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Political Video Disclaimer Requirements
A sponsor notice, an approval statement and an AI label do different jobs. Decide which rules apply before allocating screen space or recording sound.
Local draft and source check: . Not a publication date.
Identify the payer and authorization
For covered federal communications, the FEC distinguishes three sponsor situations. Have the campaign's reviewer supply the final wording. This is not a universal template for state, local or judicial elections.
| Situation | Elements to confirm | Source Check |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate committee pays and authorizes | Identify the authorized committee as payer. | |
| Another payer, candidate authorizes | Identify the payer and state candidate or committee authorization. | |
| No candidate authorization | Full payer name; permanent street address, phone or website; no-candidate-authorization statement. TV and radio also require a responsibility statement. |
Do not apply the TV rule to every online video
Short runtime is not automatic permission to omit a notice. Adapted internet disclaimers have specific space-constraint conditions, an indicator and a mechanism for reaching the full notice. Get reviewer confirmation before relying on that option.
For state and local work, obtain current instructions from the relevant election or ethics authority and the campaign's counsel. For a broadcast or streaming placement, obtain the outlet's own requirements. This guide does not certify those regimes.
| Delivery | What to reserve | Source Check |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate-authorized TV | Candidate approval statement: unobscured full-screen delivery, or candidate voiceover with candidate image at least 80% of vertical screen height. Written statement at the end: letters at least 4% of picture height, at least 4 seconds, reasonable contrast. | |
| TV without candidate authorization | Payer-representative responsibility statement plus the sponsor information. End statement uses the 4% height, 4-second and contrast requirements. | |
| Paid internet video | When displayed within the video, the disclaimer is visible for at least 4 seconds without viewer action. Internet provisions do not impose the broadcast stand-by-your-ad requirement; readability and contrast still matter. |
Measure the delivered frame, not the editor font setting
The following calculations apply the TV percentage reference to common frame heights. They are arithmetic, not a claim that each format is a TV placement. Measure rendered letter height after export; a nominal 44px font size does not guarantee a 44px letter. Recheck all crops, safe areas and captions.
| Frame | 4% letter height | 80% candidate-image height |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 x 1080 (16:9) | 44 pixels | 864 pixels |
| 1080 x 1920 (9:16) | 77 pixels | 1536 pixels |
| 1080 x 1080 (1:1) | 44 pixels | 864 pixels |
- Check exact runtime with the full notice included, not added after the allotted length.
- Verify spoken approval or responsibility with the actual authorized speaker.
- Check contrast and letter height in the exported file at its delivered resolution.
- Preview with player controls and captions visible; no label may hide another.
- Have the authorized campaign and legal reviewer sign off on every version.
Keep platform notices separate
Google's election-ad payer disclosure is not a replacement for disclosures required by law. Meta's 2026 notice requires advertiser authorization and a paid-for-by disclaimer. Neither platform's approval establishes legal compliance.
Sources and review status
Compiled with AI-assisted research from the official sources linked on this page, checked on 3 and 4 October 2026. A lawyer has not reviewed it. This is a production reference, not legal advice, a compliance certification or permission to book or publish an ad.
Filmito production references come from the existing local rate card and proposed safeguards. They have not been validated as a permissible U.S. service offering.
- FEC: Advertising and disclaimers
Current official guidance opened. Its notice says coordinated-expenditure information awaits revision following a June 2026 decision. This draft does not advise on that subject.
- FEC final rule: Internet Communication Disclaimers (2022)
Official final-rule text opened. Current FEC guidance was also checked; this historical rule is not a statement that no later changes exist.
- Google Ads: Political content policy
Official live policy, including US verification, sponsor notices and synthetic-content disclosure. Eligibility varies by region and placement.
- Meta: Preparing for the 2026 US midterm elections
Official post published 19 February 2026, updated 1 June 2026. Confirms final-week restriction and prior-impression condition, not an exact cutoff hour.
Change Log
: Initial AI-assisted local draft. Coverage limits and unresolved claims are stated above. Human editorial and counsel review are pending.
Corrections: shivam@filmito.io. Include the guide URL, the specific sentence and a current official source. Do not send voter data or identity documents.