It shall be unlawful for any candidate or candidate campaign committee to sponsor a print media advertisement that constitutes an expenditure or contribution required to be disclosed under Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) unless all of the following conditions are met:

Terms Used In Virginia Code 24.2-956

  • Advertisement: means any message appearing in the print media, on television, on radio, or on an online platform, that constitutes a contribution or expenditure under Chapter 9. See Virginia Code 24.2-955.1
  • Board: means the State Board of Elections. See Virginia Code 24.2-101
  • campaign committee: means "campaign committee" as defined in § 24. See Virginia Code 24.2-955.1
  • Candidate: means "candidate" as defined in § 24. See Virginia Code 24.2-955.1
  • Conspicuous: means so written, displayed, or communicated that a reasonable person ought to have noticed it. See Virginia Code 24.2-955.1
  • Includes: means includes, but not limited to. See Virginia Code 1-218
  • Print media: means billboards, cards, newspapers, newspaper inserts, magazines, printed material disseminated through the mail, pamphlets, fliers, bumper stickers, periodicals, websites, electronic mail, non-video or non-audio messages placed or promoted for a fee on an online platform, yard signs, and outdoor advertising facilities. See Virginia Code 24.2-955.1
  • Sponsor: means a candidate, candidate campaign committee, political committee, or person that purchases an advertisement. See Virginia Code 24.2-955.1
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245

1. It bears the legend or includes the statement: “Paid for by ________ [Name of candidate or campaign committee as it appears on the statement of organization].” Alternatively, if the advertisement is supporting a candidate who is the sponsor and the advertisement makes no reference to any other clearly identified candidate, then the statement “Paid for by ________ [Name of candidate]” may be replaced by the statement “Authorized by ________ [Name of candidate].”

2. In an advertisement sponsored by a candidate or a candidate campaign committee that makes reference to any other clearly identified candidate who is not sponsoring the advertisement, the sponsor shall state whether it is authorized by the candidate not sponsoring the advertisement. The visual legend in the advertisement shall state either “Authorized by [Name of candidate], candidate for [Name of office]” or “Not authorized by any other candidate.” This subdivision does not apply if the sponsor of the advertisement is the candidate the advertisement supports or that candidate’s campaign committee.

3. If an advertisement is jointly sponsored, the disclosure statement shall name all the sponsors.

4. (Effective until January 1, 2024) Any disclosure statement required by this section shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner in a minimum font size of seven point. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate standards for meeting the requirements of this subdivision.

4. (Effective January 1, 2024) Any disclosure statement required by this section shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner in a font size proportionate to the size of the advertisement. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate standards for meeting the requirements of this subdivision.

5. Any print media advertisement appearing in electronic format shall display the disclosure statement in a minimum font size of seven point; however, if the advertisement lacks sufficient space for a disclosure statement in a minimum font size of seven point, the advertisement may meet disclosure requirements if, by clicking on the print media advertisement appearing in electronic format, the viewer is taken to a landing page or a home page that displays the disclosure statement in a conspicuous manner.

2002, c. 487, § 24.2-943; 2003, c. 237; 2004, cc. 55, 457; 2005, c. 369; 2006, cc. 787, 892; 2012, c. 519; 2020, cc. 557, 615.

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