State and local law impose disclosure requirements on campaign advertising, including campaign mailers, radio and television ads, telephone, robocalls, and electronic media ads. Additionally, election laws require disclaimers on certain petitions that are circulated for signature. Please reference the Department of Elections Guide to Qualifying San Francisco Initiative Measures for more details.
Advertising Disclosure Charts
When a committee makes an expenditure for a communication, that communication must include a disclaimer to notify the public of who paid for the advertisement. The California Fair Political Practices Commission also recommends including the committee’s ID number on all public campaign materials. In general, disclaimers must include:
“Paid for by [NAME OF COMMITTEE]” and “Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org”
Detailed disclaimer information and the relevant formatting requirements are based on the type of communication and who paid for it, and are summarized in the below charts:
1. Communications by City Candidate Committees for their own Election
2. Independent Expenditure Ads Referring to City Candidates
3. Independent Expenditure Ads on Ballot Measures
4. Independent Expenditure Ads on Ballot Measures (by Candidates and Political Party Committees)
5. Independent Expenditure Ads on Candidates (by Candidates and Political Party Committees)
6. All Non-Independent Expenditure Ads (except Ads by Candidates and Political Party Committees)
7. All Non-Independent Expenditure Ads (by Candidates and Political Party Committees)