Three District Map (effective through November 28, 2023)

Five District Map (Geodata)

Five District Map (PDF)

Background on Expansion from Three to Five Commissioners

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners Passed Resolution No. 16181 concerning a proposition to increase the number of Thurston County Board of Commissioners. This proposition would increase the number of commissioners of the Board of County Commissioners from three (3) to five (5) commissioners who will serve in five separate newly created districts. 

In the fall of 2021, Thurston County and the Port of Olympia collaborated and signed a joint resolution to put forward ballot measures during the general election to expand both governing bodies from three to five.

During the November 8, 2022 general election, Thurston County voters passed Proposition No. 1 expanding the Board of County Commissioners from three to five members by 55.19%. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the statutory authority for the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners to increase from three to five members? 

Pursuant to RCW 36.32.055(1), the board of county commissioners of a non-charter county with a population of three hundred thousand or more, and less than four hundred thousand, may cause a ballot measure proposition to be submitted at a general election of the county authorizing the board of commissioners to be increased to five members.

On June 29, 2022, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) updated Thurston County population estimates to 300,500 based on the 2021 Census data.

What is the ongoing cost to taxpayers? 

• Ongoing annual staffing costs an additional $754,000.
• Ongoing election costs per four-year election cycle of $200,000. 

How were the five districts created? 

The county was divided into five commissioner districts through the Redistricting Commission process. Each district, as close as possible to meet the following objectives: 

• Achieve one-fifth of the population of the county per district, 
• Maintains the current commissioners in their elected districts, 
• Follows precinct lines, 
• Maintains communities of mutual interest, 
• Have compact and contiguous districts as possible, and 
• No gerrymandering. 

When will the new commissioners be appointed to the board?  

In Thurston County, county commissioners serve a four-year term. Initially the district 4 commissioner will serve for a one-year term and the district 5 commissioner will serve a three-year term to allow for a staggered election cycle. After these initial terms, the new commissioner positions will serve four-year terms. The two newly created positions, four and five , will be elected  during the general election in November 2023.

What is the Redistricting Committee? 

The redistricting committee was made up of the chair of the Port Commission (voting member), chair of the Board of County Commissioners (voting member), and the Thurston County Auditor (non-voting member). The committee is supported by county and port staff including the county manager, county Information Technology department and elections staff, and the Port of Olympia’s executive director.