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Free Speech - Elections & Voting

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Campaign Speech

Bill: HB 1286
Position: oppose
Status: The Legislature passed HB 1286, and the governor signed it into law.
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San Juan County, et al. v. No New Gas Tax, et al.

The Washington Supreme Court ruled that endorsements of a ballot issue by radio talk show hosts should not be treated as campaign contributions. The ACLU had submitted a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the free speech rights of the talk show hosts. Read More »
 
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Public Disclosure Commission v. Marilou Rickert

The Washington Supreme Court overturned a law regulating the content of political candidates’ advertisements, finding that the law violated candidates’ right to free speech and did not ensure the honesty of elections. The ruling came in a case in which the ACLU represented a candidate for state Legislature whom the government sought to fine for statements she made about her opponent’s voting record. Read More »
 
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State Supreme Court Overturns Law Regulating Candidates' Speech

October 4, 2007
For the second time, Washington's high court invalidated a law that empowered the government to regulate what is said during political campaigns. Read More »
 

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Court Overturns Law Regulating What Candidates Can Say

September 7, 2005
The Washington Court of Appeals overturned a law that regulates the content of political candidates’ statements, saying that it violates their right to free speech and does not ensure the honesty of elections. Read More »
 
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ACLU, Public Citizen File Lawsuit Backing Free Speech Rights of Candidate for Union Office

April 14, 2005
Seeking to uphold union democracy, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington and Public Citizen today filed a lawsuit backing the free speech rights of a union member running for office. The suit was filed on behalf of Joseph Hughes to secure his right to speak with fellow members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Read More »
 
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Appeals Court Backs Ban on Candidates Mentioning Opponents

November 15, 2003
In October 2003 the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the City of Seattle can bar political candidates from mentioning their opponents in the City's voter pamphlet. The decision reversed a trial court ruling that found the ban was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech. Read More »
 
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Court Overturns Ban on Candidates Mentioning Their Opponents

September 19, 2001
Noting that freedom of speech is "essential to our democratic ideals," U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik today overturned the ban on candidates mentioning their opponents in the City of Seattle's voter pamphlet. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the ACLU challenging the Seattle Ethics and Election Commission's censorship of candidate statements. Agreeing with the ACLU's arguments, Judge Lasnik found that the restriction on candidate statements violates the First Amendment because it bans the expression of certain viewpoints. Read More »
 
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