A King County Superior Court judge will hear Shoreline Councilwoman Janet Way’s lawsuit to get onto the ballot Thursday, June 18.
Way’s complaint sounds convincing.
I’ve read only Way’s side of the story; so maybe I’ll see things differently when I read the county’s response.
Way’s suit claims that the elections department discriminates against candidates who file electronically because it requires those candidates to complete the filing process by the filing deadline while those who file in person can take unlimited time if they are in the elections office on time; that it violates state law by not accepting a candidate filing until it gets payment of the filing fee; and that, in Way’s case, it tacitly acknowledged her filing by allowing her to submit voters’ pamphlet material as a registered candidate.
To the last charge, county officials say that anyone can get forms to fill out voters’ pamphlet information.
The county elections director declared Way’s filing incomplete after Way completed the online application but was unsuccessful in paying the $84 fee by credit card, by debit card and by electronic check.
A supporter tried to pay the fee at the elections office in Renton, but officials wouldn’t accept the payment because they require online filers to pay online and in-person filers to pay in person.
Way’s suit seeks a place on the Aug. 18 primary ballot. If Way isn’t on the ballot, there would be no primary, leaving challengers Patty Hale and Will Hall alone on the November ballot.
County elections officials need to have all primary-election ballot material to their printer by Tuesday, June 23.
If the court does not order Way onto the ballot, she could still register to run as a write-in candidate for the November election by paying the same $84 fee.
The county requires registration for write-in votes to count. Registered write-in candidates don’t get a spot in the voters’ pamphlet.
Both Hale and Hall have told me they would not get involved in the lawsuit, saying that they were concentrating on their own campaign messages. Yet, the outcome of the suit will determine whether they need to aim for an August primary or a November general election.
Few of Way’s usual allies have come to her defense. I got no response on the weekend to e-mails to Shoreline Mayor Cindy Ryu, council candidate Christopher Roberts or Democratic state Rep. Maralyn Chase.
Democratic activist Elaine Phelps has joined Way in the suit.
Evan Smith can be reached at entpolitics@heraldnet.com.
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