(1) Eligibility. A person is eligible to be a candidate for membership on an educational service district board if he or she is a registered voter and a resident of the board-member district for which the candidate files. Restriction on other service pursuant to RCW 28A.310.070.

(2) Declaration of candidacy. A person who desires to be a candidate must complete and file a declaration of candidacy form with the office of superintendent of public instruction as a condition to having his or her name placed on the official ballot.

The office of superintendent of public instruction will provide the declaration of candidacy form, which must include the candidate's name, residential address, mailing address (if different from residence), phone number, email address, exact name to be printed on ballot, the position the candidate is running for, and the candidate's signature and date signed. The form must also include the following declaration:

I declare that the above information is true, that I am a registered voter residing at the address listed above, that I am a candidate for the office listed above, and that I am aware if elected, I cannot serve as an employee of a school district or as a member of a board of directors of a common school district or as a member of the state board of education and as a member of an educational service district board at the same time. I swear, or affirm, that I will support the Constitution and laws of the United States, and the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington.

(3) Optional candidate statement. A candidate has the option of completing and filing a candidate statement and photo for inclusion with balloting information. The candidate statement, if submitted, shall not exceed three hundred words. The candidate may include one head-shot photo. The candidate statement and photo must be filed by the date and manner provided in the election timeline.

(4) Filing period. The declaration of candidacy may be filed by postal mail or in person. If filed by mail, the declaration must be postmarked on or by September 16th. If the declaration is filed in person, it must be delivered to the office of superintendent of public instruction on or by September 16th, or the business day otherwise specified in the election timeline. Any declaration postmarked or received after the close of the filing period will not be accepted.

(5) Any candidate may withdraw his or her declaration of candidacy by completing and signing a statement of withdrawal form and filing the form with the office of superintendent of public instruction on or before 5:00 p.m. September 21st (or business day set forth in election timeline). A candidate's failure to withdraw will result in the inclusion of the candidate's name on the appropriate election ballot.