Washington State ESD is hiring: Election Office Assistant in Seattle

Overview

Headed by an elected state official, the Office of the Secretary of State administers elections within the state, registers corporations and charities that do business within the state, preserves the records of governmental bodies within the state, and maintains the Washington State Library. The office also administers the Address Confidentiality Program, the Legacy Washington, and the Combined Fund Drive. The Elections Division plays a critical role in ensuring Washington's democratic process is fair, accurate, accessible, and secure. Elections staff provide services to voters, as well as statutorily required training and certifications to election administrators in all 39 counties. The division develops elections policy, administers the statewide voter registration database, manages statewide elections, and verifies and accepts petitions for initiatives and referenda.

Position

Office Assistant 1 – Elections Assistant (Part-Time / Non-Permanent) is a non-permanent, on-call position that reports to the deputy director. The role provides customer service, reviews petition sheets, compares voters’ signatures for validity, proofs elections and voter documents, and processes ingoing and outgoing mail. This position may work up to forty hours per week and is used during peak election times. We are recruiting multiple non-permanent, on-call positions. These appointments are expected to last through February 28, 2026. The hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at any time.

Responsibilities

• Provides customer service, processes petition sheets, proofreads documents and processes mail.
• Answers customer inquiries in-person, by phone, and by email.
• Utilizes a multi-line phone system.
• Stacks, sorts, and codes petitions for validation.
• Compares signatures from petition sheets to signatures in the voter registration system to determine validity.
• Compares text to the original for accuracy.
• Checks to ensure spelling and style are correct and consistent.
• Checks to ensure page numbers, headings and captions are correct.
• Verifies that photos and illustrations are correctly captioned.
• Processes incoming mail and prepares outgoing mail.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to read and write English.
• Ability to efficiently use a personal computer and applicable software to perform essential job functions.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task.

Preferred / Desired Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Prior signature petition checking experience (state or county).
• Experience answering high-volume phone lines.
• Experience performing routine clerical duties such as typing, data entry, and file management.
• Experience working directly with customers by phone, email, or in-person.
• Ability to follow directions and learn new skills.
• Ability to concentrate for extended periods of time.

PLEASE READ: If you have gotten this far and are thinking you do not qualify, consider again. Studies have shown that members of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities, specifically women and people of color, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they clearly meet every single qualification.

At the Office of the Secretary of State, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workforce with a foundation of belonging. If you are excited about this role and have relevant experience and skills, but question whether your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply regardless. You may just be the ideal candidate this office needs.

Working Conditions

The incumbent works primarily in an office setting which may require sitting and/or standing for long periods. The position is non-permanent, on-call up to 40 hours per week. The position primarily interacts with internal customers but may also interact with the public. The incumbent must be able to work and handle multiple interruptions.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment

• These are on-call, non-permanent positions, working up to 40 hours per week.
• This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, The Office of the Secretary of State, and WFSE.

How to Apply

• To be considered for this position you must attach the following:
  • Letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the duties and qualifications of the position.
  • Current Resume.
  • Three professional references. Personal references will not be considered.
• You must complete the supplemental questions at the end of this application. Incomplete responses such as "see resume" will not be considered. If the employer you identify in the additional information section is not included on your resume or work experience profile and/or you do not identify an employer, you will not receive credit.
• All veterans must include a copy of your DD214 to receive preference in the hiring process. You must black out your social security number before attaching it to your application.

The Office of the Secretary of State is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We do not discriminate on the basis of religion, age, sex, marital status, color, creed, national origin, political affiliation, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any real or perceived sensory, mental or physical ability. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Persons with a disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing documentation in an alternative format, should email HR@sos.wa.gov.