Every political advertisement in Florida has to carry a disclaimer. It sounds like a formality, but the disclaimer is the single most common reason a print order gets scrapped and reordered the week before an election. Florida Statute 106.143 is specific about wording, placement, and even font size. Here's what actually has to be on the piece - and where campaigns get it wrong.

The Wording Florida Requires

For a candidate running under their own campaign account, the disclaimer takes one of these forms:

• "Political advertisement paid for and approved by [Candidate Name], [Party], for [Office Sought]."
• For non-partisan races (school board, judicial, most municipal): drop the party - "Political advertisement paid for and approved by [Candidate Name] for [Office Sought]."
• For political committees and PACs: "Paid political advertisement paid for by [Committee Name], [Address]. Independently of any candidate or committee." when applicable.

Size and Placement

The disclaimer has to be legible. Florida doesn't hardcode a point size for print, but the standard test is whether an average person can read it at normal viewing distance. Practical rules the state and the Florida Elections Commission enforce:

• Yard signs: at least 5% of the sign's vertical height, on the front, not the back.
• Palm cards and postcards: readable at arm's length, on at least one side.
• Banners: readable from where the banner is meant to be seen - a stage banner needs a bigger disclaimer than a table cover.
• Stickers and magnets under 6 square inches are generally exempt, but check with your compliance officer before assuming.

Where Campaigns Get in Trouble

1. Forgetting to say "approved by"

Florida requires both "paid for" and "approved by" for a candidate's own materials. Federal-style "Paid for by" alone is not enough. It's the #1 mistake on out-of-state templates.

2. Wrong party affiliation

If you're running as a Democrat, "Republican" on the disclaimer voids the piece. For non-partisan races, listing a party at all creates a violation.

3. Disclaimer on the back of a one-sided piece

A bumper sticker or a single-side large campaign sign has to have the disclaimer on the face voters actually see.

4. Truncated committee name

"Friends of Jane Smith" and "Jane Smith Campaign" are two different registered entities. The name on the disclaimer must exactly match the committee registered with the state.

What Doesn't Need a Disclaimer

Florida exempts a short list of items - small novelties like pens, buttons and stickers under 6 sq in; skywriting; and personal endorsements from private citizens on their own property. Everything a campaign prints and distributes needs one.

What to Do Before You Approve the Proof

• Read the disclaimer out loud. Every word.
• Confirm the committee name against your Division of Elections filing.
• Confirm the office title matches the ballot ("City Commission, Seat 3" - not just "City Commission").
• Zoom to 100% on the proof and confirm the disclaimer is readable at print size.
• Have a second person sign off. Fresh eyes catch what tired eyes miss.

Fifteen minutes of proofing prevents a five-day reprint on 500 campaign banners or 1,000 yard signs.