Paid-for-by disclaimers on campaign websites

Most voters never read the line at the bottom of a campaign mailer. Election officials do, and so do opponents looking for something to file a complaint about. A missing or wrong disclaimer is rarely the thing that sinks a campaign, but it is an easy problem to avoid and an annoying one to explain to a reporter in October.

What a paid-for-by disclaimer is

A disclaimer is a short statement that tells the public who paid for a political communication. On a campaign website it usually reads something like:

Paid for by Friends of Jane Smith

The name should be the exact name of your registered campaign committee, the way it appears on your filing paperwork. Some states also require additional details, such as the committee's address, the treasurer's name, or a statement about whether the communication was authorized by the candidate.

The purpose is transparency. Voters should be able to tell whether a page, mailer or sign came from the candidate, from a party, or from an outside group.

Federal races: the FEC rules

If you are running for Congress or another federal office, the Federal Election Commission sets disclaimer rules. Under the FEC's regulations at 11 CFR 110.11, websites of political committees that are available to the public must carry a disclaimer, along with many other types of public communications.

The FEC also requires that a disclaimer be clear and conspicuous. In practice that means a reader should be able to find it and read it without effort: not hidden, not in tiny type, not in a color that blends into the background.

The FEC's own guide, Advertising and disclaimers, explains the requirements and has examples for different types of communications. If you are in a federal race, start there and follow it rather than any summary, including this one.

State and local races: rules vary by state

Most CandidateLaunch clients are running for county council, school board, city council, sheriff or the state legislature. Those races are governed by state law, not the FEC.

Many states require a paid-for-by disclaimer on campaign communications, but the details differ:

• Which communications are covered (websites, emails, signs, social media, text messages)
• The exact wording, and what information must be included
• Minimum type size or placement rules for printed pieces
• Exceptions for small items such as buttons, pens or very small ads
• Whether rules differ for nonpartisan offices like school board

The place to get a firm answer is your state ethics commission or state elections office. Many publish a candidate handbook that covers disclaimers. Some county election offices also answer these questions for local candidates. If your state's guidance is unclear, call and ask, and write down the name of the person you spoke with and the date.

Put it in the footer of every page

A voter can land on any page of your site from a search result or a shared link, not just the home page. The simplest way to cover every page is to put the disclaimer in the site-wide footer, so it appears everywhere automatically.

• Use the committee's exact registered name
• Use readable type, not the smallest size on the page
• Use enough contrast that it can be read on a phone outdoors
• Put it in a box or line of its own, not buried in a paragraph of copyright text
• Check it on every page after launch, including any page added later

Readable text with good contrast also helps voters who use screen readers or have low vision. See campaign website accessibility for more.

Emails, graphics, yard signs and everything else

Your website is one piece. Depending on your state's law, a disclaimer may also be required on:

• Campaign emails, usually in the footer next to your contact information
• Social media graphics and paid posts or boosted posts
• Yard signs, banners and door hangers
• Push cards, mailers and postcards
• Print, radio and digital ads
• Robocalls and text messages, which often have their own separate rules

Yard signs are the most common place local candidates get caught. Before you send the sign file to the printer, confirm the disclaimer is on it in the size your state requires. If you are organizing sign distribution, our guide to volunteer and yard sign signups covers the rest.

Keep one master version of your disclaimer text in a shared document so every volunteer making a graphic copies the same wording.

Build your disclaimer text

Our free disclaimer builder walks you through the common pieces (committee name, address, treasurer, authorization line) and produces text you can paste into your footer, email template and sign proofs. It is a starting point to bring to your state's guidance, not a substitute for it.

Every CandidateLaunch site includes a footer disclaimer on every page, using the wording you confirm with your state. We place it; you confirm the requirement. Our FAQ has more on what we handle and what stays with your campaign.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using the candidate's name instead of the committee's registered name
• Putting the disclaimer only on the home page
• Light gray text on a white background that nobody can read
• Forgetting it on graphics a volunteer made in a hurry
• Copying another state's wording from a template found online
• Leaving an old committee name in place after amending your registration

None of these are hard to fix. They are just easy to miss when you are tired and the printer needs the file by Friday. Check once at launch, once when you print signs, and again any time your committee information changes.

Common questions

Does my local campaign website need a paid-for-by disclaimer?

Many states require one on campaign communications, and websites are often included. Rules vary, so confirm with your state ethics commission or elections office before you launch.

What does a paid-for-by disclaimer usually say?

Typically "Paid for by" followed by the exact registered name of the campaign committee. Some states require more, such as an address or a treasurer's name. Use the wording your state specifies.

Where should the disclaimer go on my website?

In the footer of every page, in readable text with good contrast. That keeps it visible no matter which page a voter lands on.

Is this guide legal advice?

No. It is general information to help you ask the right questions. For your specific race, follow the guidance of your state's ethics or elections office, or the FEC for federal races, or an attorney.

Do I need a disclaimer on campaign emails and social graphics?

Often, yes. Many state rules cover emails, mailers, signs and paid social posts as well as websites. Check your state's rules for each type of communication.