Publication checklist
Campaign-law & attribution notes
This project is structured as an independent research/editorial site: it explains records and political claims, includes legitimate criticism, does not solicit donations, and does not contain “vote for,” “vote against,” “elect,” “defeat,” or similar calls to electoral action. That design choice is deliberate, but the legal result still depends on the final content, who pays for it, how it is promoted, and whether there is any coordination.
Federal candidates: uncompensated individual Internet activity
FEC guidance provides an Internet-activity exemption for uncompensated individuals. It expressly includes creating, maintaining, or hosting an election-related website and paying a nominal fee for a website. The exemption is not the same thing as buying paid placement on another person’s website, app, or advertising platform; paid placement can trigger different contribution/expenditure, coordination, and disclaimer rules.
FEC — Understanding ways to support federal candidates ↗
Iowa: political material and express advocacy
The Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board says Iowa Code section 68A.405 and Board rules require a “Paid for by” attribution on covered political material. Its guidance includes websites among possible published political material. Iowa advisory guidance ties the attribution requirement to material designed to expressly advocate nomination, election, or defeat.
If the final site crosses into covered express advocacy and the sponsor is an individual, Iowa’s published guidance says the attribution must include the words “Paid for by,” the individual’s name, and the individual’s address. Do not publish a made-up legal attribution.
If counsel or the Iowa Ethics Board determines an attribution is required for the final site, replace this box in the source with the legally correct sponsor information. No personal address has been invented or embedded in this package.
Iowa independent-expenditure threshold
Iowa Ethics states that an individual or organization spending more than $1,000 in the aggregate on a communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, independently of the candidate or committee, can have an independent-expenditure reporting obligation, including a short filing deadline.
Operational rules for this project
- Keep candidate campaign links informational; do not imply endorsement or authorization.
- Do not coordinate content, timing, targeting, or paid promotion with a candidate or party without reviewing the consequences first.
- Do not accept campaign payment or reimbursement and still describe the project as uncompensated independent activity.
- Recheck attribution/reporting rules before buying search ads, social ads, promoted posts, or other paid placement.
- Keep source records for claims and retain the methodology/fair-criticism sections.
- Review candidate-photo rights separately from campaign-finance rules.
Compliance review date: August 9, 2026.