Group behind Washington ballot initiatives accuses state of violating election rules

Just weeks after being accused of violating anti-corruption laws, Let’s Go Washington has accused the state government of using its authority to sway voters.

The complaint, filed Monday with the state Public Disclosure Commission, alleges the Washington State Department of Commerce broke state law by planning to send out utility rebate checks timed to reach voters before ballots for the upcoming November election are distributed.

State commerce officials denied the allegations Tuesday, saying the political action group took a sentence sent in a longer email thread out of context and that a commerce employee was simply clarifying the law to a utility after the rebate money already was spent.

Under the state’s landmark climate policy called the Climate Commitment Act, a new rebate program was established to offset energy costs incurred by Washingtonians through sending $200 checks to eligible ratepayers. Let’s Go Washington alleges the Commerce Department planned to send these checks out before state residents vote on Initiative 2117, a ballot measure that would repeal the Climate Commitment Act if passed.




https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/sep/24/group-behind-washington-ballot-initiatives-accuses/