City Council Elections

Mountlake Terrace has a seven-member City Council that serves under a Council-Manager form of government. City Council elections are held every two years with Councilmembers elected to staggered 4-year terms. Citizens of Mountlake Terrace may run for City Council if they are at least 18 years old and residents of the City for the previous twelve months.

Candidates for office must file with the Snohomish County Elections Office and pay a filing fee to run for office. The official filing period is in the spring of each Council election year and is open for one week. Check with Snohomish County Elections for filing week dates. Candidates must also file with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission within two weeks of filing as a candidate.

If more than two candidates file for a particular Council position, a primary election is held in August. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes continue on to the general election held in November of each odd-numbered year. New Councilmembers begin their four-year terms on January 1 of the following year.

Under the Council-Manager form of government, the City Council elects their Mayor for the following two years at the first meeting of each even numbered year. The Mayor's primary roles are to preside over the City Council's meetings and attend ceremonial events on behalf of the city. Each year, the Council elects a Mayor Pro Tem who serves in the same capacity in the Mayor's absence.

Snohomish County has a mail-in ballot system. Be sure to register to vote and please exercise your right to vote! The ballot drop off box is located near the Mountlake Terrace Library at 23300 58th Avenue W.  It is accessible to those walking or driving. Those wishing to drop off ballots in vehicles, please enter the Civic Campus from 58th Avenue W, go straight and turn left just before the park and you'll see the ballot drop box on the left.

Traffic can build up at ballot drop boxes as election dates approach and especially on election date deadlines. So please note that there could be congestion in this area and waiting times to use the drop box. View the drop box locations in Snohomish County.