What are the rules regarding the disclosure of campaign contributions?
In Washington, campaign contributions are subject to certain disclosure rules. Any person or organization that makes a political contribution of $25 or more must file a disclosure report with the state Public Disclosure Commission by the 10th day of the month following the date of their contribution. This disclosure must include the name and address of the contributor, the date of the contribution, the amount, and the name of the candidate or political committee to which the money was given. Organizations that make independent political expenditures of $50 or more must also file a report with the Public Disclosure Commission by the 10th of the following month. This report needs to include the name and address of the organization, the date of the independent expenditure, the amount, and the name of the candidate or political committee to which the money was spent. All contribution and expenditure reports are open to public inspection. Anyone found to be in violation of these disclosure rules can be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation. The Public Disclosure Commission is charged with enforcing these rules and can assess the civil penalty if violations are found. It is therefore important to understand and follow all applicable rules regarding the disclosure of campaign contributions in Washington.
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