Board elections shall be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years.

A person is legally qualified to become a board member who is a United States citizen, and a qualified voter resident in the school district and appropriate director district, if any.

A person may become a candidate for a place on the board by filing a declaration of candidacy with the King County auditor during the June filing period as prescribed by law. If the school district includes territory in two or more counties, the declaration of candidacy shall be filed with the county auditor of the county designated by the  Superintendent of Public Instruction as county to which the district belongs, pursuant to RCW 28A.323.040. In the event that there are more than two candidates for any position on the board, a primary election shall be held on the third Tuesday of August in the manner prescribed by law. The two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will appear on the election ballot in November.

In the event a school director position becomes vacant or a void in candidacy for a school director position occurs before the regular filing period begins, the candidates will go through the June filing period as proscribed in law.  If the vacancy occurs after the filing period starts but before the eleventh Tuesday prior to the primary election, the county auditor shall establish a special three day filing period.

In the event a school director position becomes vacant or a void in candidacy for a school director position occurs after the eleventh Tuesday before the primary election, but before the eleventh Tuesday before the general election, then the King County auditor shall establish a special three-day filing period. In such a case, regardless of the number of candidates, there will be no primary, and the winner of the position will be the candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast.

In the event a school director position becomes vacant or a void in candidacy for a school director position occurs after the eleventh Tuesday before the general election, the scheduled election is lapsed, the election deemed stricken from the ballot, no write-in votes counted and no candidate certified as elected.  If an incumbent school director is serving in this instance, the director’s service on the board will continue until the next school board election or until the director resigns.  If no director is currently serving, the position will be filled by the board consistent with the board’s policy on filling vacancies.

Cross Reference: 
Board Member Resignation and Vacancy - Policy 1114
Board Member Resignation and Vacancy Procedure -  Policy 1114P
Conflicts of Interest -  Policy1610     

Legal References:
Joint school districts - Designation of county to which joint school district belongs - RCW 28A.323.040
Directors - Terms- Numbers - RCW 28A.343.300
Directors - Declarations of candidacy - Positions as separate offices - RCW 28A.343.320
Directors - Ballots - Form - RCW 28A.343.330
Directors - When elected - Eligibility - RCW 28A.343.340
Residence -  RCW 29A.04.151
Void in candidacy-exception - RCW 29A.24.141
Reopening of filing -before eleventh Tuesday before general election - RCW 29A.24.181
Scheduled election lapses, when -  RCW 29A.24.191
Local primaries -  RCW 29A.52.210
Causes of vacancy -  RCW 42.12.010

Management Resources:
Changes in Election Law - Policy News,October 2006
Legislature clarifies law on vacancies and voids in candidacy,primary election date changes - Policy News, August 2011

Highline School District 401
Adopted by the Board: March 1983
Revised by the Board: 12.87, 8.03, 9.08
Classification: Optional