Getting a SAW account

If you file for a candidate or a political committee, our website may ask you to log in to your SAW account. SAW stands for Secure Access Washington. SAW allows you to securely file data with many Washington state agencies. If you already have a SAW account, use that one for your PDC filing… read more

PDC-request legislation eases reporting, improves access
A new state law means some changes for campaigns and others who file reports with the Public Disclosure Commission.   The PDC requested the legislation this year based on feedback from the regulated community and the public. Substitute House Bill 1195, passed in May, clarifies some areas of… read more
Candidate filing fees: How they are paid and reported

Filing fees are a permissible expenditure for a candidate's campaign committee. (Click here for more information on permissible expenditures.) Candidates registered under full reporting report the expenditure (or reimbursement, in-kind loan or in-kind contribution if the candidate paid the fees… read more

How to report transaction fees from online contributions

Puzzled as to how to report transaction fees from your online contributions in ORCA? Enter the full amount of the contribution that was authorized by the donor, including the transaction fee (+Monetary Contributions under Contributions). Then enter the transaction fee as an expense paid to the… read more

Major changes coming to candidate and political committee registration efiling

On Monday, May 13, the Public Disclosure Commission will release a new web-based application designed to simplify the registration process for candidates and political committees.

The new system, built for users through a process that engaged members of the public as project team members,… read more

How to report use of old campaign signs

Recycling yard signs from a previous campaign? Make sure you report the use of the signs correctly.

How to disclose the re-use of yard signs depends on whether you are using signs from a campaign for the same office or a different office. If the signs were originally used in a prior… read more

Sponsor ID for email messages

Are you planning on sending out large groups of emails to campaign supporters? Keep in mind, if you send out 100 or more identical or substantially similar emails, letters, or text messages within a 30-day period, this is considered a "mass communication" and sponsor identification is required… read more

Deposits done right

When you've entered contributions that your campaign receives into ORCA, you're not done yet. You have to show that you've put that money into the bank. 

To do so, click on "Make a Deposit." The date field in the upper left is for the date that you made that deposit. You will check… read more

Fred Jarrett joins Public Disclosure Commission

The Public Disclosure Commission announced today that Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Fred Jarrett, the recently retired King County Senior Deputy Executive, to the Commission.

Jarrett is a former state lawmaker, mayor, city council member and school board member.

"Fred has extensive… read more

Tips for the travel and training question on the F-1
The bottom section of an F-1 personal financial affairs statement has yes or no questions, and the last couple are about you or your family members receiving free meals, travel, or training. If you answer "yes," you'll have to fill out part of the supplement form. If you're using the electronic… read more