Applying for the CEOC  

The King County Council created the Citizens’ Elections Oversight Committee (CEOC) to monitor county elections and recommend improvements to the performance and accountability of the King County Elections Section. In May 2006, the County Council voted to make the CEOC a permanent committee, after having two previous panels review, monitor and make recommendations on improving the Election Section in 2003 and 2005.

The CEOC presented six “high priority” recommendations to the Council in March 2006. The recommendations included all vote-by mail elections, the consolidation of election facilities, improved management, communications and leadership and improved voter registration and security.

The 14 members of the Committee are appointed by the Chair of the Council and confirmed by the County Council. The committee calls for members representing:

• The Municipal League,
• The League of Women Voters,
• The King County and state Republican and Democratic Parties,
• A King County junior taxing district,
• An independent research and policy institute,
• The Washington State Auditors Association,
• The office of the Washington Secretary of State,
• The Chinese-speaking community,
• The Vietnamese-speaking community,
• Two registered King County voters.

The representatives from the Secretary of State’s Office and the State Auditors Association are ex-officio, non-voting members of the Committee.

The Council created the original CEOC in 2003. That committee presented the Council a lengthy report and a series of recommendations in 2004 many of which were implemented by the Elections Director.

The panel was reactivated in 2005 to review the 2004 general election, monitor the 2005 primary and general elections, and make recommendations for improvements