As a result of a County Charter amendment passed by voters in the November 2008 elections, all elective offices of King County are officially nonpartisan; that being said, all current council members have made their party affiliations a matter of public record.

[9] Prior to 2009, councilmembers were elected on a partisan basis, and had to declare their political party unless they filed as an Independent.

[citation needed] This changed upon the passage of Charter Amendment 8 by voters in 2008, which made all elections for county offices nonpartisan.

In addition, all nine members of the Council meet as a Committee of the Whole to discuss broad-reaching legislation and issues.

In the 2004 general election voters approved a charter amendment to reduce the size of the council from thirteen to nine, which went into effect January 1, 2006.