DISTRACTION: “If your phone rings in class, or you’re late back from break, you have to donate $35 to the PAC to continue.”

FACT: PAC donations must be voluntary. Forcing REALTORS® to “donate” as punishment violates federal law, RPAC’s own guidelines, and our Code of Ethics.

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Too many REALTORS® have stories of being “fined” during association classes or meetings: if your phone goes off, you’re late from break, or you speak out of turn, you’re told you owe $35 to RPAC. It may seem harmless or even playful — but let’s be clear: this is coercion, not fundraising.

According to RPAC’s own rules, contributions must be voluntary, clearly explained as such, and accompanied by proper disclaimers. Federal election law also prohibits coercion or conditioning participation on a donation. In other words, no REALTOR® should ever be pressured or shamed into giving.

Even beyond the legal issues, these “forced donations” betray the spirit of Article 10 of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which requires fairness, integrity, and equal treatment. When REALTORS® are singled out, embarrassed, or coerced into supporting candidates they may fundamentally oppose, it erodes trust in our associations.

Fundraising should be transparent, voluntary, and values-driven — not gimmicky penalties. If associations want to raise money for RPAC, they must do so in ways that respect the law and the dignity of their members.

We should never be forced to “fund our own disenfranchisement.”