State of Washington is hiring: Election Office Assistant in Walla Walla

Description

Headed by an elected state official, the Office of the Secretary of State is responsible for administering elections within the state, registering corporations and charities that do business within the state, collecting and preserving the records of governmental bodies within the state, and maintaining the Washington State Library. The office also administers the Address Confidentiality Program, the Legacy Washington and the Combined Fund Drive.

Position: Office Assistant 1 – Elections Assistant

Part‑time / Non‑permanent (up to forty hours per week, used during peak election times). This non‑permanent, on‑call position reports to the deputy director and is responsible for providing customer service, reviewing petition sheets, comparing voter signatures for validity, proofreading elections and voter documents, and processing ingoing and outgoing mail.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service, processing petition sheets, proofreading documents, and processing mail.
• Answer customer inquiries in‑person, by phone and email.
• Utilize a multi‑line phone system.
• Stack, sort, and code petitions for validation.
• Compare signatures from petition sheets to signatures in the voter registration system to determine validity.
• Compare text to the original for accuracy.
• Check spelling, style, page numbers, headings, and captions for consistency.
• Verify that photos and illustrations are correctly captioned.
• Process incoming mail and prepare outgoing mail.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

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.

Application Instructions

• 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).
• Complete the supplemental questions at the end of this application. Incomplete responses such as "see resume" will not be considered.
• All veterans must include a copy of your DD214 to receive preference in the hiring process and must black out your social security number before attaching it.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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 of disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing the announcement in alternative format, should email HR@sos.wa.gov.

Benefits

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. Multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums cover the state. Eligible staff may enroll in a medical flexible spending account to use tax‑deferred dollars toward health care expenses. Basic life and long‑term disability insurance are available, with the option to purchase additional coverage.

To view premium rates, coverage choices and enrollment, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program supports workplace wellness initiatives.

Dependent care assistance allows employees to save pre‑tax dollars for child or elder care expenses. Auto, boat, home and renter insurance are available through payroll deduction. The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes employee health and well‑being.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). New employees may choose between two employer‑contributed retirement programs. Participation in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) is also available for supplemental retirement savings.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems, with equal contributions from the state and the employee.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Eligible employees with qualifying criteria may receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays, Sick Leave and Vacation

Full‑time and part‑time employees receive paid holidays, personal holidays, sick leave, and vacation according to Washington state law and applicable collective bargaining agreements. Pay status is used to calculate accruals for part‑time employees.

Military Leave

Washington State provides 21 days of paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Eligible employees receive up to five days of paid bereavement leave for the loss of a family member or household member. Additional leave may be approved at the employer’s discretion.

Additional Leave (Leave Without Pay, FMLA, etc.)

Employees may request leave sharing, parental leave, Family and Medical Leave Act coverage, and other unpaid leave in accordance with applicable policies.

Supplemental Information

Updated 07‑21‑2025