In addition to the various state and county offices which will appear upon the general election ballot, most voters will have the opportunity to vote for the office of "precinct committee officer."

State law (RCW 29.42.040) provides that any person who is a registered voter and a member of a major political party may become a candidate for the office of precinct committee officer by filing a declaration of candidacy and paying a $1 filing fee to the county auditor. Since voters do not register by political party in Washington, a candidate declares himself or herself to be a Democrat or a Republican at the time he or she files for the office. The filing period for the office of precinct committee officer begins at the same time as the filing period for other partisan offices (the fourth Monday in July in even-numbered years), and lasts for three weeks, ending on the third Friday following that date.

Candidates for precinct committee officer do not appear on the primary ballot but rather are placed directly on the general election ballot, and the candidate receiving the most votes in his or her precinct for each political party is declared elected. State law (RCW 29.42.050) does provide, however, that to be declared elected, a candidate must receive at least 10% of the number of votes cast for the candidate of his or her party receiving the greatest number of votes in that precinct.

The term of office for anyone elected to the office of precinct committee officer is two years, and commences upon the official canvass of election returns by the county canvassing board. Should a vacancy occur in the office (caused by death, disqualification, resignation, or failure to elect), the usual process is for the chairman of the party central committee to fill the vacancy by appointment. Appointments to fill vacancies cannot be made between the state general election and the organization meeting of the county central committee, which must be held prior to the second Saturday in January following the election of precinct committee officer.

2. The state central committee has the authority under state law (RCW 29.42.020) to:

-Call caucuses and conventions
-Provide for the election of delegates to national nominating conventions.
-Fill vacancies on the party ticket for any federal, state or legislative office which encompasses more than one county
-Nominate persons to fill vacancies caused by resignation or death of an incumbent of that party instate offices and legislative offices in districts which encompass more than one county.
-Provide for the nomination of presidential electors.
-Perform other functions inherent in such an organization.