MICHIGAN: 3 Things You May Not Know About Political Ads

Regardless of whether you gravitate to the left, the right or the middle - you undoubtedly sometimes feel bombarded with political messaging.

Political ads are an inevitable part of the American experience every election cycle.

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It's not uncommon for some residents to have visceral reactions to political advertising that they strongly agree or disagree with. The ads are doing their jobs - firing up the electorate and getting voters to the polls.

But shouldn't there be rules? Indeed there are. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides very strict guidelines to radio and TV stations regarding political advertising, and there are three things in particular that may help explain what you're hearing and seeing - or moreover, not hearing and seeing.

No Rejection or Censorship

If a candidate is legally qualified to appear on the ballot, then radio and/or TV stations are prohibited by federal law from either censoring or rejecting any ads bought and paid for by that candidate. You know that message at the end of a lot of political ads where the candidate identifies themselves by name and says they "approved this message"? That's where this comes in.

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If an ad is bought and paid for by a third party, such as a political action committee (PAC), the same rules do not apply under federal law.

No Fact-Checking

Candidates can legally claim whatever they want in political ads that they pay for. A legally qualified candidate could pay for an ad saying that Michigan isn't really a state - and radio and/or TV stations would have to air it as-is, according to federal law.

A legally qualified candidate's opponent(s) may choose to purchase ads that point out what they believe are discrepancies or lies, but they are no under obligation to do so.

No Requirement to Cover All Sides

During most election cycles, voters will hear or see plenty of political ads from multiple candidates. Bear in mind that if it seems you're only hearing from one candidate all the time and never from their opponent - that's simply because those are the only ads that have been purchased. If the other side were to buy ads as well, you'd be hearing and seeing them too.

While federal law requires broadcast stations to air any ad paid for by a legally qualified candidate, it does not mandate all sides on an issue be given equal airtime - just equal access to it. Further, it's a mistake to assume that airing of any political ad by a station implies endorsement by that station or its personnel. Again, they don't have any choice in the matter under federal law.

What else does the FCC have to say on the matter? See the rules for yourself here.