Grassroots politics: Precinct Committee Officers

Precinct Committee Officers (PCO) are the grassroots level of political parties in Washington state.

The smallest political division in the state is the Precinct, which is basically your immediate neighborhood. You can find your precinct number on your voter registration card or by typing your address in the King County elections information page. This site is useful because it also will tell you your state legislative district and your congressional district, both of which have changed for many of us.

Shoreline precincts start with SHL and Lake Forest Park precincts start with LFP. The letters are followed by four numbers. It is not necessary to know your precinct number in order to file for office as a PCO, if you are filing online.

According to local 32nd district leader Chris Roberts, talking about Democratic PCOs, "PCOs engage and organize their neighbors, they get out the vote to elect and keep good Democrats in office, and they are vital to the efficient running of the Legislative District Democratic Organizations. PCOs are the only individuals able to vote on nominations for State Legislature, to fill vacancies in our State legislative delegation, and elect the Chair, Vice-Chairs and State Committee Representatives."

There is no cost to file to become a PCO and it can be done easily online on the King County PCO filing website. The only political parties with PCOs are the Democrats and the Republicans.

You must file by 4:00 pm this Friday.