Advisory Opinion 97-08
Date
10/09/1997
Number
97-08
Requester
Board’s own motion
Topic
Newsletters - Ballot Information
Issue/Question
Are indirect appeals for votes, in a newsletter comment about a pending ballot measure, a violation of RCW 42.52.180?
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.