May public libraries allow their meeting rooms to be used for political activities?

Modified on 2020/12/04 11:10 by Jeremy Stroud — Categorized as: FAQ, Policy

Although RCW 42.17A.555 prohibits the use of public facilities to support or oppose a ballot measure or an election campaign, it also provides for exceptions including those “[a]ctivities which are part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency.”

Further clarification is provided by WAC 390-05-271, which states that:

“RCW 42.17A.555 does not prevent a public office or agency from (a) making facilities available on a nondiscriminatory, equal access basis for political uses or (b) making an objective and fair presentation of facts relevant to a ballot proposition, if such action is part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency.”

Additional information may be found in the following sources:

Guidelines for Local Government Agencies in Election Campaigns (PDC Interpretation 04-02);
Use of Public Facilities to Support or Oppose Ballot Propositions from the MRSC;
AGO Opinion AGO 1973 No. 14 (Question 19).