Washingtonians For Ethical Government (WFEG) today filed a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission alleging that the Yakima County Republican Central Committee failed to provide required sponsor identification when it recently printed doorhangers for distribution to voters in Yakima County. These doorhangers contain the organization’s logo and its website (www.yakima.gop) but not the necessary “Paid for by” disclosure with a physical address.
WFEG believes this political advertisingwas created in either August or September of 2024, and distributed in September of 2024.
RCW 42.17A.320 states:
“All written political advertising, whether relating to candidates or ballot propositions, shall include the sponsor’s name and
address….”
The county party’s doorhangers meet the definition of political advertising as established in the Public Disclosure Commission’s guidance:
“Political advertising is defined as advertising displays, newspaper ads, billboards, signs, brochures, articles, tabloids, flyers, letters, radio or TV presentations, or other means of mass communication, used for the purpose of appealing, directly or indirectly, for votes or for financial or other support or opposition in an election campaign.”
“‘Mass communication’ as referenced above is a message intended to reach a large audience through any of the methods described above as well as periodicals, sample ballots, websites, emails, text messages, social media, and other online or electronic formats enabling the exchange of communication. Sending 100 or more identical or substantially similar letters, emails or test messages to specific recipients within a 30-day period is an example of mass communication.”
And because this is printed material, a physical address must be included:
“A sponsor’s address is required for print ads and websites.”
WFEG’s goal in bringing this action is to bring the Yakima County Republicans into compliance with their obligations under the Fair Campaign Practices Act.
A copy of WFEG’s complaint, including a doorhanger specimen, is available here.
