# Political clipping checklists

Before a paid political clip goes up, check 3 things: that you may work on the campaign, which disclaimer it needs and where, and whether the app allows paid political posts at all.

As of 11:23 UTC on 27 Oct 2026. Page: https://clippingalpha.com/learn/political-campaign-checklists

General information, not legal advice. Laws and app policies as we read them on 24 Oct 2026.

## For clippers

1. Check that you may join: a US citizen or green card holder. Anyone else is a foreign national under US law and stays out of a campaign's decisions. [52 U.S.C. § 30121](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/30121), [11 CFR § 110.20](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-11/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-110/section-110.20)
2. Check the app. TikTok bans paid political posts. On Instagram and Facebook the campaign must be authorized by Meta for political ads. [TikTok: branded content policy](https://www.tiktok.com/legal/page/global/bc-policy/en), [Meta: branded content policies](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/221149188908254)
3. Turn on the app's label: Paid partnership on Instagram and Facebook, the paid promotion box on YouTube. [Meta: branded content policies](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/221149188908254), [YouTube: paid promotion](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/154235)
4. On a California campaign, put the paid post disclaimer in the caption, word for word: "The author was paid by \[name of committee and committee identification number\] in connection with this posting." [Cal. Gov. Code § 84513](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/legal_div/political_reform_act/2026/2026_Act_Final.pdf), [FPPC staff memo, June 2024](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/agendadocuments/general-items/2024/june/7.0-staff-memo.pdf)
5. Copy the campaign's own disclaimer exactly as the brief gives it, and keep it readable. [Cal. Gov. Code § 84513](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/legal_div/political_reform_act/2026/2026_Act_Final.pdf), [11 CFR § 110.11](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-11/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-110/section-110.11)
6. Keep the disclaimer and the label on for as long as the post is up. No rule says you may take them off. [Cal. Gov. Code § 84513](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/legal_div/political_reform_act/2026/2026_Act_Final.pdf)
7. Do not change what the footage says. AI that makes a real person say or do something they did not needs an AI disclosure, and TikTok bans it for endorsements. [Cal. Gov. Code § 84514](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/legal_div/political_reform_act/2026/2026_Act_Final.pdf), [YouTube: AI disclosure](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/14328491), [TikTok: AI content](https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en/policies-and-engagement/supporting-responsible-transparent-ai-generated-content)
8. Do not pay to boost the post yourself. A boosted post becomes a public communication that needs the full federal disclaimer. [89 FR 196](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/02/2023-27908/technological-modernization), [11 CFR § 110.11](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-11/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-110/section-110.11)

## For campaigns and agencies

1. Confirm citizenship or green card status before anyone gets access to strategy, targeting or message decisions. [11 CFR § 110.20](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-11/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-110/section-110.20), [FEC: foreign nationals](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/foreign-nationals)
2. Contract through a US entity, led by US citizens or green card holders, for anything that touches decisions. [52 U.S.C. § 30121](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/30121), [FEC: foreign nationals](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/foreign-nationals)
3. Pay every vendor and paid creator the usual and normal rate. A business's free or cut-price work is a contribution in kind, an individual's unpaid volunteer time is not. [11 CFR § 100.52](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-11/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-100/subpart-B/section-100.52), [FEC AO 2018-11](https://www.fec.gov/data/legal/advisory-opinions/2018-11), [FEC: volunteer activity](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/volunteer-activity)
4. Get authorized by Meta before any paid Instagram or Facebook post, and never pay for TikTok posts. [Meta: get authorized](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/208949576550051), [TikTok: branded content policy](https://www.tiktok.com/legal/page/global/bc-policy/en)
5. Tell every paid poster in writing about the disclaimer, with the exact words and where they go. California requires that notice. [Cal. Gov. Code § 84513](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/legal_div/political_reform_act/2026/2026_Act_Final.pdf), [FPPC disclosure chart](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/tad/fact_sheets/political_ads/ad_disclaimers_chart_1_final.pdf)
6. Put Paid for by on every ad you pay a platform to run or boost, adapted where a full one cannot fit. [11 CFR § 110.11](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-11/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-110/section-110.11), [Cal. Gov. Code § 84504.6](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/legal_div/political_reform_act/2026/2026_Act_Final.pdf)
7. Keep records: a copy of each ad, the payees and handles, and agency payments of $500 or more passed on to your reports. [2 CCR § 18401](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/legal_div/regulations/02_new/august-2026/New_18401_082426.pdf), [2 CCR § 18421.5](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/legal_div/regulations/01_index/chapter_04/18421.5._Reporting_an_Expenditure_for_Paid_Online_Communications.pdf), [Cal. Gov. Code § 84303](https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/legal_div/political_reform_act/2026/2026_Act_Final.pdf)
8. Report each payee over $200 in an election cycle to the FEC, with a clear purpose. [11 CFR § 104.3](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-11/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-104/section-104.3)

## Common questions

### Who can clip for a US political campaign?

US citizens and green card holders, freely. Anyone else is a foreign national under 52 U.S.C. § 30121, barred from spending on US elections and, under 11 CFR § 110.20, from a campaign's decisions.

### Where does the California disclaimer go?

With the post itself. The FPPC accepted it in the caption under 2 CCR § 18450.10, as long as an average viewer can read it.

### What records should a political campaign keep?

A copy of each ad, every payee and handle, and agency payments of $500 or more. California's 2 CCR § 18401 asks for ad copies kept 4 years.