Legislative Ethics Board Advisory Opinions
Topic
Newsletters - Ballot Information
Issue/Question
LEB Opinion Issue/Question
Are indirect appeals for
votes, in a newsletter comment about a pending ballot measure, a violation of
RCW 42.52.180?
Summary
LEB Opinion Summary
Yes. Indirect appeals (examples
given) have the same effect as direct appeals and would violate .180, depending
upon the context. Board quoted general rule established in AO#95 - No. 18. In
addition, in dealing with bills which become ballot measures, newsletter authors
are advised to make a choice between: (1) encouraging voting and including only a
balanced, objective description of the measure; or (2) including direct comments
on the merits of the proposal as a bill, with no reference to voting except to
note that the bill is now a ballot measure.
Document
LEB Advisory Opinion Document
Review Outcome and Date
Reviewed in June 2022 and retained. See Advisory Opinion 2021 – No. 1