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Advisory Opinion 04-02

Date

05/20/2004

Number

04-02

Requester

Sen. Karen Keiser

Topic

Normal and Regular Conduct - Voter Registration

Issue/Question

​May a legislator mail unsolicited voter registration materials at public expense, urging constituents to register absentee and return form to Secretary of State?

Summary

​No. The Act prohibits use of public resources to directly or indirectly assist a campaign. Legislators have greater flexibility under the Act to respond to a constituent than to initiate communication. Exceptions to the prohibition on use of public resources are strictly construed. While some officials have direct statutory responsibilities associated with voter registration, it is not "normal and regular conduct" for legislators to use public resources to get out the vote. RCW 42.52.180.

Review date

06/01/2022

Review outcome

Retained

Document

ETHICS2004.02 (PDF 54.11 Kilobytes)
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