Commissioner of Political Practices

Promoting confidence, transparency, and accountability in Montana's democratic processes.

Attribution Information

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Attribution Information 

(See Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-225 and 44.11.601(2), ARM for legal details)

All election and electioneering communications are legally required to include attribution that identifies the entity that paid for the communication. 

Who must comply with attribution requirements? 

  1.  Candidates
  2.  Committees
  3.  Individuals who are not candidates 
  4.  Individuals who are not required to register as a political committee

To understand how to report paid communications in campaign finance reports, candidates and committees should reference the Expenditures: Paid Communications page. 

FYI: Candidates who run paid advertisements on Facebook are encouraged to include their full "paid for by" attribution message in the "About" section of their Facebook page, so that this information is available for any individual ad when viewed via the Ads Library under "Ad Details." Read the rest of the latest guidance here. The full attribution message should also be provided for paid Facebook ads as:

  • fixed textual component in the body of an ad;
  • a spoken message at the beginning or end of an ad;
  • an image appearing at the beginning of an ad; or 
  • within the body of a Facebook post that accompanies a paid ad.

For additional information about and examples of Montana's attribution requirements, see COPP's Attribution Brochure

Attribution Information – (See Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-225 and 44.11.601(2), ARM for legal details)

All election and electioneering communications are legally required to include attribution that identifies the entity that paid for the communication. Candidates, committees, and individuals who are not a candidate or individuals who are not required to register as a political committee must comply with attributions requirements. 

What is an election communication?  An "Election communication" means the following forms of communication to support or oppose a candidate or ballot issue:

  1. a paid advertisement broadcast over radio, television, cable, or satellite;
  2. a paid placement of content on the internet or other electronic communication network;
  3. a paid advertisement published in a newspaper or periodical or on a billboard;
  4. a mailing or printed materials; or
  5. a paid texting campaign.

The term does not mean:

  1. an activity or communication for the purpose of encouraging individuals to register to vote or to vote, if that activity or communication does not mention or depict a clearly identified candidate or ballot issue;
  2. a communication that does not support or oppose a candidate or ballot issue;
  3. a bona fide news story, commentary, blog, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, internet website, or other periodical publication of general circulation;
  4. a communication by any membership organization or corporation to its members, stockholders, or employees; or
  5. a communication that the commissioner determines by rule is not an election communication

What is an electioneering communication? An "Electioneering communication" means a paid communication that is publicly distributed by radio, television, cable, satellite, website, newspaper, periodical, billboard, mail, or any other distribution of materials, that is made within 60 days of an election, that does not support or oppose a candidate or ballot issue, that can be received by more than 100 recipients in the district voting on the candidate or ballot issue, and that:

  1. refers to one or more clearly-identified candidates in the election;
  2. depicts the name, image, likeness, or voice of a candidate; or
  3. refers to a political party, ballot issue, or other question on the ballot.

What must the attribution say?

The attribution must clearly identify the name and mailing address of the entity that paid for the communication. Committee attribution must also include the name of the Treasurer.  All attributions must include the words "paid for by" followed by the appropriate identifying information. 

For election materials financed by a candidate or a candidate's campaign, the attribution must include: 

  1. 1. The name and address of the candidate or the name and address of the candidate's campaign;
  2. 2. In partisan elections, candidates must also state their party affiliation or include the party symbol.
  3. * An attribution using the name of the candidate's campaign must include the first and last name of the candidate if the name of the campaign does not include at least the candidate's last name. 
  4. * Additional information, such as the name of the campaign treasurer, may be included with the attribution language, but it is not required. 
  5. * Material that contains information about another candidate's voting record must include all the information specified in 13-35-225(3)(a), MCA
  6. Paid for by Williams for Senate
    P.O. Box 123 Tennis racket and ball(ßparty symbol)
    Helena, MT 59604

For election materials financed by a political committee, the attribution must include: 

  1. 1. The name of the committee;
  2. 2. The name of the committee treasurer; and
  3. 3. The address of either the committee or its treasurer. 
    * In partisan candidate elections, materials financed by a political committee organized on the candidate's behalf must state either the candidate's party affiliation or include the party's symbol. Acceptable party designation guidance is available at 4.11.601(4)(a), ARM.
  4. * Material that contains information about another candidate's voting record must include all the information specified in 13-35-225(3)(a), MCA
  5. * A political committee that is a corporation or a union must also include: 1) the name of the corporation or union, its chief executive officer or equivalent, and the physical address of the corporation or union's principal place of business. 
  6. Paid for by Montanans for Minnows
    Carol Caddis, Treasurer
    1000 Dry Fly Drive
    Helena, MT 59601

    Paid for by Montana Grocery Workers Union
    James Legume, President
    2000 Produce Way
    Helena, MT 59601

For election materials financed by an individual acting on their own behalf, the attribution must include:

  1. 1. The name of the individual who paid for the materials, 
  2. 2. The address of the individual who paid for the materials. 
  3. * Material that contains information about another candidate's voting record must include all the information specified in 13-35-225(3)(a), MCA

Attribution placement

All election materials are required by 13-35-225, MCA to clearly and conspicuously include the appropriate attribution language.  The attribution should be easy to find on the communication, and have a sufficient text size and contrast to be clearly readable.  Attributions on one-sided campaign signs should include the attribution on the printed “front” side of the sign. Read and familiarize yourself with the specific attribution requirements at 44.11.601, ARM

Candidates who run paid advertisements on Facebook are encouraged to include their full "paid for by" attribution message in the "About" section of their Facebook page, so that this information is available for any individual ad when viewed via the Ads Library under "Ad Details." Read the rest of the February 20202 guidance here. The full attribution message should also be provided for paid Facebook ads as: 

- a fixed textual component in the body of an ad, or
- a spoken message at the beginning or end of an ad, or
- an image appearing at the beginning of an ad, or 
- within the body of a Facebook post that accompanies a paid ad, etc.

If your campaign material is too small to include an attribution, you must file a copy of the material or item with the Commissioner of Political Practices with attribution at the time the material is published. Reference 44.11.601(6), ARM and 13-35-225(4), MCA

If you fail to attribute an election communication, the person financing the communication must notify the Commissioner of Political Practices within two days of discovering the error and make every reasonable effort to bring the material into compliance. No materials should be disseminated that are not in compliance. Any communications must be pulled until they have been corrected.

Q: Are paid political texts legal?

A: Certain paid texts, mass texts, or robo-texts without attribution that relate to state or local candidates or issue violates Montana law. A separate federal law called the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is enforced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC accepts complaints about robo-texts and enforces federal law.

On October 19, 2018, the Commissioner sent out this information in response to local concerns over political robotexts. The press release reiterated that Montana law requires that all election communications, electioneering communications, and independent expenditures include an attribution disclosing who the communication is funded by, and contact information for the source (Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-225).  The Commissioner will enforce the requirements of the attribution laws on all political communications including text messages.

Robo-texts are regulated by the federal TCPA law. Under the TCPA, restrictions on political campaign-related robocalls or robotexts vary based on whether a call is delivered to a landline telephone, a cell phone, or certain protected telephone lines such as emergency or toll-free lines, or lines serving hospitals or similar facilities. Political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls, prerecorded voice messages, and text messages, are: 

-Not allowed to cell phones, pagers, or other mobile devices without the called party's prior express consent.
-Not allowed to protected phone lines such as emergency or toll-free lines, or lines serving hospitals or similar facilities, unless made with the called party's prior express consent.
-Allowed when made to landline telephones, even without prior express consent.

Robotexts - text messages generated through autodialing - are considered a type of call and fall under all robocall rules. As text messages generally go to mobile phones, they require the called party's prior express consent if they are generated using autodialing.

Q: Who do I contact if I receive an election communication without attribution?

A: If the materials come from a state or local candidate or ballot issue, contact the candidate, the committee, or the Commissioner of Political Practices at 406-444-2942 or email cpphelp@mt.gov. If the material is for a federal congressional candidate, contact the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Please note that FEC attribution requirements differ from Montana’s statute.

 

Attribution Information for Non-Attributed Materials 

According to 13-35-225(4), MCA, if a document or other article of advertising is too small for the requirements of subsections (1) through (3) of that section to be conveniently included, the candidate responsible for the material or the person financing the communication shall file a copy of the article with the Commissioner of Political Practices, together with the required information or statement, at the time of its public distribution.

The following attribution information has been provided by candidates in compliance with 13-35-225(4).

2024 Attribution Information

       Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights - Text messages

       Convention of States Action - self reported attribution notification - text messages

       Jane Weber - self reported attribution notification - wristbands

       David Marconi- self reported attribution notification - campaign t-shirts

       Lisa Bennett - self reported attribution omission and remedy - newspaper

       Dan Dinstel - self reported attribution omission of partisan affiliation and remedy on future versions - newspaper advertisements 

      David Dickey - self reported attribution notification - campaign cards

       Lukas Shubert - self reported attribution notification - text messages

       Erica Strickland- self reported attribution notification - business cards and name badge

       Rayelynn Brandl - self reported attribution notification - keychains

       Ryan Busse - self reported attribution notification - buttons

       Tom McGillvray - self reported attribution notification - pens

       Michael McKeon - self reported attribution notification - football stress relievers; follow-up

2023 Attribution Information

       David Arends - self reported attribution notification - business cards

       Jodee Etchart - self reported attribution notification - labels

      John Meyer - self reported attribution notification- newspaper ad and stickers

      Lewis & Clark County Democratic Central Committee- self reported attribution  notification- shirts and hats

      Emily Harris- self reported attribution notification - stickers

      Jessica Wicks- self reported attribution notification - buttons

      Shannon Maness- self-reported attribution notification - buttons

      Smarter Monforton Growth- self reported attributon notification- postcards

      Vote Yes for Libraries- self-reported attribution notification - buttons

2022 Attribution Information

Compassion for Montana Families - Newspaper Ad - COPP-2022-CFP-033 attribution notification 

Elizabeth Marum - text message - COPP-2022-CFP-031 Attribution Resolution

Jedediah Hinkle - website - COPP-2022-CFP-026 Attribution Resolution & Self Report

Marc Glines - self reported attribution notification - mailers

Lyn Hellegaard - self reported attribution notification - mailers

Montana Federation Public Employees (MFPE) - self reported attribtion notification - Mailers

Brad Tschida - mailers - COPP-2022-CFP-019, See response 

Pat Flowers - self reported attribution notification - radio spot

Pat Brutosky - self reported attribution notification - buttons

Andrea Getts - self reported attribution notification - buttons 2

Seth Broesder - self reported attribution notification - buttons/t-shirts

Andrea Getts - self reported attribution notification - buttons

Jodee Etchart - self reported attribution notification - labels

Emma Kerr-Carpenter - self reported attribution notification - mailers

Andrea Getts - self reported attribution notification - stickers

Matthew Henry - self reported attribution notification - pencils

Convention of States Political Fund - mailers - COPP-2022-CFP-011 see Response

Marty Malone - self reported attribution notification - cap

Sheila Crowe - self reported attribution notification - pens

Catherine McKenzie - signs - COPP-2022-CFP-007

Joan Mell - self reported attribution notication - bottle openers

Joan Mell - campaign cards - COPP-2022-CFP-006

Lois Fitzpatrick - signs and door hangers COPP-2022-CFP-005A

Michael Gehl - campaign material COPP-2022-CFP-004

Denley Loge - Attribution Notification - Sign

Pat Brutosky - Self reported attribution notification buttons update 

Jessica Bostock - Attribution notification - door hanger

Corydon Albrecht - Attribution notification - Flyer 

Park City PTA - self reported attribution notification - signs and flyer

Lauren Dee - self reported attribution notification - signs and flyer

Pat Brutosky - self reported attribution notification - signs and buttons

Pat Roos - self reported attribution notification - stickers and badge 

Tom Grimsrud - Self reported attribution notification - decals

Michele Levine - Self Reported Attribution Notification - Magnet, Notepad, Shirt

Ron Van Hoosear - Self Reported Attribution Notification - Card

David August - Self Reported Attribution Notification - Shirt 

Jeff Ruffatto - Self Reported Attribution Notification - Card  

 

2021 Attribution Information

Sheryl Wambsgans - Self Reported Attribution Notification - Sticker 

Troy McGee - Self Reported Attribution Notification envelope;  Attribution notification, Hat, Shirt

Belegrade Library Foundation - Self Reported Attribution notification, Postcard 

Quality Life Billings - April 2021 Letter complete attribution correction

2020 Attribution Information

ACLU - Text Messaging - Reproductive Freedom Cooney October 31 Attribution

RGA Right Direction PAC - Text Messaging - (Several) Cooney, Gianforte October 29 - Nov 1 Attribution

RGA Right Direction PAC - Text Messaging - Tremendous Gianforte Oct. 29, 2020 Attribution 

RGA Right Direction PAC - Text Messaging (Several) - October 9 - 27, 2020 'COPP-2020-CFP-049' Attribution 

RGA Right Direction PAC - Text Message - 7 Days Gianforte Oct. 27, 2020 Attribution

Terry Dennis Mailers 'COPP-2020-CFP-045' Attribution 

ACLU Text material 1, Text Material 2, Attribution 

Jesi Stahl Face mask 

Greg Gianforte multi-page material: COPP-2020-CFP-031Material; Resolution

American Prosperity Group 'COPP-2020-CFP-007

Kimberly Dudik 'Protects Others' mailer

Mike Cooney; 'I Like Mike' buttons 

Albert Olszewski; Circular card  and COPP response 

Jon Bennion; Lapel stickers and hand carved sign; Badge

I-187 2020; Button Sticker, image

Putnam et al; Digital Ads 

2019 Attribution Information

Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee, 4/9/19 Lincoln Reagan dinner, keychain, shot and wine glass

2018 General Election  - October 2018 

YES for Responsible Mining Oct 13 SMS Communication

Montana Women Votes - I-185 SMS Communication

Montana Human Rights Network - I-185 SMS Communication 

Gallatin County Democrats - Sticky Notes 'Your Voice is Your Vote'

November 2018

Chase Reynolds - Intro Mailer