What information do I need on my advertisement (e.g., outdoor banner/signs, mailers, social media ads, etc.)?

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What information do I need on my advertisement (e.g., outdoor banner/signs, mailers, social media ads, etc.)?

If a noncandidate committee places an advertisement for or against a campaign, it must include a disclaimer that states:

  • Who paid for the advertisement (i.e., “paid for by”) including the name and address of the noncandidate committee paying for the advertisement; and
  • Notice in a prominent location that the advertisement is published, broadcast, televised, or circulated either “with the approval and authority of the candidate,” or “without the approval and authority of the candidate.”

Advertisements paid for by Independent Expenditure Committees must include the following disclaimer:

  • Who paid for the advertisement (i.e., “paid for by”) including the name and address of the noncandidate committee paying for the advertisement;
  • A notice in a prominent location that the advertisement is published, broadcast, televised, or circulated “without the approval and authority of the candidate;” and
  • The identification of the top three contributors to the noncandidate committee for the purpose of funding the advertisement.

Please keep in mind that in addition to reporting expenses related to advertisements in the committee’s disclosure reports, you will need to file a Statement of Information of Electioneering Communication if the advertisement is an electioneering communication, and the committee has spent in an aggregate amount of more than $2,000 for electioneering communications during any calendar year.  Once a Statement is filed to disclose electioneering communication(s) of more than $2,000 in the aggregate, you must file additional Statements for each subsequent expenditure made for an electioneering communication regardless of amount.

If this applies to the committee, you are statutorily required to file a Statement of Information of Electioneering Communication within 24 hours of each disclosure date with the Commission.  For more information on Electioneering Communications, please go to https://ags.hawaii.gov/campaign/electioneering-communications/ and check out the Electioneering Communication Flow Chart to see if you need to file a Statement of Information for Electioneering Communication.