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Auditor
Elections & Voter Registration
The auditor is responsible for administering all elections for:
- County
- Federal
- Municipal
- Special purpose districts
- State
In addition to the annual primary and general election, as many as four special elections are conducted each year from February through May.
As part of the election process, the auditor:
- Establishes polling sites
- Prepares ballots and voting devices
- Programs and tests ballot tabulation systems
- Provides for public notices
- Recruits, trains and assigns precinct election workers
Absentee Ballots
The auditor also provides for the preparation and mailing of absentee ballots to any voter upon request. Some counties have elected to conduct elections entirely by mail.
Tabulating Ballots & Publication of Results
The auditor is responsible for tabulation of ballots and publication of official election returns. The auditor chairs the county canvassing board, which also includes the prosecuting attorney and the chair of the county legislative authority. This board determines the status of provisional ballots and certifies official election returns, which are then transmitted to the Secretary of State.
Registration Records
As chief registrar of voters, each auditor maintains voter registration records that are sent to the statewide voter registration database at the Secretary of State's office. Voter registrations received through the motor voter program, by mail or in person are all processed by the auditor or by the Secretary of State and added to the statewide voter registration database. Name and address changes, deletions due to death or voting inactivity, as defined in statute, also become part of the database.
Mapping & Boundaries
Maintenance of jurisdictional boundary lines and assignment of voters to their appropriate congressional, legislative and special purpose districts fall under the responsibility of the county auditor. The auditor works cooperatively with the census officials to define precinct boundary lines and to assist with redistricting efforts by special districts.
Bilingual Documentation
Four counties are required by the federal Voting Rights Act to provide bilingual election information and ballots. King County must provide these materials in both English and Chinese, and Adams, Franklin and Yakima counties must provide ballots and election information in English and Spanish.
Recorder
As the county recorder, the auditor's duties include maintaining, in perpetuity, the county's permanent, historic records. Real property records such as deeds, real estate, contracts and liens are presented to the auditor to be placed in the official public record to serve as an official notice to all interested parties. The date, time of receipt and a unique auditor's file number are assigned to each document presented. An index is created and an image of the document is captured and preserved so that present and future generations may access and retrieve each recorded document. Documents recorded by auditors include:
- Name changes
- Oaths of office for county officials
- Plats
- Surveys
- Veterans' discharge papers
The auditor issues and retains permanent copies of marriage licenses and provides a record to the Department of Health.
Some auditors continue to serve as clerk of the board for the county legislative authority, responsible for keeping a complete record of the proceedings of each meeting held. In most counties, the auditor maintains a repository for the official proceedings of the county legislative authority meetings and other official historic information for the county. In addition, some auditors provide passport services.
Finance
In noncharter counties, the auditor maintains a central accounting system for all county government. This may entail the:
- Control and issuance of disbursements
- Financial accounting and reporting
- Fixed asset inventory
- Grant accounting
- Payroll
Additionally, some auditors also act as the county budget director. The internal audit duties may also fall under the direction of the county auditor. In charter counties, other departments often perform the financial service duties. In King County, where the counterpart to the auditor is called the Director of Records, Elections and Licensing Services, the director oversees the superintendents of each of these divisions.
The auditor is a member of the county finance committee along with the treasurer and the chair of the legislative authority.
Licensing
As agents for the Washington State Department of Licensing, the county auditor and the subagents they appoint are responsible for the issuance of vehicle and vessel licenses and titles. This encompasses the processing of a wide variety of titles and registrations, as well as the collection of license fees and vehicle excise taxes, and issuing license plates and renewal tabs.
The auditor may also act as an agent for the Department of Revenue in collecting sales tax when transfers of ownership for vehicles and vessels are processed.
Requirements
- Both applicants must have a current photo ID as proof of your age and identity, and be present at the time of issuance of application.
- The license is only valid for weddings that are performed within the State of Washington. Applicants do not have to be residents of the State of Washington to obtain a marriage license.
- Both applicants must be at least 18 years of age or older. Applicants who are 17 years of age must be accompanied by one parent or legal guardian who can provide consent.
Waiting Period
- Application must be made a minimum of 3 days prior to marriage as there is a 3 day waiting period and no exceptions can be made. The 3 day waiting period begins on the date of application. Marriage must take place within 60 days of issuance of license.
Fee
- $36.00 is due at the time of application, in the form of cash or check.