Title 52, Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-110
§30120 Publication and Distribution of Statements and Solicitations
Title 52 › Subtitle III — Federal Campaign Finance › CHAPTER 301 — FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS › SUBCHAPTER I — DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS › § 30120
Summary
Require that paid political ads and election messages clearly say who paid for them and who approved them. This rule covers ads on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, outdoor signs, mail, and other public political advertising, including messages that clearly urge the election or defeat of a candidate or are electioneering communications. If a candidate or the candidate’s official campaign committee pays for and okays the ad, the ad must say it was paid for by that campaign. If someone else pays but the candidate’s campaign okays it, the ad must say who paid and that the campaign authorized it. If the ad is not approved by any candidate or campaign, it must name the payer and give a permanent street address, phone number, or website, and say it is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Newspapers and magazines may not charge a candidate more for space than they charge others for similar uses. Printed disclaimers must be large enough to read, put in a box apart from other text, and have clear color contrast. Radio ads that are paid or approved by a candidate must include an audio statement by the candidate saying they approve it. TV ads must show the candidate on screen or in voice-over with a clear image and also display a written approval for at least 4 seconds. If someone other than a candidate pays for a radio or TV ad, the ad must clearly say “[name] is responsible for the content of this advertising,” and TV must show a representative or voice-over plus the written statement for at least 4 seconds.
Full Legal Text
Title 52, §30120
Voting and Elections, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Identification of funding and authorizing sources
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
(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)Charge for newspaper or magazine space
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)Specification
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)Additional requirements
(1)Communications by candidates or authorized persons
(A)By radio
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)By television
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)Communications by others
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
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110