C-1 Candidate Registration

Purpose

Discloses office sought, reporting option, committee officers, treasurer's name, contact for public campaign records inspection, and bank used for campaign account. RCW 42.17A.205*

Due Date

Within 2 weeks of becoming a candidate.  (For PDC purposes, an individual may become a candidate well before a formal declaration is filed with elections officials).

Registration statements are required to be filed electronically. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

C-1ic Incidental Committee registration

Purpose

Used by a nonprofit organization that is required to register as an incidental committee. Discloses candidates or political committees that are expected to receive the incidental committee's contributions, candidates or ballot measures that the incidental committee plans to support or oppose, related or affiliated committees, and the committee's officers or responsible leaders. RCW 42.17A.207

For filing instructions, see the PDC guide

Due Date

Must register within two weeks after the committee meets both of these triggers: the committee has the expectation of making contributions or expenditures to election campaign(s) totaling at least $35,000 in a calendar year, and has received a payment of $15,000 or more in the same calendar year. 

Forms

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C-1pc Political Committee Registration

Purpose

Explains purpose of committee, discloses committee officers, whether committee plans to raise or spend enough money to trigger contribution and expenditure reporting, and the bank where the committee's account is held.  (See Terms for an explanation of different committee types.) RCW 42.17A.205*

Due Date

Within 2 weeks of when the committee is organized or within 2 weeks of when the committee first expects to receive contributions or make expenditures, whichever is earlier.  SPECIAL NOTE:  A political committee organized within the last 3 weeks before an election with the expectation of receiving contributions or making expenditures for that election must register within 3 business days of organizing or first expecting to receive contributions or make expenditures.

Registration statements are required to be filed electronically. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

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Most committees will use the PDC's ORCA system to file contribution and expenditure reports. 

C-3 Cash Receipts, Monetary Contributions

Purpose

Reports a bank deposit.  Details reported include contributors' names, addresses, occupations and employers, as well as amounts given. Contribution reports are required to be filed electronically. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

This schedule is attached when necessary:

Note:  A written loan agreement must be executed for each loan that the committee accepts.  Agreements are kept with the campaign records and not submitted to the PDC, unless requested.  See PDC Interpretation 14-01 for a sample agreement.

RCW 42.17A.235, 240*

Due Date

Bank deposits must be made at least weekly, if contributions are received.  Complete a separate C-3 for each deposit.

For primary and general elections - between June and general election day, file weekly on Mondays.

For special elections - during last 4 months before election, file weekly on Mondays.

Other periods - file on 10th of the month following the month when the deposit is made.

C-4 Receipts & Expenditure Summary

Purpose

A snapshot of a committee's finances at a given point in time that includes total receipts, total expenditures, cash on hand, and debts.  Also reports total receipts and expenditures for a prescribed reporting period. 

Reports are required to be filed electronically. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

RCW 42.17A.235240*

Due Date

  • 10th of each month to cover preceding calendar month
  • 21 and 7 days before an election in which the campaign participates.
  • 10th of first month after the election in which the campaign participated.

C-5 Out-of-State Political Committee Report

Purpose

Reports expenditures and contributions exceeding $50 an out-of-state committee makes to influence Washington State elections. RCW 42.17A.250*

Due Date

10th of the month following any month in which a contribution or other expenditure is made.

Forms

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C-6 Independent Spending & Electioneering Communications

Purpose

Discloses independent expenditures supporting or opposing candidates or ballot measures.  Also used to disclose electioneering communication expenditures. RCW 42.17A.255, 260, 305*

Reports are required to be filed electronically. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

Due Date

  • Within 24 hours of when the ad is presented to the public, provided independent expenditure appears within 21 days of election and costs at least $2,000.  (Multiple ads about the same candidate or ballot measure with an aggregated cost exceeding $2,000 are reported within 24 hours.), or
  • Within 5 days of spending for all other independent expenditures. (Updated dollar amounts as found in WAC 390-05-400.)
  • Electioneering Communications are disclosed within 24 hours of when the ad is presented to the public.  (See Glossary for definition.)

Note:  An ad that meets criteria of both independent expenditure and electioneering communication must be disclosed as an electioneering communication.

C-7 Special Political Expenditures

A business, union, association, organization or other entity that does not employ a lobbyist in Washington State reports:

  • contributions exceeding $20,000 in the aggregate to: state election campaign, counting all contributions given to committees supporting or opposing legislative or statewide executive candidates and to committees supporting or opposing statewide ballot measures; or
  • independent expenditures totaling over $1,000 for political advertising supporting or opposing one or more legislative or statewide office executive candidates and statewide ballot measures.

RCW 42.17A.630*

Due Date

Last day of February in the following year

Forms

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C-8 Incidental Committee Payments and Political Expenditures

Purpose

Discloses sources of cumulative payments of $15,000 or more (monetary transfers or dollar value of services provided in kind) to incidental committee during the current calendar year. Also discloses monetary or in-kind contributions to a candidate or political committee. RCW 42.17A.235

For filing instructions, see the PDC guide

Due Date

  • At registration to report the top 10 sources of cumulative payments of $15,000 or more 
  • 10th of each month to cover preceding calendar month, if payment information has changed or the committee has made election expenditures of more than $500 since its last report
  • 21 and 7 days before an election in which the committee participates.
  • 10th of first month after the election in which the committee participated.

Forms

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F-1 Modification Application

Purpose

Seek the Commission's permission to modify or suspend a portion of the personal financial disclosure requirements.  The Commission considers new requests during its regular meetings and the applicant is encouraged to attend the meeting.  A modification may be granted for a single reporting period and must be requested again if needed in subsequent reporting periods. RCW 42.17A.120*

Please use this guide for selecting the right modification application.

If you know which form you need:

Due Date

An applicant should complete the remainder of the F-1 report not covered in the request and submit it and the application at least a month before the F-1 due date.

F-1 Personal Financial Affairs Statement

Purpose

Personal financial information is disclosed by candidates at the start of the campaign and annually by elected officials, state boards and commissions members, state agency directors, and legislative and gubernatorial professional staff.  Allows the public to assess whether state officials may have conflicts of interest. RCW 42.17A.710*

Reports are required to be filed using the efiling system. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

Due Date

  • State, local, and judicial candidates file within two weeks of first raising or spending money for the campaign, reserving space or purchasing advertising to promote candidacy, authorizing someone else to do any of these activities, publicly announcing candidacy, or filing the declaration of candidacy.  Reporting period = 12 months prior to the start of the campaign.
  • Individuals appointed to finish an unexpired term or appointed to a covered state position file within two weeks of the appointment.  Reporting period = 12 months prior to the appointment.
  • Annual reports are due April 15 and cover the previous calendar year.

Note:  Only one F-1 report per person per year is required.

L-1 Lobbyist Registration

Purpose

Names lobbyist and employer.  Discloses employment status and payment arrangements.  When employer is an organization, L-1 discloses members or others who fund lobbying efforts.  Also lists general subject areas of anticipated lobbying activities. RCW 42.17A.600*

Reports are required to be filed using the efiling system. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

Due Date

Lobbyists must register before doing any lobbying or within thirty days of being employed to lobby, whichever occurs first. Amendments to registrations must be filed within one week of the change that prompts the amendment.  Registrations expire at the start of every odd-numbered year, unless the lobbyist or employer terminates before then.  

L-2 Lobbyist Monthly Expenditure Report

Purpose

Monthly report that discloses a lobbyist's compensation and other lobbying expenditures.  A registered lobbyist is required to file a monthly report, regardless of whether lobbying occurred. RCW 42.17A.615*

Reports are required to be filed using the efiling system. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

Due Date

At the end of the month, no later than the 15th of the following month.

L-2 Memo Report

Purpose

Provides notice to recipients of contributions, entertaining, and other items of value. 

Due Date

Not filed with the PDC.  Give to recipients of contributions, entertainment, etc. when L-2 report is filed.

Forms

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L-3 Lobbyist Employer's Annual Report

Purpose

Provides detail of the employer's total lobbying expenditures made in a calendar year. RCW 42.17A.630*

Reports are required to be filed using the efiling system. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

Due Date

At the end of the calendar year, no later than the last day of February.

L-3c Employer's Monthly Contribution Report

Purpose

Identifies recipients and amounts of campaign contributions exceeding $250 made by a lobbyist employer and not disclosed by the lobbyist. RCW 42.17A.630(2)*

Due Date

At the end of the month in which the contribution was made and no later than the 15th of the following month.

Forms

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L-5 Public Agency Lobbying Report

Purpose

Names employees who lobby on behalf of government agencies.  Includes general description of activities and discloses the total lobbying expenditures made in a calendar quarter, including employees' salaries, travel, printing and lobbying contractor payments. RCW 42.17A.635*

Reports are required to be filed electronically. You may request a hardship exemption if you are unable to file electronically. Email your request to pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

Due Date

At the end of a calendar quarter during which an agency's in-person lobbying activities exceeds 4 days or parts of 4 days.  File no later than the last day of the following month.  An agency that contracts for lobbying services must file the quarterly report.

L-6 Grass Roots Lobbying Report

Purpose

Reports contributions to and expenditures made in support of a program addressed to the public, a substantial portion of which is intended, designed, or calculated primarily to influence state legislation. RCW 42.17A.640*

Due Date

Within 24 hours of the initial presentation to the public when that occurs during the period beginning 30 days before the regular legislative session through the end of that session, or during any special session, or within five days of initial presentation at any other time of year, with aggregate spending exceeding $1,500 in a single month or $3,000 in any three-month period.

Monthly reporting continues through the life of the campaign. Monthly reports are due by the 10th of the following month.

Forms

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L-7 Employment of Legislators and State Officials

Purpose

Discloses a lobbyist's or lobbyist employer's employment of a member of the legislature, an employee of the legislature, a member of a state board or commission, or a full-time state employee, if the employee remains partially employed by the state. RCW 42.17A.645*

Due Date

Within 15 days after employment commences.

LMC Last Minute Contribution Report

Purpose

Discloses contributions of $1,500 or more, in the aggregate, given or received within 7 days of primary election and 21 days of general election. RCW 42.17A.265*

Due Date

  • Contributor reports within 24 hours of giving.
  • Recipient reports within 48 hours of receipt.

T-1 Public Treasurer's Annual Report

Purpose

Annual report that discloses whether a public treasurer has invested funds under his or her control in an institution in which the treasurer has a partnership or ownership interest or holds an office or directorship. RCW 42.17A.570*

Due Date

​April 15

Forms

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PDF