Chapter 90. Campaign Finance and Political Advertisements
1VAC20-90-10. Definitions. (Reserved)
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 5, eff. December 20, 2012.
1VAC20-90-20. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 5, eff. December 20, 2012; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2020.
1VAC20-90-30. Express advocacy.
When used in Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) and Chapter 9.5 (§ 24.2-955 et seq.) of Title 24.2 of the Code of Virginia, "expressly advocating" or any variation thereof shall mean any communication that uses phrases such as "vote for," "elect," "support," "cast your ballot for," "Smith for Congress," "vote against," "defeat," "reject," or any variation thereof or any communication when taken as a whole and with limited reference to external events, such as the proximity to the election, that could only be interpreted by a reasonable person as containing advocacy of the election or defeat of one or more clearly identified candidates because (i) the electoral portion of the communication is unmistakable, unambiguous, and suggestive of only one meaning and (ii) reasonable minds could not differ as to whether it encourages actions to elect or defeat one or more clearly identified candidates.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2020.
1VAC20-90-40. Disclosure statement requirements; print media advertisements.
A. The following standards apply to print media advertisements under §§ 24.2-956 and 24.2-956.1 of the Code of Virginia.
B. Any disclosure statement required under either § 24.2-956 or 24.2-956.1 of the Code of Virginia must be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner to give the reader notice of the candidate, candidate campaign committee, person, or political committee who paid for and, where required, who authorized the communication. A disclosure statement is not clear and conspicuous if it is difficult to read or if the placement is easily overlooked.
C. The disclosure statement must be of sufficient type size to be clearly readable by the recipient of the communication. A disclosure statement in 12-point type size satisfies the requirements of this subsection when it is used for signs, posters, flyers, newspapers, magazines, or other printed materials that measure no more than 24 inches by 36 inches.
D. The disclosure statement must be contained in a printed box set apart from the other contents of the communication.
E. The disclosure statement must be printed with a reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the disclosure statement. A disclosure statement satisfies the color contrast requirement of this subsection if it is printed in black text on a white background or if the degree of color contrast between the background and the text of the disclosure statement is no less than the color contrast between the background and the largest text used in the communication.
F. The disclosure statement need not appear on the front or cover page of the communication as long as it appears within the communication, except on communications, such as billboards, that contain only a front face.
G. A communication that would require a disclosure statement, if distributed separately, that is included in a package of materials, must contain the required disclosure statement.
Statutory Authority
§§ 24.2-103 and 24.2-956 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 4, eff. November 5, 2025.