This year, Missouri’s Republican and Democrat political parties will be hosting caucuses to determine how delegates will represent the state at the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention in the summer.
While not a “legal notice”, the recommended practice if your newspaper receives an advertisement for a political party’s county caucus is to treat it as a “political ad,” according to Missouri Press Association Hotline Attorney Jean Maneke.
Per Missouri statute (RSMo 130.031), political ads should include a “paid for by” attribution line.
Maneke suggests including the “paid for by” attribution line is the simplest way to protect your newspaper from running afoul of the Missouri Ethics Commission and potentially facing fines. She adds that you make the rules about what runs in your newspaper and are responsible for its content.
More information about “paid for by” requirements is available from the MEC here: https://www.mec.mo.gov/WebDocs/PDF/CampaignFinance/CampaignMaterialsIdReq.pdf.
Republicans will hold county caucuses March 2, when registered Republicans can make their presidential pick. Information about the Republican caucus process can be found online here: https://missouri.gop/missouri-gop-2024-caucus/.
Sites were supposed to be selected by Friday, Feb. 16. Republicans can pre-register or may register on-site when the doors open at 8 a.m. March 2 and until the caucuses begin at 10 a.m.
Democrats plan to hold their presidential primary March 23, with mail-in voting also available. More information about that process can be found here: https://www.missouridemocrats.org/mdp-primary-information-2024.
Sites for the Democrat caucuses are not yet available on the party’s website. At least one in-person voting site will be selected in each county, with multiple sites located in St. Louis and Kansas City.
If you have a question about an advertisement and its need to include a “paid for by” attribution line, contact Maneke by email at jmaneke@manekelaw.com or by phone at (816) 753-9000.
