County Elections Office, which is part of the Stevens County Auditor's Office located at 215 South Oak Street, Colville, WA 99114. The office can be reached at (509) 684-7510, and election information is available at www.stevenscountywa.gov/auditor. Washington State conducts all elections entirely by mail, meaning Rice residents receive their ballots automatically at their registered address approximately 18-20 days before each election. Voters may return completed ballots by mail (no postage required if mailed by Election Day), or deposit them in official ballot drop boxes located throughout Stevens County, including locations in Colville and other communities.

Rice residents register to vote through the Washington State online voter registration system at www.vote.wa.gov, which allows eligible citizens to register or update their registration information. The voter registration deadline in Washington is 8 days before any election for online registration, or Election Day for in-person registration at the county elections office. New registrants must provide a Washington State driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Washington allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register, with registration becoming active when they turn 18. Same-day registration is available at the county elections office during business hours up through Election Day.

Since Rice is an unincorporated community, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Rice residents participate in Stevens County, state, and federal elections. County elections include positions such as County Commissioners (three districts, four-year staggered terms), County Sheriff, County Auditor, County Assessor, County Treasurer, Prosecuting Attorney, and Clerk. These county positions typically appear on the ballot during Washington's primary election in August and general election in November of even-numbered years. Rice voters can look up their specific polling place—though Washington is vote-by-mail, the county maintains a voting center at the elections office—and verify their registration status at www.vote.wa.gov by entering their name and date of birth.

Public election records in Washington include voter registration lists (available to campaigns and for legitimate purposes), campaign finance disclosure reports filed through the state Public Disclosure Commission at www.pdc.wa.gov, candidate filings and declarations of candidacy, precinct-level election results, and ballot measure information. These records are accessible online through the Stevens County elections website and the Washington Secretary of State's election portal at www.sos.wa.gov/elections. In the November 2024 presidential election, Stevens County saw voter turnout of approximately 75-78% of registered voters, consistent with the county's historically high rural voter participation rates.

Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Rice and Stevens County voters will decide several significant races. Washington's U.S. Senate seat (Class 1) is not up in 2026, but Class 3 would be if it were the cycle; however, both of Washington's Senate seats (Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell) are Class 3, last elected in 2022, and will not be on the 2026 ballot. Washington does not have a gubernatorial election in 2026 (next in 2024, then 2028). However, voters will elect all nine U.S. House of Representatives seats including Washington's 5th Congressional District, which includes Stevens County. All 49 state Senate seats and all 98 state House of Representatives seats (two per district) are elected in 2026, meaning Rice voters will elect their state legislators for the 7th Legislative District. Additionally, county-level positions that fall into the 2026 election cycle may include County Commissioner seats and various county offices depending on term expirations. Voters should check with the Stevens County Elections Office in early 2026 for confirmed local races and ballot measures.

Washington voters requesting absentee or mail ballots need not take special action, as all registered voters automatically receive mail ballots. However, voters who need replacement ballots, accessible voting options, or have special circumstances should contact the Stevens County Elections Office directly at (509) 684-7510. Voters with disabilities can request electronic ballot delivery or use accessible voting equipment at the county elections office. Military and overseas voters can register and request ballots through the Federal Voting Assistance Program and Washington's online system for overseas voting.