Which Voters' Guide?
Current Election
November 7, 2023 General Election
August 1st, 2023 Primary Election
November 8, 2022 General Election
December 7, 2021 Recall Election
November 2, 2021 General Election
August 3, 2021 Primary Election
November 3, 2020 General Election
August 4, 2020 Primary Election
November 5, 2019 General Election
August 6, 2019 Primary Election
November 6, 2018 General Election
August 7, 2018 Primary Election
November 7, 2017 General Election
August 1, 2017 Primary Election
November 8, 2016 General Election
August 2, 2016 Primary
November 8, 2016 General Election
Seattle Form of Government
Seattle is a Charter City with a Mayor-Council form of government. The Mayor is directly elected by the voters and most executive departments report to the Mayor. There are nine City Councilmembers, two of whom are elected at-large, with the other seven elected by district. The only other elected position is the City Attorney, who is also elected at-large.
Candidates for these offices must be U.S. Citizens, registered voters in the City of Seattle at the time they file their declaration of candidacy, and able to read and write the English language.
All City office elections are non-partisan, which means the top two vote-getters in the primary election are placed on the general election ballot. This is true regardless of whether or not one candidate received a majority of the primary vote. If two people or less file declarations of candidacy for any of these offices, that office does not appear on the primary election ballot, but does appear on the general election ballot. Parties do not nominate candidates to appear on the ballot and the ballots do not identify the candidates by party. Parties can and do endorse and support certain candidates, but play no other role in nominating candidates or determining who is placed on the primary or general election ballot.
Ballot issues may appear on your ballot in the primary, general or special election. Those issues are decided in the election where they appear.