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District-Based Elections and Redistricting

This page provides an overview of district-based elections and the redistricting process for local governments in Washington State, including relevant statutes.

Overview

Redistricting is the redrawing of election boundary lines to ensure that prospective candidates reside within the district and only qualified voters may vote for district candidates. This practice may occur for districts electing local town, city, and county councils, congressional representatives, state legislators, commissions, school boards, and many other offices elected by voters grouped in districts. 

Jurisdictions that hold elections held by district are required to periodically redraw the boundaries of these districts to ensure that each one has a relatively equal number of voters. Though most redistricting efforts happen every 10 years in conjunction with the decennial census, local governments may also modify their district-based election systems in the intervening years.

Redistricting at the Local Government Level

Local redistricting, governed by RCW 29A.76, happens concurrently with state redistricting. RCW 29A.76.010 contains the requirements for drawing up local government electoral districts, including that: 

  • Districts are to be as nearly equal in population as possible.
  • Districts are to be as compact as possible.
  • Districts should consist of geographically-contiguous areas.
  • Districts are not to be used for purposes of favoring or disfavoring any racial group or political party.
  • To the extent feasible, districts must coincide with existing recognized natural boundaries and preserve existing communities of related and mutual interest.

To assist states and local governments in the reapportionment process, the U.S. Census Bureau is required by federal law (13 USC Section 141(c)) to deliver decennial census data to the states.

Statutes

Washington State

  • Title RCW 29A – Elections
    • RCW 29A.76.010 – Identifies local governments required to redistrict and outlines the process for local redistricting
    • RCW 29A.76.020 – Boundary Information 
    • RCW 29A.92 – Washington State Voting Rights Act (see RCW 29A.92.050 and RCW 29A.92.120 for information on redistricting) 

Cities and Towns

  • RCW 29A.76 – Allows a city to redistrict periodically based on population information from the most recent federal decennial census. Includes rules for redrawing internal or director districts.
  • Title RCW 35
    • RCW 35.22.235 – Defines terms and elections for first-class mayor-council cities with 12 councilmembers
    • RCW 35.22.245 – Defines terms and elections for first-class mayor-council cities with seven councilmembers
    • RCW 35.17.020 – Defines terms, elections, and requirements of city commissioners under the commission form of government
    • RCW 35.23.051 – Allows for division of second-class cities into wards; changes may not be made within 120 days prior to an election

Non-Charter Code Cities

  • Title RCW 35A
    • RCW 35A.12.180 – Allows for division of code cities into wards; changes may not be made within 90 days prior to an election
    • RCW 35A.13.020 – Addresses councilmember elections in code cities

Counties: RCW 36.32.020 – Requires counties to divide into three commissioner districts to represent as equal portions of the county population as possible; non-charter county commissioner district boundaries may only change once every four years.

Fire Protection Districts: RCW 52.14.013 – Allows fire districts to subdivide themselves into commissioner districts; requires a public vote of approval

Port Districts: RCW 53.16.015 – Port districts are responsible for redrawing their own commissioner districts. (If port districts encompass only part of a county or cross county lines, the districts must be redistricted separately).

Public Hospital Districts: RCW 70.44.040(2) – Creates public hospital districts with internal districts that do not follow county legislative districts

Public Utility Districts: RCW 54.12.010 – Public utility commissioner district boundaries are independent of those of the county commissioner districts. These district boundaries may not be changed more often than every four years unless the external boundaries of the district have changed.

School Districts: RCW 28A.343 – School districts with internal director districts are required to redistrict to equalize their populations.

Water Sewer Districts: RCW 57.12.039 – Commissioners may provide by majority vote that subsequent commissioners be elected from commissioner districts within the district. If the board exercises this option, the district will be divided into three, five, or seven if the number of commissioners has been increased under RCW 57.12.015.

When Should a Local Government Redistrict?

A local government should redistrict under the following circumstances:

  • After receiving decennial census data;
  • After annexing territory; or
  • In considering a potential violation of the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA).

The Decennial Redistricting Process

The most common type of redistricting occurs every 10 years following the decennial census. The U.S. Census Bureau supplies all census data to the states, and each state provides the data to agencies responsible for redistricting. This normally happens at the beginning of the year following the census. However, the 2020 census data was delayed significantly, resulting in new redistricting deadlines for 2021.

The redistricting data includes counts of population by race, ethnicity, voting age, housing occupancy status, and group quarters population, all at the census block level.

Local government required to redistrict includes any jurisdiction that elects representatives by internal districts. This includes:

  • Counties
  • Cities/towns with council districts
  • Fire districts, port districts, public hospital districts, public utility districts, school districts, and water-sewer districts with internal commissioner districts

When districts are redrawn, the redrawing of boundaries should be done according to Ch. 29A.76 RCW. The process must be completed within eight months of receiving official notice and census information from the Washington State Redistricting Commission.

Outside of the delayed release of 2020 decennial census data, this is what a typical redistricting calendar looks like:

  • April 1: The Census Bureau releases comprehensive block-level census totals to the state and the Washington State Redistricting Commission.
  • May 15: 45 days after receiving the data, the Commission must send population data to local governments. Once data is sent to local agencies, the eight-month period for local governments to create a redistricting plan begins.
  • December 15: This month usually marks the end of the eight-month period in which local jurisdictions must submit redistricting plans to their county auditor. The county auditor must have all redistricting plans by the end of the month.
  • May: County legislative authorities must have adopted precinct boundary changes, including accommodating new district lines, to prepare for the upcoming election cycle. Candidate filing week for congressional, legislative, county, and public utility races typically occurs in mid-May.

Redistricting as a Result of Annexation

If a local government annexes territory, then district boundaries must be altered to accommodate the extra territory. If the annexed area contains few or no residents, the boundary alteration may be minimal.  The annexation should take place in such time so as to enable the residents of the area to vote for district-based council or commissioner positions at the next municipal general election or when a vacant position must be filled.

Redistricting as a Result of Litigation

The Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA), chapter 29A.92 RCW, provides legal authority for both voluntary and court-ordered changes to district-based voting in local governments. Since 2018, the WVRA is the legal authority for districting where such authority did not exist before. Creating districts or redrawing current districts are the primary methods provided in the WVRA to address and remedy possible voting act violations. Redistricting under the WVRA depends on when a local government is on notice of a potential voting act violation and may happen at any time, not just every 10 years.

As an example, the City of Pasco’s City Council Districts Redistricting webpage reviews changes to council electoral districts as the city addresses demographic changes. The city shares proposed council districts based on 2020 decennial Census data and in accordance with state and federal standards.

District Versus At-Large Representation

While many local governments in Washington, especially cities and towns, elect members of their governing body at-large, others have chosen to establish wards or districts in which some or all of the councilmembers/commissioners are elected by and represent specific geographic areas. This type of redistricting must take place far in advance of municipal general elections.

The establishment of electoral districts is specifically authorized by:

How to Adjust District Sizes or Establish Districts

Local jurisdictions are responsible for their own redistricting processes but must work with the county auditor, as the county is responsible for final adjustments and managing local elections. For election purposes, a precinct is the smallest unit into which electoral districts are divided, and by law, must be no larger than 1,500 active registered voters. Rules for defining precinct boundaries are found in RCW 29A.16.050.

Below is a table with guidelines for local governments with internal electoral districts.

Type of Jurisdiction Must the internal district lines correspond to the county legislative authority’s internal district? Is the primary restricted to voters residing within the district?
County legislative authority N/A Yes
City or town district No Yes
Port district Yes, if port is countywide and has the same number of commissioner districts Yes
Public utility district No Yes
School district No No, but candidates for office must meet residency requirements
Other jurisdictions defined by charter (fire districts or water-sewer district) No No, but candidates for office must meet residency requirements

Here is an overview of steps to drawing up or adjusting district boundaries:

  1. Calculate current population of the jurisdiction and each of its existing internal districts by using the populations of election precincts, census tracts, census blocks, or a combination of any of these units.
  2. Determine the ideal size for an internal district in the jurisdiction by dividing the total population by the number of existing internal districts.
  3. Determine what adjustments are needed by subtracting the ideal district size from the jurisdiction’s current population.
  4. Adjust internal district lines by moving whole precincts, census blocks, or any combination of these to distribute internal district populations as equally as possible.

Local governments should also keep the following in mind when redrawing districts:

  • To the extent possible, respect and minimize divisions to the boundaries of cities, counties, neighborhoods, and communities that have common interests; and
  • To comply with the WVRA, ensure that persons in protected voter classes have equal opportunities to elect representatives of their choice. The WVRA defines protected classes as "members of a race, color, or language minority group...referenced and defined in the federal voting rights act."

The WVRA empowers local governments to address issues of polarized voting in local elections, defining it as:

(V)oting in which there is a difference […] in the choice of candidates or other electoral choices that are preferred by voters of a protected class, and in the choice of candidates and electoral choices that are preferred by voters in the rest of the electorate.

Examples of Ordinances and Resolutions Establishing Districts for Electoral Purposes

These provisions are primarily aimed at changing the elections of councilmembers or commissioners from at-large positions to district-based positions through the establishment of voting districts.

Examples of Ordinances and Resolutions Repealing the District-Based System

Some local governments that established a system of  electing councilmembers or commissioners via districts have altered or abandoned this method. Like the decision to establish districts the decision to stop using districts is also local. Cities, towns, or special purpose districts that alter their system of district-based elections must advise the county’s elections supervisor of any changes.

Below are some examples with changes in favor of electing at-large councilmembers or commissioners:

Changing to a District-Based System in Cities and Towns

The process for establishing a city or town ward/district system is fairly straightforward. The first step is for the city or town council to pass an ordinance establishing a ward or district system; there is no required public vote on the matter, although the council could choose to conduct an advisory election on the issue. The council will need to decide how many districts it wants to establish and whether it wants any at-large positions.

The councilmembers elected by district would be voted on during the primary election by voters in their districts and then by all the voters during the general election unless, prior to January 1, 1994, the city limited general election voting for any or all council positions only to the voters residing within the ward associated with that council position. If a city had limited the voting in the general election in this manner, then it is authorized to continue to do so. RCW 35.23.051 provides a similar process for second-class cities.

The bulk of the work in establishing a ward/district system would be in determining district boundaries. Once the process is completed, the county's election supervisor must be properly notified.

Cities or Towns with Districts/Wards

Below is a list of cities MRSC is aware of that have established districts. Most of these cities still retain at least one or two at-large positions, although there are a few examples that elect the entire council by district. In most cases, there are more district/ward representatives than at-large councilmembers, but again there are a couple exceptions.

First Class Cities

  • Aberdeen – 12 councilmembers: two each from six wards
  • Bellingham – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, six wards
  • Bremerton – Seven councilmembers: seven districts
  • Everett – Seven councilmembers: two at-large, five districts (The City Council Districts webpage details the city's move from at-large to district-based representation.)
  • Seattle – Nine councilmembers: two at-large, seven districts
  • Spokane – Six councilmembers: two each from three districts
  • Tacoma – Eight councilmembers: three at-large, five districts
  • Yakima – Seven councilmembers: seven districts

Second Class Cities

  • Colville – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, two each from three districts
  • Ritzville – Seven councilmembers: two at-large, five districts

Optional Municipal Code Cities

  • Anacortes – Seven councilmembers: four at-large, three wards
  • Bainbridge Island – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, two each from three wards
  • Blaine – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, two each from three wards
  • Burlington – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, six wards
  • Camas – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, two each from three wards
  • Centralia – Seven councilmembers: three at-large, four wards
  • Chehalis – Seven councilmembers: three at-large, four districts
  • Chelan – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, two each from three wards
  • Hoquiam – 12 councilmembers: two elected from each of six wards
  • Mount Vernon – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, two each from three wards
  • Kennewick – Seven councilmembers: four at-large, three wards
  • Pasco – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, six districts (See Pasco’s City Council Redistricting webpage for updates made in 2016 to the city’s electoral districts).
  • Pullman – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, two each from three wards
  • Puyallup – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, two each from three districts
  • Sedro-Woolley – Seven councilmembers: one at-large, six wards
  • Sunnyside – Seven councilmembers: three at-large, four districts
  • Wenatchee – Seven councilmembers: two at-large, five districts

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Last Modified: February 23, 2024