Title 52 — Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-73not60
§30120 Publication and Distribution of Statements and Solicitations
Title 52 › Subtitle Subtitle III— Federal Campaign Finance › Chapter 301— FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS › Subchapter I— DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS › § 30120
Summary
Require most public political ads to say who paid for them and whether a candidate approved them. This rule covers radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, outdoor ads, mailings, websites, and other public political advertising. If a candidate or the candidate’s official campaign pays for and OKs the ad, the ad must say it was paid for by that campaign. If others pay but the ad is approved by the candidate or the campaign, the ad must say who paid and that the campaign authorized it. If the ad was not approved by any candidate or campaign, it must give the name of the payer and a permanent street address, phone number, or website, and say it is not approved by any candidate or campaign. Newspapers and magazines must not charge a candidate more than they charge others for similar space. Printed disclosures must be easy to read, placed in a separate box, and have good color contrast. Radio ads that are paid for or authorized by a candidate must include an audio statement by the candidate saying who they are and that they approve the ad. TV ads like that must show the candidate full‑screen or use the candidate’s voice with a clear image, and also display a readable written approval at the end for at least 4 seconds. Radio or TV ads that are not authorized by a candidate must say aloud who paid for the ad and that that person or group is responsible for its content; TV versions must also show a clear on‑screen person or image and display the same written statement for at least 4 seconds.
Full Legal Text
Title 52, §30120
Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Whenever a political committee makes a disbursement for the purpose of financing any communication through any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, mailing, or any other type of general public political advertising, or whenever any person makes a disbursement for the purpose of financing communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or solicits any contribution through any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, mailing, or any other type of general public political advertising or makes a disbursement for an electioneering communication (as defined in section 30104(f)(3) of this title), such communication—
(1)if paid for and authorized by a candidate, an authorized political committee of a candidate, or its agents, shall clearly state that the communication has been paid for by such authorized political committee, or 11 So in original. The word “or” probably should appear at the end of par. (2).
(2)if paid for by other persons but authorized by a candidate, an authorized political committee of a candidate, or its agents, shall clearly state that the communication is paid for by such other persons and authorized by such authorized political committee; 1
(3)if not authorized by a candidate, an authorized political committee of a candidate, or its agents, shall clearly state the name and permanent street address, telephone number, or World Wide Web address of the person who paid for the communication and state that the communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
(b)No person who sells space in a newspaper or magazine to a candidate or to the agent of a candidate, for use in connection with such candidate’s campaign, may charge any amount for such space which exceeds the amount charged for comparable use of such space for other purposes.
(c)Any printed communication described in subsection (a) shall—
(1)be of sufficient type size to be clearly readable by the recipient of the communication;
(2)be contained in a printed box set apart from the other contents of the communication; and
(3)be printed with a reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the printed statement.
(d)(1)(A)Any communication described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) which is transmitted through radio shall include, in addition to the requirements of that paragraph, an audio statement by the candidate that identifies the candidate and states that the candidate has approved the communication.
(B)Any communication described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) which is transmitted through television shall include, in addition to the requirements of that paragraph, a statement that identifies the candidate and states that the candidate has approved the communication. Such statement—
(i)shall be conveyed by—
(I)an unobscured, full-screen view of the candidate making the statement, or
(II)the candidate in voice-over, accompanied by a clearly identifiable photographic or similar image of the candidate; and
(ii)shall also appear in writing at the end of the communication in a clearly readable manner with a reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the printed statement, for a period of at least 4 seconds.
(2)Any communication described in paragraph (3) of subsection (a) which is transmitted through radio or television shall include, in addition to the requirements of that paragraph, in a clearly spoken manner, the following audio statement: “_____ is responsible for the content of this advertising.” (with the blank to be filled in with the name of the political committee or other person paying for the communication and the name of any connected organization of the payor). If transmitted through television, the statement shall be conveyed by an unobscured, full-screen view of a representative of the political committee or other person making the statement, or by a representative of such political committee or other person in voice-over, and shall also appear in a clearly readable manner with a reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the printed statement, for a period of at least 4 seconds.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was formerly classified to section 441d of Title 2, The Congress, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Some section numbers referenced in amendment notes below reflect the classification of such sections prior to their editorial reclassification to this title.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 318 of Pub. L. 92–225 was classified to section 439b of Title 2, The Congress, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–187. Another prior section 318 of Pub. L. 92–225 was renumbered section 313, and is classified to section 30114 of this title.
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–155, § 311(1)(A)(iv), which directed insertion of “or makes a disbursement for an electioneering communication (as defined in section 434(f)(3) of this title)” after “public political advertising” in introductory provisions, was executed by making the insertion after those words the second time appearing, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Pub. L. 107–155, § 311(1)(A)(i)–(iii), in introductory provisions, substituted “Whenever a political committee makes a disbursement for the purpose of financing any communication through any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, mailing, or any other type of general public political advertising, or whenever any person makes a disbursement” for “Whenever any person makes an expenditure” and struck out “direct” before “mailing,” the second time appearing. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 107–155, § 311(1)(B), inserted “and permanent street address, telephone number, or World Wide Web address” after “name”. Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 107–155, § 311(2), added subsecs. (c) and (d). 1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–187, § 111, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), and in revising text, provided for solicitation of contributions; prescribed three categories of communications: (1) paid for and authorized by the candidate, (2) paid for by others but authorized by the candidate, and (3) not authorized by the candidate for prior two categories where (1) authorized and (2) not authorized by the candidate; struck out requirement for statement in accordance with
Regulations
of Commission and in a conspicuous manner; and struck out from the communication not authorized by the candidate statement of name of affiliated or connected organization required to be disclosed under section 433 (b)(2) of this title. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–187, § 111, added subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–155 effective Nov. 6, 2002, but not applicable with respect to runoff elections, recounts, or election contests resulting from elections held prior to Nov. 6, 2002, see section 402 of Pub. L. 107–155, set out as an
Effective Date
of 2002 Amendment;
Regulations
note under section 30101 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–187 effective Jan. 8, 1980, see section 301(a) of Pub. L. 96–187, set out as a note under section 30101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
52 U.S.C. § 30120
Title 52 — Voting and Elections
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60