Political campaigns must navigate a complex maze of rules—disclaimers, finance reporting, data privacy, messaging, and local laws. Overlooking any requirement can trigger fines, legal challenges, or significant credibility damage. This section highlights the most frequent compliance pitfalls and provides effective fixes to keep your campaign onside and focused on winning.

1. Missing or Incorrect Disclaimers on Ads and Mail

At the federal level, 11 CFR 110.11 mandates that every public communication “clearly state” who paid for and authorized it. The FEC’s website reminds committees that digital posts, banner ads, and emails count as “public communications.” States often add stricter size or placement rules—California demands 12-point type on the front of any postcard. Missing lines can lead to takedown orders, fines, or media stories framing your team as sloppy or dishonest.

Fix: Draft a one-line master disclaimer for each entity and drop it into standardized templates—one for mail, one for social graphics, one for video slates. Lock those templates so staff can’t delete the line to “save space.” Run a final art checklist before every upload or print order.

2. Improper Campaign Finance Reporting

Late or erroneous FEC filings routinely headline the Commission’s weekly enforcement press releases. In 2024 a midsize House committee paid a negotiated settlement after under-reporting bundled contributions from a leadership PAC. Mistakes often stem from rushing data entry or misunderstanding state limits on aggregate receipts.

Fix: Use professional compliance software (NGP VAN, Aristotle, Anedot) and build a calendar that reminds treasurers of every filing deadline two weeks in advance. Double-check donation source codes and contributor totals before hitting “submit,” and cross-train a backup staffer so knowledge isn’t siloed.

3. Misusing Voter Data or Breaking Privacy Laws

Texting voters who never opted in, buying “scraped” cell numbers, or storing donor files on unencrypted drives can violate CCPA, GDPR, or new biometric privacy laws. America Pac, a Trump-aligned group, is currently under investigation in Michigan for alleged voter-data misuse connected to an online registration tool.

Fix: Collect data only from trusted vendors and confirm contracts guarantee consent. Provide clear opt-out links in every email or SMS, post a public privacy policy, and encrypt all PII with two-factor authentication. Audit lists quarterly and purge stale records.

4. False or Misleading Messaging

Unsubstantiated policy claims or fake endorsements risk defamation suits, FTC complaints, or platform removal. The Heritage Foundation’s Election Fraud Map tracks hundreds of legal actions tied to misleading election statements.

Fix: Adopt a “trust but verify” process: comms staff must attach a source URL or citation for every factual statement. Legal reviews any comparative ad—especially ones naming an opponent—before release. Keep documentation in a shared folder for quick defense if challenged.

5. Ignoring Local Jurisdiction Rules

The petition fraud that derailed the Michigan governor’s race happened because contractors ignored state signature guidelines. Likewise, counties can require specific door-to-door permits or impose early reporting thresholds for independent expenditures.

Fix: Before launching field ops, pull a jurisdiction checklist from resources like Ballotpedia’s petition-law tracker or your state’s election board. Assign one staffer to own the local-law sheet and update it after every clerk’s bulletin.

6. Failing to Train Volunteers and Field Teams

Well-meaning volunteers can break rules they never knew existed: snapping polling-place selfies, filling out petition lines for relatives, or posting non-public donor info online.

Fix: Conduct mandatory onboarding webinars, hand out quick-reference cards summarizing “dos and don’ts,” and require signatures confirming comprehension. Reinforce key points at weekly field huddles.

7. Skipping Legal Review Before Campaign Launches

Creative teams under deadline sometimes bypass counsel for “small” edits, not realizing a font change pushed the disclaimer below minimum size.

Fix: Insert legal checkpoints into the project-management tool (Asana, Monday, Basecamp) so no task can close without a legal checkbox ticked. Emergency content follows a fast-track Slack or text protocol where counsel reviews and approves with a timestamp.