Auditor
The Benton County WA Auditor oversees several public services that residents, businesses, voters, property owners, and county departments may need at different times. The office is divided into Accounting, Elections, Licensing, and Recording, with responsibilities ranging from county financial reporting and payroll to voter registration, vehicle licensing, marriage licenses, and recorded-document access. This article explains which Auditor division handles each task, how the available systems and application processes work, what information or documents may be required, and which common mistakes can delay a transaction.
Benton County Auditor Services
The Benton County Auditor's Office organizes its work into four primary divisions: Accounting, Elections, Licensing, and Recording. Choosing the right division before starting a request can save time because these divisions handle very different county functions.
Residents are most likely to interact directly with Elections, Licensing, or Recording. Elections handles voter registration, voting information, election materials, and election results. Licensing handles vehicle and vessel licensing services. Recording accepts and preserves documents required to be recorded, provides access to recorded documents, and administers marriage licensing. Accounting primarily supports county government operations through financial reporting, accounts payable, payroll, and maintenance of the county's central accounting system.
Accounting and Financial Records
The Auditor's Accounting Division maintains Benton County's central accounting system and provides financial services to county departments. Its responsibilities are divided among Accounting and Financial Reporting, Accounts Payable, and Payroll.
Accounting and financial reporting
The Accounting and Financial Reporting section prepares an annual report summarizing the county's fiscal affairs in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The county's financial reporting is audited by the Washington State Auditor's Office each year.
This section also provides accounting services, technical assistance, and financial analysis to county departments. That work includes helping departments record complex transactions and meet financial requirements imposed by national, state, and local regulatory agencies.
Benton County also publishes an archive of financial and accountability reports. The reference material includes annual accountability reports, financial and federal reports, annual comprehensive financial reports, and certain specialized examination reports covering multiple reporting years. Residents researching county finances should distinguish these reports from personal property, tax, or recorded-document records because the Accounting Division's reports concern county government finances rather than individual account histories.
Accounts payable functions
The Accounts Payable section independently reviews invoices submitted for county payment. Once its auditing function is completed, approved invoices are processed for payment. The Accounting Division also acts as disbursing officer for smaller taxing districts within Benton County.
This function is administrative and differs from payments residents may make to other county offices. Someone looking for property tax payment information, for example, should not assume that the Auditor's Accounts Payable section processes the public's tax payments simply because it handles county invoices.
County payroll responsibilities
The Payroll section produces the county payroll and processes related transactions and reports. It also generates county employee paychecks. These payroll services are part of the Auditor's internal financial responsibilities rather than a general payroll service for businesses or residents.
Election and Voter Services
The Benton County Elections Division provides voter registration and voting services and publishes information for candidates and voters. The division's election pages cover voter registration, voting by mail, voters' pamphlets, candidates who filed for office, offices open for election, election results, ballot-return information, and educational material about the election process.
Registering to vote
Benton County voters may register in person, by mail, or online. Online registration requires a Washington State driver's license or identification card. Residents may also print a voter registration form and return it by mail or deliver it to an Auditor's Office location.
People who need to update their voter registration because their name or address has changed can submit a new voter registration form. The county states that this update can be completed online or by mail.
Residents who want to cancel their registration must complete a voter cancellation request. The county also provides a process for reporting a deceased voter. A notice of deceased voter must be signed by a registered voter before being mailed to the Elections Division.
Precinct and elected official searches
The Elections Division provides an online method for searching by address to determine a voter's registered precinct. This can be useful before reviewing local races, district information, or election materials because a voter's ballot depends on the jurisdictions and districts associated with the registered address.
The division also publishes information about elected officials within Benton County. Federal and state elected-official information is handled through Washington's state election resources rather than the county's local elected-official list.
Election results and archives
Benton County maintains an archive of previous election results. The archive includes election results and, depending on the election, voters' pamphlets, reconciliation materials, turnout statistics, and recount information.
The reference archive contains elections dating back through 2013 on the county page, including general elections, primary elections, presidential primaries, and special elections. The county directs people seeking results before 2013 to the Elections Division.
When looking at election information, pay attention to the election date and election type rather than relying only on a year. Benton County can hold more than one election in a year, including special, primary, and general elections, so selecting the wrong date may lead to a different ballot, pamphlet, or results report.
Vehicle and Vessel Licensing
The Auditor's Licensing Division handles vehicle and vessel licensing services through the Auditor's Office and authorized licensing locations. Available services include license-tab renewals, title transfers, permits, and disabled parking placards.
Where licensing is available
Licensing services at the Prosser Courthouse have been permanently discontinued because of facility changes. Residents should not go to the Prosser Courthouse expecting to complete a vehicle or vessel licensing transaction there.
The reference material identifies licensing service locations in Kennewick, Richland, and Prosser, including the Benton County Auditor's Office and licensing subagents. The county states that its subagents charge the same fees as the Auditor's Office, have certified title clerks, and operate under supervision of the County Auditor's Office.
Residents can also renew vehicle tabs online through the Washington State Department of Licensing and choose mail delivery or in-person pickup. For transactions involving title transfers, permits, disabled parking placards, or other licensing needs, reviewing the specific licensing requirements before visiting can prevent an unnecessary trip.
Vehicle ownership changes
The Licensing Division provides information for people buying, selling, trading, or giving away vehicles. These transactions can involve transferring ownership into a new owner's name or reporting that a vehicle was sold.
Do not treat a tab renewal and a title transfer as the same transaction. A renewal concerns an existing registration, while a sale or acquisition may require ownership information to be updated. Using the service that matches the actual transaction helps avoid incomplete paperwork or incorrect processing.
Marriage License Applications
Marriage licensing is administered through the Auditor's Recording Division. A Benton County marriage license may be used for a ceremony performed anywhere in Washington State. The county requires a three-day waiting period after the license is issued, and the license is valid for 60 days from its validation date.
The official marriage licensing instructions describe three application methods: applying in person at the Kennewick office, applying entirely by mail when both applicants cannot appear in person, or arranging an appointment for the Prosser location.
In-person applications
For an in-person application, applicants can submit their information through the county's online portal before arriving. Completing the online portion produces a five-digit reference code that should be written down and brought to the office.
The online submission does not itself issue the marriage license. Applicants using the in-person process still have to visit the Auditor's Office to complete the application. Both parties must be present and must provide valid identification.
The visit must occur at least three days before the ceremony because the waiting period begins when the license is issued, not when the online application is started. The county also advises applicants not to obtain the license more than 60 days before the ceremony because of the license's validity period.
Marriage license fees
The reference material lists a marriage license fee of $172. Payment for an in-person application is accepted by cash or card, with no checks. Card payments are subject to a 2.5% convenience fee.
Certified copies of a marriage certificate are listed at $3 each, while photocopies are $1 each. Applicants can prepay for certified copies when applying for the license, with the copies mailed after the ceremony and processing of the certificate.
Applying by mail
The mail option is available when both applicants are unable to appear in person. Applicants first enter their information through the online portal and retain the resulting five-digit reference code. They must separately download the required paper marriage application because the online submission does not produce that form.
Both applicants sign the paper application in front of a notary public. The notarized application, reference code, and a phone number are then mailed to the Auditor's Recording Division. The office contacts the applicants to collect the marriage-license fee by bankcard and then mails the license packet.
A common mistake is assuming the online application replaces the notarized paper application for a mail transaction. It does not. The online entry supplies information used to prepare the paperwork, while the mailed application must still satisfy the county's notarization requirements.
Marriage license requirements
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old and provide valid photo identification. Benton County does not require blood tests or physical examinations, and applicants do not have to be Washington residents.
Proof of divorce or the death of a former spouse is not required with the application, but any prior marriage must already be legally dissolved before applying for another marriage license.
Witnesses are not required when applying for the license. Two witnesses are required at the marriage ceremony. Washington law does not establish a minimum witness age in the information provided by the county, although the Auditor's Office recommends that witnesses be at least 18 because they need to be competent to observe the ceremony and sign legal documents.
The Auditor's Office does not perform civil marriage ceremonies. The county states that judges, court commissioners, and qualifying licensed or ordained religious officials may perform marriages as permitted under Washington law. Neither applicant may perform the ceremony.
Recording Public Documents
The Recording Division records documents as required by state law and maintains access to recorded public records. The division also handles marriage records, historical document searches, conformed copies, and free recording of qualifying military discharge documents.
Document preparation responsibility
The Auditor's staff cannot provide legal advice or determine whether the content of a document is legally correct or accomplishes the document preparer's intended purpose. Responsibility for preparing an instrument belongs to the person preparing or submitting it.
The Auditor's role is limited to determining whether the submitted document satisfies applicable recording and formatting requirements. This distinction is especially important for deeds, agreements, or other instruments where a filing can meet formatting requirements even though the Auditor does not evaluate its legal effect.
If an error or deficiency later requires a document to be recorded again, the submitter is responsible for the cost of re-recording.
Recording format standards
The county's document recording instructions explain that documents must comply with Washington recording standards, including requirements involving indexing, margins, page size, font size, color, legibility, seals, and attachments.
A cover sheet is required if the first page does not contain the necessary index fields or the required three-inch top margin. Adding a cover sheet does not eliminate the other formatting requirements.
Documents that fail to meet the standards are returned and may be submitted again after they have been reformatted. Documents signed before January 1, 1997 may be recorded without reformatting, but a cover sheet is required.
If the only unmet requirement is the minimum margin specification, the county states that the document may be recorded by signing the Non-Standard clause on the cover sheet. An additional $50 fee applies in that situation.
Because recording and marriage-license fees changed effective July 27, 2025, document submitters should use the fee schedule identified by the county for transactions subject to those revised charges rather than relying on an older fee amount.
Submitting documents by mail
The Recording Division accepts documents by mail at its Kennewick location. Before mailing a document, review its formatting against the county's recording requirements and include the material needed for the transaction. A document that does not comply can be returned rather than recorded.
In-person recording is also available in Kennewick. Recording in Prosser is available by appointment rather than as a standard walk-in courthouse service. This differs from the former Prosser Courthouse arrangement and is worth checking before traveling.
Searching Recorded Documents
Benton County provides different search methods depending on when a document was recorded. The recorded document search information states that documents recorded from January 1971 to the present can be searched online. The online index is updated regularly and is described by the county as a work in progress.
When an online search does not locate the desired document, a requester may submit a document search request for Recording Division staff to conduct a search.
Older document indexes
Historical records require a different approach. The county provides historical document indexes for documents dating back to 1906. These are scanned versions of older grantor-grantee index books.
The indexes labeled "Direct" arrange documents alphabetically by the grantor's name. They also identify the document's book and page, document type, and a short description. "Reverse" indexes use a similar format but organize entries alphabetically by the grantee's name.
Once a historical entry is located, the identifying year, book, and page can help the Recording Division locate the actual document. A requester can then view the document in person or submit a document search request.
Search and copy fees
The reference material lists a public-record search fee of $8 per hour, with an $8 minimum. Certified copies are $3 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page. Non-certified copies are $1 per page.
For mailed search requests, the county requires payment before it will process the search or make copies. Because the exact cost can depend on how long the search takes and how many pages are found, the county advises using a check with a "not to exceed" amount for most search types.
Copies of records, including marriage records, may be obtained by mail or in person through the Auditor's Office. When requesting a historical record, providing available index details can make the request more specific and reduce uncertainty about which document is being sought.
Military Discharge Recording
Veterans of the U.S. armed services may record a Form DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, with Benton County at no charge. The county states that veterans are entitled to record the DD214 with Benton County or any other county in Washington State without a recording fee.
This service should be distinguished from commercial services that may charge veterans to process DD214 recording. Benton County states that such commercial services are not sanctioned or endorsed by the county or by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans who want the county's free recording service can work directly with the Auditor's Recording Division.
Conformed Copies
The Recording Division also identifies conformed copies as a specific type of copy. A conformed copy is supplied by the customer, who assumes responsibility for its content, and the copy is clearly marked "COPY."
This should not be confused with ordering a certified copy of a recorded document. Anyone who specifically needs certification should request the appropriate certified copy rather than assuming that a customer-provided conformed copy serves the same purpose.
Avoiding Common Auditor Office Errors
Several Auditor services involve similar-sounding records or application steps, so confirming the correct division and process before submitting paperwork can prevent delays.
Do not go to the Prosser Courthouse for vehicle licensing. Licensing services there have been permanently discontinued.
Do not assume an online marriage application completes the licensing process. An office visit is still required unless the application is completed entirely by mail.
Do not calculate the marriage waiting period from the day online information was submitted. The three-day waiting period begins when the license is issued.
Do not submit a recording document expecting Auditor staff to evaluate its legal meaning. Staff review recording and formatting requirements rather than the legal correctness of the document.
Do not use only the modern online document search for very old records. Historical indexes are provided for earlier recordings.
When requesting an older document by mail, include the year, book, and page if those details were found in the historical index.
Do not confuse certified copies with ordinary photocopies or conformed copies. The county lists different copy types and fees.
When reviewing election records, confirm both the election date and election type because several elections can occur during the same year.
For a voter name or address change, submit a new voter registration form rather than assuming another county record automatically updates voter registration.
Auditor Offices and Locations
Benton County Auditor's Office
7122 W. Okanogan Pl., Bldg. E, Kennewick, WA 99336
509-786-5620
Benton County Auditor, Recording Division
7122 W. Okanogan Pl., Bldg. E, Kennewick, WA 99336
509-786-5616
Benton County Auditor's Office, Prosser
620 Market Street, Prosser, WA 99350
509-786-5710
Prosser Licensing
335 Wine Country Rd., Ste. 6, Prosser, WA
Tri-Cities Licensing, Kennewick
3400 W. Clearwater Ave., Ste. 1, Kennewick, WA
Tri-Cities Licensing, Richland
1385 George Washington Way, Richland, WA
Auditor FAQs
Can I watch Benton County ballots being processed?
Yes. For current elections, Benton County publishes links to livestreams showing ballot processing and ballot scanning. The Elections Division also provides educational material explaining ballot sorting, signature review, system logic and accuracy testing, election certification, recounts, and the lifecycle of a ballot. These materials can be especially useful for voters who want to understand what happens after a ballot reaches the Elections Division. Check the county's current election information for the materials available for the election underway.
Where can I check ballot return statistics?
The current election page includes ballot return information and ballot return statistics separately from election results. It may also provide a sample ballot, voters' pamphlet, drop box map, observer manual, and election-result files. Because these items are updated during an election cycle, use the official current election page rather than relying on saved copies from an earlier date.
Does the county publish election integrity information?
Yes. Benton County maintains an election integrity page with county guidance, educational information, and a Community Outreach Plan. The page also directs users to official election resources for elected-official information and historical election results. It is a useful starting point when you want county-provided explanations of election procedures rather than general election commentary.
How can I compare county financial reports?
The Auditor's Accounting Division maintains a financial reports archive that identifies the reporting period, issue date, audit type, and corresponding report. This makes it easier to distinguish an Accountability Report from a Financial and Federal Report or an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. When researching a particular fiscal year, check both the reporting period and issue date because reports covering the same year may have been released at different times.