Case against Trump ballot eligibility doesn’t move forward in Kitsap County

Kitsap County Superior Court has declined to hear a case over whether former president Donald Trump can appear on Washington state ballots.

On Jan. 10, eight residents of Kitsap County filed the case against Trump, claiming that the former president shouldn’t be on the ballots because of his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, according to the 14th amendment. The eight petitioners filed the case in both Kitsap and Thurston counties. Lead petitioner, Frankey Ithaka, explained Jan. 16 to the court that the petitioners had filed in both counties as they are all residents of Kitsap, but, with the desire to have the case decided statewide. The case was filed in Thurston County, as well.

Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Bassett went back and forth with Ithaka at the Tuesday morning hearing, explaining why he felt Kitsap County was not the proper venue for this matter. 

“I do not believe Kitsap is the appropriate venue for this case today,” Bassett said. He pointed to the fact the identical case has been filed in Thurston County, the seat of the state government and the Secretary of State. 

By law, absentee ballots need to be mailed to overseas voters at least 45 days before federal elections — March 12 is Washington’s presidential primary, so that would put the mailout date at Jan. 27.

“I am committed to presenting Washingtonians with the opportunity to make their voices heard in the Presidential Primary March 12, which requires printing ballots and sending them to registered voters weeks ahead of Election Day,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs wrote in a press release. “Our state’s process gives the courts an important role in answering questions about eligibility. I look forward to having this question resolved in a timely fashion.”

No hearing date has been set for the case in Thurston County.