Political Mail Disclaimer Rules: Missouri, Illinois & Federal
St. Louis, MO · A union printer's plain-language guide to “paid for by”
Every piece of campaign mail needs a disclaimer that says who paid for it. The exact wording depends on the race and who is behind the piece. Here is how the federal, Missouri, and Illinois rules actually work — in language a campaign treasurer or designer can use.
This is general information, not legal advice. Disclaimer rules change and the details depend on your specific race, committee, and message. Always confirm the current requirements with the Federal Election Commission, the Missouri Ethics Commission, or the Illinois State Board of Elections, and run your piece past your campaign-finance counsel before printing.
What Is a Political Mail Disclaimer?
A political mail disclaimer is the “paid for by” line on a campaign postcard, mailer, door hanger, or flyer that tells the reader who paid for it. It exists so voters know the source of the message instead of guessing. Skip it, get the wording wrong, or bury it where no one can read it, and you risk a complaint, a fine, or — worse during crunch time — a reprint.
Which rules apply comes down to one question: what office is on the ballot? Federal races — U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and President — follow the Federal Election Commission's rules. State and local races in Missouri and Illinois follow state law. Many campaigns run both kinds of mail in the same cycle, so it pays to know all three frameworks.
The good news: the core idea is the same everywhere. Name who paid, say it clearly, and put it where a voter can find it. The rest is detail — and the detail is below.
Federal Rules: The FEC “Paid For By” Requirements
For communications about federal candidates, the disclaimer rules live in 11 CFR 110.11. Federal law sorts political mail into three buckets based on who paid and who authorized the piece — and each bucket has its own required wording.
Paid for AND authorized by the candidate
The candidate's own authorized committee pays for and approves the piece. The committee name alone is enough.
Authorized by the candidate, paid for by someone else
A PAC, party committee, or other person pays, but the candidate authorized it. Name the payer and add the authorizing committee.
NOT authorized by any candidate (independent expenditure)
An independent group acts on its own. Federal rules require the not-authorized line PLUS the payer’s full name and a permanent street address, telephone number, or website.
Independent expenditures and PACs: if no candidate authorized the piece, federal rules require the “not authorized by any candidate” line and the payer's full name plus a permanent street address, telephone number, or website. That contact information is not optional on not-authorized federal mail.
Federal Formatting Rules for Printed Mail
Federal rules do not just govern the words — they govern how the disclaimer looks on the printed piece. For mail and other printed materials, the disclaimer has to clear three formatting bars.
Clear and Readable Type
The disclaimer must be of sufficient type size to be clearly readable. Federal rules give a safe harbor of 12-point type for printed pieces no larger than 24 by 36 inches — but bigger pieces need bigger type.
A Printed Box, Set Apart
Federal rules require the disclaimer to sit in a printed box set apart from the rest of the content. The FEC has fined committees for burying the line instead of boxing it.
Reasonable Color Contrast
The disclaimer must print with a reasonable degree of color contrast between the text and the background. White-on-yellow or pale-gray-on-white can fail the clear-and-conspicuous standard.
These three rules — readable type, a box set apart, and real color contrast — are the ones campaigns most often trip over when they design fast and proof faster. They are also the easiest for an opponent to photograph and report. Build them in from the first draft.
Missouri Political Mail Disclaimer Requirements
For state and local races in Missouri, the controlling law is RSMo 130.031. It requires that any printed matter about a candidate or ballot measure identify — in a clear and conspicuous manner, on the face of the piece — who paid for it, with the words “Paid for by.”
What counts as proper identification in Missouri
- Committee-paid pieces: print the committee name as registered, plus the name and title of the committee treasurer serving when the piece was paid for.
- Individually paid pieces: print the individual's name and mailing address. If more than five individuals pay, the piece can read “For a list of other sponsors contact:” followed by one responsible person's name and address (who must keep the records).
A rule that lands on the printer
Missouri law specifically says a printer may not accept or complete the work until the printed matter is properly identified. That is why a Missouri printer who knows the rules will flag a missing disclaimer before your job runs — it is written into the statute, not just good service.
The Missouri Ethics Commission administers and enforces campaign finance law, including these requirements. Confirm the current rules and any exemptions with the Commission before you print.
Illinois Campaign Disclaimer Rules
Illinois handles disclosure under 10 ILCS 5/9-9.5. When a political committee pays for a pamphlet, circular, handbill, print ad, or similar communication that either names a candidate in the upcoming election (without that candidate's permission) or advocates for or against a public-policy question, the name of the political committee that paid for it must be clearly identified within the communication.
In practice, Illinois committees satisfy this with the same kind of “paid for by” line you would use in Missouri — leading with the committee name so the source is unmistakable. The statute carves out an exception for scientific opinion surveys conducted by phone, which do not require the disclosure.
The Illinois State Board of Elections administers campaign disclosure. Because thresholds and committee-registration rules can affect what is required, confirm your specific obligations with the Board — especially if you are an individual or a newly formed committee.
Federal vs. Missouri vs. Illinois at a Glance
A quick side-by-side. The details live in the sections above — use this to spot which framework your piece falls under.
| Jurisdiction | Citation | Applies To | What It Requires | Enforced By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal (FEC) | 11 CFR 110.11 | U.S. House, U.S. Senate, President; federal independent expenditures | "Paid for by" + payer; "and authorized by" or "not authorized by any candidate"; not-authorized pieces add address/phone/website | Federal Election Commission |
| Missouri | RSMo 130.031 | State and local candidates and ballot measures in Missouri | "Paid for by" on the face; committee name + treasurer name and title; individuals add mailing address | Missouri Ethics Commission |
| Illinois | 10 ILCS 5/9-9.5 | Committee communications naming a candidate or advocating a policy question | Committee name clearly identified within the communication | Illinois State Board of Elections |
Summary only — not a substitute for the statutes or guidance from each agency.
Where Does the Disclaimer Go on a Political Postcard?
There is no single required spot — the standard is that it be clear and conspicuous. Most campaigns place the “paid for by” line in the address panel near the postal indicia or along the bottom edge of the design, in its own box. Here is the layout we recommend on a standard mailer.
Address side of a typical postcard
Boxed, readable type, strong contrast, clear of postal zones
Box it and set it apart. Federal printed-mail rules require a printed box separated from the rest of the content — and it reads as professional everywhere else, too.
Keep it readable. Use a type size a voter can actually read at arm's length, on a clean background with strong contrast.
Mind the postal clear zones. The barcode and address areas have to stay clear, so plan the disclaimer's position around them from the start.
Disclaimer Compliance Checklist
Run through this before any political file goes to press. Print it and tape it to the monitor during proofing season.
- 1Confirm whether your race is federal (FEC) or state/local (RSMo 130.031 in Missouri, 10 ILCS 5/9-9.5 in Illinois).
- 2Choose the correct "paid for by" wording for who actually paid and who authorized the piece.
- 3For independent / not-authorized federal pieces, add the payer’s full name and a street address, phone, or website.
- 4For Missouri committee pieces, include the registered committee name and the treasurer’s name and title.
- 5For Illinois committee pieces, make sure the committee name is clearly identified within the communication.
- 6Put the disclaimer in its own box, in readable type, with strong color contrast.
- 7Keep the line out of postal clear zones and off busy background art.
- 8Have your campaign-finance counsel or compliance staff sign off before the file goes to press.
How MCI Helps Keep Your Mail Compliant
We are a printer, not a law firm — so we will never tell you we “certify” your campaign-finance compliance. What we do is catch the obvious problems before they cost you a reprint, and produce mail that holds up to an opponent's scrutiny.
Disclaimer file review
On political work, we flag a missing or obviously incomplete "paid for by" line before the job runs — as Missouri law directs printers to do.
Union bug on every political job
A union shop since 1984. The union bug goes on your political mail at no extra charge — the other half of "what goes on the piece."
Print and mail under one roof
Press, mail house, and USPS induction in the same St. Louis building. Fewer handoffs, fewer chances for a late-stage error.
WBE certified
Woman-owned and WBE certified, so your print spend can count toward supplier-diversity goals while staying compliant.
Planning a Missouri or Illinois mail program? Pair this guide with our political postcard printing page and our union printing page for the full “what goes on the piece” picture. Most quotes returned within 4 hours.
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Political Mail Disclaimer FAQs
What are the political mail disclaimer rules?▼
Political mail disclaimer rules require most campaign mail to carry a "paid for by" statement identifying who paid for the piece. Federal races (U.S. House, U.S. Senate, President) follow the Federal Election Commission rules in 11 CFR 110.11. State and local races follow state law — in Missouri that is RSMo 130.031, and in Illinois it is 10 ILCS 5/9-9.5. The disclaimer must be clear, readable, and on the piece itself. This page is a plain-language overview; always confirm the current requirements with the FEC, the Missouri Ethics Commission, or the Illinois State Board of Elections, and your own campaign-finance counsel.
What does the "paid for by" disclaimer need to say?▼
At minimum, a compliant disclaimer names who paid for the communication. For a candidate committee, that is the registered committee name (for example, "Paid for by the Smith for Senate Committee"). If a piece is paid for by a PAC or party committee but authorized by the candidate, it adds "and authorized by" the candidate committee. If the piece is not authorized by any candidate — an independent expenditure or issue piece — federal rules require it to say "not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee" and to add the payer's full name plus a permanent street address, phone number, or website. State rules add their own details, such as Missouri's requirement to name the committee treasurer.
What are Missouri's political mail disclaimer requirements?▼
Missouri's RSMo 130.031 requires that printed matter about a candidate or ballot measure identify, in a clear and conspicuous manner on the face of the piece, who paid for it with the words "Paid for by." For a committee, it is sufficient to print the registered committee name plus the name and title of the committee treasurer serving when the piece was paid for. For individuals, print the name(s) and mailing address(es); if more than five individuals pay, the piece can say "For a list of other sponsors contact:" followed by one responsible person's name and address. Missouri law also states that a printer may not complete the work until the matter is properly identified. The Missouri Ethics Commission enforces these rules — verify current requirements with them.
What are Illinois campaign disclaimer rules?▼
Under Illinois 10 ILCS 5/9-9.5, when a political committee pays for a pamphlet, circular, handbill, print ad, or similar communication that names a candidate in the upcoming election (without that candidate's permission) or advocates for or against a public-policy question, the name of the political committee that paid for it must be clearly identified within the communication. There is an exception for scientific opinion-survey phone calls. The Illinois State Board of Elections enforces campaign disclosure — confirm the current rules and any thresholds with them before you print.
Where does the disclaimer go on a political postcard?▼
There is no single mandated spot, but the disclaimer must be clear and conspicuous — not hidden. On a postcard, the "paid for by" line most often sits in the address panel near the indicia or along the bottom edge of the design, set in its own box. Federal rules for printed mail require the disclaimer to sit in a printed box set apart from the rest of the content, in readable type, with reasonable color contrast. Keep it off busy backgrounds and out of the postal clear zones. We review placement on every political piece before it goes to press.
What is the difference between "authorized by" and "not authorized by any candidate"?▼
The wording signals who is behind the piece. "Paid for and authorized by" (or "Paid for by [committee] and authorized by [candidate committee]") means the candidate's campaign is responsible for the communication. "Paid for by [payer] and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee" means it is an independent expenditure — a PAC, party, or other group acting on its own. Under federal rules, the not-authorized version must also include the payer's full name and a permanent street address, telephone number, or website. Using the wrong line can misstate who is accountable for the piece.
Do federal disclaimer rules apply to my local Missouri or Illinois race?▼
Generally, the federal FEC rules in 11 CFR 110.11 apply to communications about federal candidates (U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and President) and to federal independent expenditures. A purely local or state race — mayor, city council, county office, state legislature, judicial, or a state ballot measure — follows state law: RSMo 130.031 in Missouri and 10 ILCS 5/9-9.5 in Illinois. Some pieces touch both (for example, a slate card listing federal and local candidates), so when in doubt, apply the stricter standard and confirm with the relevant agency and your counsel.
Does MCI check my disclaimer before printing campaign mail?▼
Yes. As part of our file review on political work, we flag a missing or obviously incomplete "paid for by" line before the job runs — Missouri law actually directs printers not to complete the work until the piece is properly identified. We are not your campaign-finance attorney and we do not certify legal compliance, but as a St. Louis union shop printing Missouri and Illinois campaign mail since 1984, we know what a compliant disclaimer looks like and we will raise a flag rather than print a piece with the line left off. Call us at (314) 849-7228 to talk through your mail program.