What are the requirements for political advertising?
The battle over campaign finance reform caused a change in the political advertising disclaimer that must be put on any election-related newspaper advertisement. Ads placed by candidates and political committees must now contain language that states: • Who paid for the ad • The address of the person or entity paying for the ad • That the advertising funds are regulated funds Michigan law also requires that an ad indicate whether it is or is not paid for by a candidate. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that individuals who are not candidates or members of regulated political committees cannot be required by the government to identify themselves as the advertiser. The law does not require an independent advertiser to list who placed the ad. However, a newspaper may formulate its own policy for the sake of its readers requiring identification of the person placing the ad. Certainly the newspaper needs such information for its bills and readers will find useful the credentials of the person
