Advisory Opinion 97-08

​Are indirect appeals for votes, in a newsletter comment about a pending ballot measure, a violation of RCW 42.52.180?

​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.

Retained – see Advisory Opinion 2021 – 1