Relates to public-facing websites operated by political committees

Political websites must identify their sponsors

New York political committees must identify themselves in political messages they pay for. Printed and digital messages must show a readable “Paid for by:” followed by the committee’s name. Other messages must clearly show or speak that disclosure; speaking it is enough for radio and automated calls. Public-facing websites a committee pays for, hosts, or operates must clearly show the disclosure on every navigable page. The law also counts qualifying websites as independent election spending, without the 500-person or 50-person audience thresholds. A website qualifies through any of three message rules: words calling for a named candidate’s election or defeat; advocacy for or against a named candidate or ballot proposal starting January 1 of the election year; or references to a named candidate within 60 days before a general or special election or 30 days before a primary. To count as independent spending, the message must not be authorized, requested, suggested, encouraged, or made with cooperation from the candidate, their committee, a party committee, a ballot-proposal committee, or their agents. Internet messages count as independent spending only when they are paid ads or qualifying committee websites. These rules take effect 60 days after the law’s enactment.