What are the rules regarding campaign finance limits?
In Washington, campaign finance limits are in place to prevent campaigns from receiving large amounts of financial support from special interests and from having an unfair advantage over other candidates. Under Washington state law, individuals and political action committees (PACs) are limited to giving a maximum of $1,000 to a candidate for each election. If a candidate runs for multiple offices in the same election, each candidate is limited to a total of $2,000 for all of those offices combined. In addition, corporations and unions are prohibited from making any contributions to candidates, political committees, or any other organizations. This is to ensure that powerful organizations aren’t able to unduly influence an election result with their money. Any individual or political action committee that donates a total of more than $5,000 in a calendar year is required to register with the Public Disclosure Commission as a political committee. Political committees are also required to report their fundraising and spending activities to the PDC. Campaigns have additional restrictions on how much they are allowed to spend per election cycle. They may not spend more than $1.50 per registered voter or 3% of the total general fund budget of the office they are running for, whichever is smaller. Campaigns are also prohibited from using public funds or public resources to support their campaigns, and must ensure that any campaign related materials are clearly marked as being from that specific campaign.
Related FAQs
What are the requirements for dissolving or forming a political party?What is the purpose of a ballot initiative?
What are the different types of elections?
How does the electoral system ensure that votes are properly counted?
What is a “jungle primary” election?
What is the difference between primary and general elections?
What is meant by the term “gerrymandering”?
What are the rules regarding campaign signs?
What is the difference between the national and state conventions?
Who is responsible for conducting elections in the United States?
Related Blog Posts
What Are the Basics of Election Law? - July 31, 2023Understanding Your Right to Vote Under Election Law - August 7, 2023
Navigating Election Laws: A Guide for Candidates - August 14, 2023
Election Law and the Electoral College – What You Need to Know - August 21, 2023
An Overview of Election Laws and How They Impact a Voter's Rights - August 28, 2023