What does a YES vote on Pierce County Charter Amendment 53 mean?

Pierce County's Sheriff would no longer be elected; the current term would end January 1, 2027, and the Sheriff would be appointed by the Executive and confirmed by a Council majority.

What does a NO vote on Pierce County Charter Amendment 53 mean?

Pierce County's Sheriff would remain an elected office.

What happens to the current Sheriff?

The explanatory statement says the current term of office terminates January 1, 2027. It does not say whether the current Sheriff could be appointed or who leads the office until an appointment is confirmed.

Does it set qualifications for the Sheriff?

The ballot title and explanatory statement do not mention any. Tacoma Weekly reports the amendment would set minimum qualifications, including law enforcement certification and supervisory experience.

Has Pierce County appointed its Sheriff before?

Yes. Under the 1980 Charter the Executive appointed the Sheriff with Council confirmation, until voters made the office elective in 2006.

How many votes does Pierce County Charter Amendment 53 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Pierce County Charter Amendment 53?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Pierce County Charter Amendment 53 — Appointed Sheriff and Termination of Elected Sheriff

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:07 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

Immigration enforcement (ICE 287(g))

ICE's list of 287(g) participating agencies shows no agreement for Pierce County's sheriff's office.

Under 287(g), ICE trains and authorizes local officers to carry out some federal immigration duties. From ICE's list of participating agencies, as of October 28, 2026. Whether to keep, change or end an agreement is up to the sheriff.

What it does: The Pierce County Charter Review Commission proposed an amendment to Section 3.70 of the Pierce County Charter concerning the office of Sheriff. If approved, Sheriff shall cease to be an elective office, and the current elected term of office shall terminate early, effective January 1, 2027. The Sheriff will be appointed by the Executive and confirmed by a majority of the County Council. Should this proposed Charter amendment be:
A YES vote means: Pierce County's Sheriff would no longer be elected; the current term would end January 1, 2027, and the Sheriff would be appointed by the Executive and confirmed by a Council majority.
A NO vote means: Pierce County's Sheriff would remain an elected office.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Section 3.70 of the Charter reads: "There is hereby created the executive department of Sheriff. The Sheriff shall be a nonpartisan position, elected by the voters of the County and shall serve full time."
The original 1980 Charter had the Sheriff appointed by the Executive and confirmed by a majority of the Council. Voters made the office elective in 2006 (Amendment No. 19) and nonpartisan in 2007 (Amendment No. 28).
Sheriff Keith Swank was elected in 2024 to a four-year term (KIRO 7); Bolts reports that term would otherwise end in early 2029.

If it passes

YES: Effective January 1, 2027, Sheriff would cease to be an elective office, and the current elected term would end on that date.
YES: The Sheriff would be appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by a majority of the County Council.
The ballot title and explanatory statement do not mention qualifications, a term length or a removal process for an appointed Sheriff, or whether the current Sheriff could be appointed.
NO: The Sheriff stays a nonpartisan office elected by county voters, and the current term continues.

Example

If it passes, Sheriff Keith Swank, elected in 2024, would leave office on January 1, 2027, about two years early, and the County Executive would appoint a Sheriff subject to Council confirmation. (source)

Who would notice

The Sheriff and the Sheriff's Office, the County Executive and Council who would choose and confirm the Sheriff, and county voters, who would no longer elect one.

How it got here

The 2026 Charter Review Commission voted 12-9 on June 15, 2026 to send this proposal (C-1) to the ballot. A change to start the appointed office on January 1, 2029, so the current term could finish, failed 11-10.

Three residents asked Thurston County Superior Court to keep it off the ballot; the court denied their request for a preliminary injunction, KIRO 7 reported.

What each side says

Supporters

"A sheriff needs more than just good campaigning. They need credentials, qualifications, and a proven track record in professional public safety. A hiring process would generate a broad pool of qualified candidates who would be screened and vetted." · Pierce County for a Professional Sheriff (Nathe Lawver, Jake Hunter, Lyle Quasim), official statement for, Pierce County voters' pamphlet
"An elected sheriff can remain in office even after committing serious misconduct... An appointed sheriff could be placed on administrative leave or removed for serious misconduct, providing accountability when it matters most." · Pierce County for a Professional Sheriff (Nathe Lawver, Jake Hunter, Lyle Quasim), official statement for, Pierce County voters' pamphlet

Opponents

"Charter Amendment 53 takes away your right to elect the Pierce County Sheriff. It also ends the current elected Sheriff's term early, effective January 1, 2027, replacing your elected Sheriff with one appointed by the County Executive." · Pierce County Citizens for Accountable Public Safety (Brian Sonntag, Bruce Dammeier, Paul Pastor), official statement against, Pierce County voters' pamphlet
"An appointed Sheriff answers first to the elected official who appoints them. The Sheriff should remain independent so law enforcement decisions are based on the law, public safety, and the needs of our community—not political pressure or changing priorities within county government." · Pierce County Citizens for Accountable Public Safety (Brian Sonntag, Bruce Dammeier, Paul Pastor), official statement against, Pierce County voters' pamphlet

In the news

Ballot measure could oust controversial sheriff in Pierce County · KIRO 7, 2026-06-16
Court rejects attempt to block Pierce County charter amendment that would remove elected sheriff · KIRO 7, 2026-08-26
In Washington, a County Mulls Ending Sheriff Elections—and Ousting Its Right-Wing Sheriff · Bolts, 2026-09-08
Charter Review Commission sends seven proposals to voters · Gig Harbor Now, 2026-07-09

Written by SpectrumVote from 8 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Who's for and against

Supporting (YES)

Opposing (NO)

A sourced selection, not a complete list. Who supports a measure is listed so you can see who is behind each side; SpectrumVote takes no position.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Pierce County Charter Amendment 53 mean?: Pierce County's Sheriff would no longer be elected; the current term would end January 1, 2027, and the Sheriff would be appointed by the Executive and confirmed by a Council majority.
What does a NO vote on Pierce County Charter Amendment 53 mean?: Pierce County's Sheriff would remain an elected office.
What happens to the current Sheriff?: The explanatory statement says the current term of office terminates January 1, 2027. It does not say whether the current Sheriff could be appointed or who leads the office until an appointment is confirmed.
Does it set qualifications for the Sheriff?: The ballot title and explanatory statement do not mention any. Tacoma Weekly reports the amendment would set minimum qualifications, including law enforcement certification and supervisory experience.
Has Pierce County appointed its Sheriff before?: Yes. Under the 1980 Charter the Executive appointed the Sheriff with Council confirmation, until voters made the office elective in 2006.
How many votes does Pierce County Charter Amendment 53 need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Pierce County Charter Amendment 53?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Pierce County ballot.

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