Elections & terms
electioneering communication
A broadcast ad that names a federal candidate within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election, whether or not it says to vote for anyone.
In full
The category was created to capture ads that influence elections without using explicit words like vote for. Spenders above a threshold must report the amounts and, in most circumstances, the donors who funded them. Citizens United struck down the ban on corporate and union funding of these ads while leaving the disclosure requirements standing.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.