Washington Revised Code Title 43. State Government--Executive § 43.07.160. Authenticating officers--Appointment authorized--Use of facsimile signature

The secretary of state may appoint authenticating officers and delegate to the authenticating officers power to sign for the secretary of state any document which, to have legal effect, requires the secretary of state's signature and which is of a class which the secretary of state has authorized for signature by the authenticating officers in a writing on file in the secretary of state's office. Authenticating officers shall sign in the following manner: “․․․․․․, Authenticating Officer for the Secretary of State ․․․․․․”

The secretary of state may also delegate to the authenticating officers power to use the secretary of state's facsimile signature for signing any document which, to have legal effect, requires the secretary of state's signature and is of a class with respect to which the secretary of state has authorized use of his or her facsimile signature by a writing filed in the secretary of state's office. As used in this section, “facsimile signature” includes, but is not limited to, the reproduction of any authorized signature by a copper plate, a rubber stamp, or by a photographic, photostatic, or mechanical device.

The secretary of state shall effect the appointment and delegation by placing on file in the secretary of state's office in a single document the names of all persons appointed as authenticating officers and each officer's signature, a list of the classes of documents each authenticating officer is authorized to sign for the secretary of state, a copy of the secretary of state's facsimile signature, and a list of the classes of documents which each authenticating officer may sign for the secretary of state by affixing the secretary of state's facsimile signature. The secretary of state may revoke the appointment or delegation or powers by placing on file in the secretary of state's office a new single document which expressly revokes the authenticating officers and the powers delegated to them. The secretary of state shall record and index documents filed by him or her under this section, and the documents shall be open for public inspection.

The authorized signature of an authenticating officer or an authorized facsimile signature of the secretary of state shall have the same legal effect and validity as the genuine manual signature of the secretary of state.