FPPC compliance
for political mailers
California political mail has more rules than most candidates' staff realize. A missed disclaimer or wrong-formatted top-two contributor box can earn a treasurer an FPPC complaint.
What every California mailer must carry
Every piece of mass mailing — defined as 200+ identical pieces over a calendar month — must carry a paid-for-by line identifying the committee that paid. Format: "Paid for by [Committee Name], [Address or FPPC ID#]" in legible 6-point type minimum.
Independent expenditure committee mailers must list the names of the top two contributors of $50,000+ to the committee in a contrasting box on the front side. The box must be at least 5% of the piece's surface and use 10-point bold or larger.
Mailers from a candidate-controlled committee carry the candidate's name and the committee name on the disclosure line. "Paid for by [Candidate Name] for [Office] [Year], FPPC ID# [number]" is the standard format.
Slate mailers — pieces that recommend multiple candidates or measures — require the "Notice to Voters" disclosure box and an asterisk next to any candidate/measure that paid to be included. The slate mailer organization's name and contact info must appear in the box.
Yes/No on measure committees use the standard paid-for-by line. Major-funder disclosure may apply if a single contributor exceeds 50% of the committee's funding for the year.
Disclaimers must appear in the same language as the body of the mailer. A piece written in Spanish carries the paid-for-by line in Spanish; bilingual pieces require the disclaimer in both languages.
The disclaimer lines we use
- What happens if I miss the disclaimer?
- Missing or incorrect disclaimer is the most common FPPC complaint against political mail. Fines start at $500 per piece type and can escalate. We review every California political mailer for disclaimer compliance before press as part of every quote — at no extra cost.
- Do candidate-controlled committee mailers need top-two contributor boxes?
- No — top-two contributor boxes are required on independent expenditure mailers, not candidate-controlled committee mailers. Candidate committees use the standard paid-for-by line.
- Does the FPPC ID number have to appear on the mailer?
- It's required when the committee's address is not used as the identifying location on the disclosure line. Using the FPPC ID# is the common practice because it avoids printing a personal or campaign address.
- What's the minimum legible type size?
- FPPC guidance is 6-point minimum, but practical guidance is 8-point or larger on the mailer face — 6-point is hard to read on coated stock at arm's length and invites complaints from opposing campaigns.
- Do you actually review disclaimers, or is that on me?
- We review every California political mailer for disclaimer compliance before press as part of every quote. If we see an issue — wrong format, missing top-two contributor box, wrong language — we flag it before plates burn, not after.
Need a compliant California mailer?
We review every California political mailer for disclaimer compliance before press — at no extra cost.