These guidelines are distilled from the requirements in RCW 42.17A and WAC 390. Care has been taken to ensure the guidelines are accurate and concise. Nevertheless, they do not take the place of local, state, or federal laws. 

Filter by audience for reporting guidelines and restrictions relevant to you or your interest area. Filter by interpretations or declaratory orders to see the Commission’s statements on how the law applies in certain situations.  
 

Title Type of Guideline Audience(s) Topic
Affiliation General Candidates, Political Committees, Out-of-State Political Committees, Incidental Committees Campaign Contributions, Contribution Limits, Registration
Contribution Limits General Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee, Out-of-State Political Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer Campaign Contributions, Contribution Limits
Contribution Limits After Redistricting Commission Interpretation Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Lobbyists Contribution Limits
Contributions Given Within Three Weeks Of General Election ("11th Hour" Contributions) Commission Interpretation Candidates, Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee Campaign Contributions, Contribution Limits
Definition of "Within 21 Days of a General Election"

NOTE: Some of these dollar values have changed

 Commission Interpretation Candidates, Political Committees Contribution Limits
Intra-Party Transfers and Federal Accounts of Party Organizations

NOTE: Some of these dollar values have changed

 Commission Interpretation Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee, Out-of-State Political Committees Campaign Contributions, Contribution Limits
Limits on "Last Minute" Contributions General Candidates, Political Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer Contribution Limits
Petition for Declaratory Order for A Better Seattle

The Commission issued an order following a petition from the political committee A Better Seattle, which supports a recall vote against Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, to lift a $1,000 limit on contributions from donors. The basis for the  Commission's actions was a federal case that found Washington State's application of contribution limits to a recall committee was unconstitutional under circumstances in which the limits do not further the important interest of preventing corruption or the appearance of corruption. [Declaratory Order No. 19, issued Nov. 26, 2021]

 Declaratory Order Candidates, Political Committees Contribution Limits
Primary and General Election Contributions General Candidates Contribution Limits
Spending General Election Contributions General Candidates Contribution Limits
Transfer of Surplus Contributions to a Candidate's Campaign for a Different Office Commission Interpretation Candidates, Elected Officials, Voters & the Public Campaign Contributions, Contribution Limits, Surplus Funds