Guidelines & Restrictions
Ensure you’re compliant with state political disclosure law, whether you’re a candidate, political committee, lobbyist, or an elected or appointed official.
Ensure you’re compliant with state political disclosure law, whether you’re a candidate, political committee, lobbyist, or an elected or appointed official.
These guidelines are distilled from the requirements in RCW 42.17A and WAC 390. Care has been taken to ensure the guidelines are accurate and concise. Nevertheless, they do not take the place of local, state, or federal laws.
Filter by audience for reporting guidelines and restrictions relevant to you or your interest area. Filter by interpretations or declaratory orders to see the Commission’s statements on how the law applies in certain situations.
Title | Type of Guideline | Audience(s) | Topic |
---|---|---|---|
Affiliation | General | Candidates, Political Committees, Out-of-State Political Committees, Incidental Committees | Campaign Contributions, Contribution Limits, Registration |
Allowable Uses of Campaign Funds | General | Candidates, Political Committees | Campaign Expenditures |
Anonymous Contributions | General | Candidates, Political Committees | Campaign Contributions |
Campaign Loans | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees | Campaign Loans |
Campaign Loans & Loan Agreements | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees | Campaign Loans |
Candidate Loan Repayments | General | Candidates | Campaign Loans |
Charging for Endorsement or Media Coverage Charging money for an endorsement or media coverage is illegal. |
General | Candidates, Political Committees | |
Concealment | General | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee | Campaign Contributions, Campaign Expenditures |
Contributing to Other Candidates and Committees | General | Candidates | Campaign Contributions |
Contribution Limits | General | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee, Out-of-State Political Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer | Campaign Contributions, Contribution Limits |
Contribution Limits After Redistricting | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Lobbyists | Contribution Limits |
Contributions - Receiving Currency | General | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee | Campaign Contributions |
Contributions - Reimbursements | General | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee, Lobbyists | Campaign Contributions |
Contributions from Out-of-State Committees | General | Candidates, Out-of-State Political Committees | Campaign Contributions, Reporting Deadlines |
Contributions Given Within Three Weeks Of General Election ("11th Hour" Contributions) | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee | Campaign Contributions, Contribution Limits |
Definition of "Local Official" | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Elected Officials | Public Agency Facilities |
Definition of "Within 21 Days of a General Election" NOTE: Some of these dollar values have changed |
Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees | Contribution Limits |
Describing Candidates in Ads Party preference must be stated if the office is a partisan one. Rules govern photo size and certain descriptive terms. |
General | Candidates, Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists | Political Advertising |
Designation and Disposal of Surplus Funds Candidates can transfer unspent campaign funds after an election to certain uses. |
Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee | Surplus Funds |
Distinguishing In-Kind Loans, Debt, and Pledges NOTE: Some of these dollar values have changed |
Commission Interpretation | Candidates | Campaign Debt, Campaign Expenditures, Campaign Loans |
Earmarked Contributions | General | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee, Lobbyists | Campaign Contributions |
False Political Advertising False political ads, published with actual malice, are illegal. |
General | Candidates, Political Committees, Out-of-State Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer | Political Advertising |
Guidelines for Local Government Agencies in Election Campaigns | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Public Agencies | Public Agency Facilities |
Guidelines for School Districts in Election Campaigns Public disclosure law governing use of public facilities in school district campaigns |
Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Public Agencies | Public Agency Facilities |
In the matter of the Petition from Institute for Free Speech Regarding Pro Bono Legal Work The Commission issued an order concerning a non-profit organization's plan to provide pro bono legal services to a person who plans to appeal a ruling in a campaign finance court case. The order says the non-profit need not register or file reports with the PDC, nor disclose its donors, as long as it represents the person in his individual capacity in the appeal. [Declaratory Order No. 18, issued May 27, 2021] |
Declaratory Order | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee, Out-of-State Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer, Grassroots Lobbying, Public Agencies, Official filing financial affairs report, Elected Officials, Voters & the Public | Enforcement Cases, Rulemaking |
Items Exempt from Sponsor ID | General | Candidates, Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer | Political Advertising |
Legislative Session Freeze | General | Candidates, Lobbyists, Elected Officials | Campaign Contributions |
Limits on "Last Minute" Contributions | General | Candidates, Political Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer | Contribution Limits |
Online Campaign Activities NOTE: Some of these dollar values have changed |
Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees | Political Advertising |
Penalty waivers for Small Business Paperwork Violations | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee, Out-of-State Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer, Grassroots Lobbying, Public Agencies, Official filing financial affairs report, Elected Officials, Voters & the Public | |
Petition for Declaratory Order for A Better Seattle The Commission issued an order following a petition from the political committee A Better Seattle, which supports a recall vote against Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, to lift a $1,000 limit on contributions from donors. The basis for the Commission's actions was a federal case that found Washington State's application of contribution limits to a recall committee was unconstitutional under circumstances in which the limits do not further the important interest of preventing corruption or the appearance of corruption. [Declaratory Order No. 19, issued Nov. 26, 2021] |
Declaratory Order | Candidates, Political Committees | Contribution Limits |
Political Advertising Guide Learn the definition of political advertising and how to ensure your ad complies with state law. |
General | Candidates, Political Committees, Out-of-State Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer | Political Advertising |
Post-Election Deadlines for Candidate Contributions | General | Candidates, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer | Reporting Deadlines |
Primary and General Election Contributions | General | Candidates | Contribution Limits |
Prohibited Contributors to Candidates | General | Candidates | Campaign Contributions |
Prohibited Contributors to State Candidates | General | Candidates | Campaign Contributions |
Public Inspection of Campaign Records | General | Candidates, Political Committees | |
Regarding The Seattle Democracy Voucher Program | Commission Interpretation | Candidates | Campaign Contributions |
Reimbursement for Contributions | General | Candidates, Political Committees | |
Reporting Contributions Made and Received Through Electronic Technologies | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees | Campaign Contributions |
Republishing Online Political Advertising | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees | Political Advertising |
Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act and PDC Proceedings and Filings | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Political Committees | |
Soliciting Government Employees | General | Candidates, Elected Officials | Public Agency Facilities |
Spending General Election Contributions | General | Candidates | Contribution Limits |
Sponsor ID Placement and Size Sponsor identification rules on political advertising varies, depending on whether the ad is in print, on a billboard or poster, broadcast or online. |
General | Candidates, Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer | Political Advertising |
Sponsor ID: What to Include Political advertising must identify who is paying for it. Learn what details to include. |
General | Candidates, Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer | Political Advertising |
Surplus Campaign Funds Learn what to do with surplus campaign funds. |
General | Candidates | Surplus Funds |
Transfer of Surplus Contributions to a Candidate's Campaign for a Different Office | Commission Interpretation | Candidates, Elected Officials, Voters & the Public | Campaign Contributions, Contribution Limits, Surplus Funds |
Transfers of Candidate Surplus Funds to Bona Fide Political Party and Caucus Political Committees NOTE: Some of these values have changed |
Commission Interpretation | Candidates | Surplus Funds |
Transmitting Contributions (Bundling) | General | Candidates, Political Committees |