W.Va. Ethics Commission Rules on Legislator Mailings

The West Virginia Ethics Commission says state lawmakers can’t use targeted lists of likely voters when sending letters to constituents prior to elections.

The Charleston Gazette reports the commission’s ruling applies to mailings paid for by the Legislature.

The commission ruling says targeted lists of likely voters can’t be used in the state-funded mailings within 60 days of an election.

Commissioner Betty Ireland says the commission can’t restrict legislators’ ability to correspond with constituents, but the use of likely voter lists clearly constitutes campaigning.