Pursuant to the brief enforcement hearing (brief adjudicative proceeding) notice sent to Engage Voters U.S. (the Respondent) on March 3, 2026, a brief adjudicative proceeding was held on April 9, 2026, remotely from Olympia, WA by live audio and online transmission, to consider whether the Respondent violated RCW 42.17A.345 by failing to timely provide commercial advertiser books of account upon request as required during the 2024 election.
The hearing was held in accordance with Chapter 34.05 RCW, Title 29B RCW and Chapter 390-37 WAC. Commission Chair J. Leach was the Presiding Officer. The Commission staff was represented by Jennifer Hansen, Compliance Officer. The Respondent did not participate in the hearing.
Having considered the evidence, the Presiding Officer finds as follows:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. During election year 2024, the Respondent received funds from eleven candidates for political advertising expenditures.
2. On November 1, 2024, Conner Edwards sent a request to “evus@engagevoters.us” for the books of account.
3. During the hearing, Mr. Edwards testified under oath that the Respondent had not provided books of account per his request.
4. The Respondent has no prior violations.
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CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Based on the above facts, as a matter of law, the Presiding Officer concludes as follows:
1. This matter was duly and properly convened, and all jurisdictional, substantive, and procedural requirements have been satisfied.
2. The Respondent violated RCW 42.17A.345 by failing to timely provide commercial advertiser books of account upon request as required during the 2024 election.
ORDER
ON the basis of the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law,
1. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Respondent is assessed a total civil penalty of $500, in accordance with the penalty schedule set forth in WAC 390-37-143.
2. It is further ordered that $250 of the $500 penalty is suspended on the following conditions:
a. The Respondent pays the $250 non-suspended portion of the penalty within 30 days of this Order.
b. The Respondent provides the books of account to the requester within 30 days of this Order.
c. The Respondent does not commit any further violations of Title 29B RCW or Title 390 WAC with four years of the date of this Order. The suspended penalty shall not be assessed based solely upon any remediable violation, minor violation, or error classified by the Commission as appropriate to address by a technical correction.
3. It is further ordered that, if the Respondent fails to comply with any of the above conditions:
a. The full $500 penalty shall immediately become due without further action by the Commission and PDC Staff is directed to refer the matter to collections and/or commence other legal proceeding as authorized by RCW 29B and 390 WAC.
