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
A Printing Company Is A Commercial Advertiser

A printing company is a commercial advertiser pursuant to RCW 42.17A.005 when the service it sells is that of communicating or producing messages for the general public or segment thereof.  [Declaratory Order No. 9, issued July 28, 1992]

 Declaratory Order All Political Advertising
Commercial Advertiser Disclosure Guide

Any member of the public can request information about a political advertisement from the company that provided the advertising. These companies are referred to as “commercial advertisers” in state law.

 General All, Voters & the Public Political Advertising
Describing Candidates in Ads

Party preference must be stated if the office is a partisan one. Rules govern photo size and certain descriptive terms.

 General Candidates, Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists Political Advertising
False Political Advertising

False political ads, published with actual malice, are illegal.

 General Candidates, Political Committees, Out-of-State Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer Political Advertising
Internal Political Communications and Sponsor Identification Commission Interpretation Political Committees, Bona Fide Party Committee Political Advertising
Items Exempt from Sponsor ID General Candidates, Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer Political Advertising
Online Campaign Activities

NOTE: Some of these dollar values have changed

 Commission Interpretation Candidates, Political Committees Political Advertising
Political Advertising Guide

Learn the definition of political advertising and how to ensure your ad complies with state law.

 General Candidates, Political Committees, Out-of-State Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer Political Advertising
Republishing Online Political Advertising Commission Interpretation Candidates, Political Committees Political Advertising
Sponsor ID Placement and Size

Sponsor identification rules on political advertising varies, depending on whether the ad is in print, on a billboard or poster, broadcast or online.

 General Candidates, Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer Political Advertising
Sponsor ID: What to Include

Political advertising must identify who is paying for it. Learn what details to include. 

 General Candidates, Political Committees, Sponsors of Independent Expenditures, Incidental Committees, Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employer Political Advertising