FAQ

What types of records are not provided by the Secretary of State?

The Secretary of State's Office does not hold commonly requested records such as certified birth, death and marriage certificates, police reports, investigations, arrests and body cam footage, professional licenses, driver's licenses, sales and transfers of motor vehicles, court cases, or contracts between other agencies. We highly recommend you identify the agency most likely to hold these records by going to our Public Records Request Referral Guide.

Do I have to make a public records request?

Many records are available on our website. A list of commonly accessed records can be accessed below:

OSOS Online Records- search for records available on-line across the office.

Elections – search for Washington Voter Registration Database Extract, ballots delivered and returned, candidates, initiatives and referenda, Election Results (county and statewide, county elections offices, and elections-related Data and Research.

Corporations and Charities – search for a business, corporation, charity, or non-profit agency.

Archives – search for birth, death, and divorce records, census records, maps, military records, minutes and meetings records, land records, Oaths of Office, and naturalization records.

What are Public Records?

The Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW) is a Washington State law that allows you to review government records. Public records include documents in all formats, whether electronic or paper, that relate to government operations or conduct. Public records requests are processed in accordance with (Chapter 44-14 WAC).

How do I use the Online Public Records Request Portal?

Request records online

You can request all types of records by visiting the Public Records Request portal. The portal is a secure platform for:

● Requesting the records, you need.

● Getting updates about the status of your request.

● Easily accessing records once we've processed your request.

When will I receive a response to my Public Records request?

You will receive a reply by email or mail (depending on which option you chose) within 5 business days after receipt of your request. The response will include one of the following:

● A copy, or a link to a copy, of the records requested.

● A request for clarification to proceed with your request.

● A reasonable estimate of the time it will take to produce the records.

● A referral to another agency or website where the records are available.

● A denial of the request if the records are exempted from public disclosure under state law.

For some large requests, records may be provided in installments. With each installment we will provide an estimate of the time it will take to produce the next one.

Please note that requests are generally answered in the order in which they are received. While your request may appear to be simple and straightforward, we may need to work on requests received prior before we can focus on yours.

What is an exemption or redaction?

An exemption refers to content within a public record, or possibly the entire record itself, which is protected by law and will not be disclosed. This protected content will be redacted, or blacked out, from the record. If the entire record is exempt, it will not be provided at all. In either case, the reason for the exemption will be provided along with the portion of law allowing its exemption.

Will I be charged a fee?

The Secretary of State's office is not currently charging a fee for paper or electronic records but reserves the right to do so in accordance with the sample fee schedule provided in WAC 44-14-07001

Is my request confidential?

Specific details about a public records request, such as the date it was received, the date it was closed, the name and email address of the requestor, and the nature of the request itself, may be released upon request as part of a public records log.