§ 2.04.658 — Transparency

2.04.658 - Transparency

A. Assigning a democracy voucher is a public act. Recipients of democracy vouchers shall expect the same to be public and made public and shall have no expectation of privacy in registering to obtain, or in assigning, democracy vouchers. All democracy voucher holders are on notice that the process is public and transparent, except that the Commission shall not publish mail, email, or other addresses to which democracy vouchers are sent, unless required by chapter 42.56 RCW, or other applicable law. B. The Commission shall make transparent, at its offices and on its website, all assignments and redemptions of democracy vouchers, including recipient name, democracy voucher identification number, date assigned, to whom assigned, and when redeemed. The Commission shall provide other necessary means to make the democracy voucher process and Program open and transparent so that each democracy voucher recipient and the media and public can track assignments of democracy vouchers. C. If a democracy voucher recipient believes the recipient's democracy voucher was lost, stolen, or fraudulently or improperly assigned or redeemed, the Commission may require a notarized declaration or affidavit or other process to find the relevant facts and provide relief it deems appropriate, including Democracy Voucher replacement, cancellation of assignment, or reimbursement of any improperly obtained Program funds. D. The Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations regarding its receipt of duplicate democracy vouchers and shall ensure that a process exists for any democracy voucher recipient to attempt to show, without any filing fee or charge, the facts of loss, theft, destruction, forgery of, duress in, or other improper acts concerning or in the assignment of the democracy voucher. Such process shall at minimum include procedures to submit information through mails or in person. E. In all cases, no democracy voucher assignment shall be deemed invalid or revocable unless for reason of being a duplicate voucher or forgery, threats, coercion, or physical duress, shown by clear and convincing evidence. The Commission shall issue regulations providing remedies and consequences for such acts, which may include, for sufficient material violation of Program requirements, campaign laws, or any acts of intentional forgery, threats, duress, or coercion in obtaining assigned democracy vouchers, an order requiring a candidate to return to the Program any proceeds of democracy vouchers or disqualifying a candidate from the Program.

(Ord. 125611, § 3, 2018; Initiative 122, § 1, 2015.)