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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79350</law_id><section_number>24.2-955.1</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="24.2">Elections</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9.5">Political Campaign Advertisements</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;Advertisement&#x201D; means any message appearing in the <span class="dictionary">print media</span>, on <span class="dictionary">television</span>, on <span class="dictionary">radio</span>, or on an <span class="dictionary">online platform</span>, that constitutes a contribution or expenditure under Chapter 9.3 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Elections to which chapter applicable; chapter exclusive" href="/24.2-945/">24.2-945</a> et seq.). &#x201C;Advertisement&#x201D; shall not include novelty items authorized by a candidate including, but not limited to, pens, pencils, magnets, and buttons to be attached to wearing apparel.
		&#x201C;Authorized by ______&#x201D; means the same as &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">authorization</span>&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/24.2-945.1/">24.2-945.1</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Campaign telephone calls</span>&#x201D; means a series of telephone calls or text messages, electronic or otherwise, made (i) to 25 or more telephone numbers in the Commonwealth, (ii) during the 180 days before a general or <span class="dictionary">special election</span> or during the 90 days before a <span class="dictionary">primary</span> or other political party nominating event, (iii) conveying or soliciting information relating to any candidate or political party participating in the election, <span class="dictionary">primary</span>, or other nominating event, and (iv) under an agreement to compensate the telephone callers.
		&#x201C;Candidate&#x201D; means &#x201C;candidate&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/24.2-101/">24.2-101</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Candidate campaign committee</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;campaign committee&#x201D; means &#x201C;campaign committee&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/24.2-945.1/">24.2-945.1</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Coordinated</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">coordination</span>&#x201D; means an expenditure that is made (i) at the express request or suggestion of a candidate, a candidate&#x2019;s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee or (ii) with <span class="dictionary">material</span> involvement of the candidate, a candidate&#x2019;s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee in devising the strategy, content, means of dissemination, or timing of the expenditure.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Conspicuous</span>&#x201D; means so written, displayed, or communicated that a reasonable person ought to have noticed it.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Full-screen</span>&#x201D; means the only picture appearing on the <span class="dictionary">television</span> screen during the oral <span class="dictionary">disclosure statement</span> that (i) contains the disclosing person, (ii) occupies all visible space on the <span class="dictionary">television</span> screen, and (iii) contains the image of the disclosing person that occupies at least 50% of the vertical height of the <span class="dictionary">television</span> screen.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Independent expenditure</span>&#x201D; means &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">independent expenditure</span>&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/24.2-945.1/">24.2-945.1</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Name of candidate</span>&#x201D; means (i) the full name of the candidate as it appears on the statement of qualification filed pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Statement of qualification as requirement of candidacy" href="/24.2-501/">24.2-501</a> or as it will appear on the ballot or (ii) the first name, middle name, or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">nickname</span>&#x201D; of the candidate as it appears on his statement of qualification and a last name of the candidate as it appears on his statement of qualification.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Occurrence</span>&#x201D; means one broadcast of a <span class="dictionary">radio</span> or <span class="dictionary">television</span> political campaign advertisement.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Online platform</span>&#x201D; means any public-facing website, web application, or digital application, including a social network, ad network, or search engine, that sells <span class="dictionary">advertisements</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Online political advertisement</span>&#x201D; means an advertisement that is placed or promoted for a fee on an <span class="dictionary">online platform</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Online political advertiser</span>&#x201D; means any person who purchases an advertisement from an <span class="dictionary">online platform</span> or promotes an advertisement on an <span class="dictionary">online platform</span> for a fee.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Political action committee</span>&#x201D; means &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">political action committee</span>&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/24.2-945.1/">24.2-945.1</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Political committee</span>&#x201D; means &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">political committee</span>&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/24.2-945.1/">24.2-945.1</a>.
		&#x201C;Political party&#x201D; has the same meaning as &#x201C;party&#x201D; or &#x201C;political party&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/24.2-101/">24.2-101</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Political party committee</span>&#x201D; means any state <span class="dictionary">political party committee</span>, congressional district <span class="dictionary">political party committee</span>, county or city <span class="dictionary">political party committee</span>, or organized political party group of elected officials. The term shall not include any other organization or auxiliary associated with or using the name of a political party.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Print media</span>&#x201D; means billboards, cards, newspapers, newspaper inserts, magazines, printed <span class="dictionary">material</span> disseminated through the mail, pamphlets, fliers, bumper stickers, periodicals, websites, electronic mail, non-video or non-audio messages placed or promoted for a fee on an <span class="dictionary">online platform</span>, <span class="dictionary">yard signs</span>, and outdoor advertising facilities. If a single <span class="dictionary">print media</span> advertisement consists of multiple pages, folds, or faces, the disclosure requirement of this section applies only to one page, fold, or face.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Radio</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">radio</span> broadcast station that is subject to the provisions of 47 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;315 and 317.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Scan line</span>&#x201D; means a standard term of measurement used in the electronic media industry calculating a certain area in a <span class="dictionary">television</span> advertisement.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Sponsor</span>&#x201D; means a candidate, <span class="dictionary">candidate campaign committee</span>, <span class="dictionary">political committee</span>, or person that purchases an advertisement.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Telephone call</span>&#x201D; means any single <span class="dictionary">telephone call</span> or text message, electronic or otherwise, that when combined with other telephone calls or text messages constitutes <span class="dictionary">campaign telephone calls</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Television</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">television</span> broadcast station, cable <span class="dictionary">television</span> system, wireless-cable multipoint distribution system, satellite company, or telephone company transmitting video programming that is subject to the provisions of 47 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;315 and 317.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Unobscured</span>&#x201D; means that the only printed <span class="dictionary">material</span> that may appear on the <span class="dictionary">television</span> screen is a visual <span class="dictionary">disclosure statement</span> required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, and that nothing is blocking the view of the disclosing person&#x2019;s face.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Yard sign</span>&#x201D; means a sign paid for or distributed by a candidate, campaign committee, or <span class="dictionary">political committee</span> to be placed on public or private property. <span class="dictionary">Yard signs</span> paid for or distributed prior to July 1, 2015, shall not be subject to the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Requirements for print media advertisements sponsored by a candidate campaign committee" href="/24.2-956/">24.2-956</a> and <a class="law" title="Requirements for print media advertisements sponsored by a person or political committee, other than a candidate campaign committee" href="/24.2-956.1/">24.2-956.1</a>.</p></section></text><history>2002, c. 487, &#xA7; 24.2-942; 2003, c. 237; 2006, cc. 787, 892; 2015, c. 573; 2020, cc. 551, 554, 615.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
