§ 3517.105Identification of source of political advertising

(A)(1) As used in this section, "public political advertising" means advertising to the general
public through a broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, poster, yard sign, or outdoor
advertising facility, by direct mail, or by any other means of advertising to the general public.
(2) For purposes of this section and section 3517.20 of the Revised Code, a person is a
member of a political action committee if the person makes one or more contributions to that
political action committee, and a person is a member of a political contributing entity if the
person makes one or more contributions to, or pays dues, membership fees, or other
assessments to, that political contributing entity.
(B)(1) Whenever a candidate, a campaign committee, a political action committee or political
contributing entity with ten or more members, or a legislative campaign fund makes an
independent expenditure, or whenever a political action committee or political contributing
entity with fewer than ten members makes an independent expenditure in excess of one
hundred dollars for a local candidate, in excess of two hundred fifty dollars for a candidate for
the office of member of the general assembly, or in excess of five hundred dollars for a
statewide candidate, for the purpose of financing communications advocating the election or
defeat of an identified candidate or solicits without the candidate's express consent a
contribution for or against an identified candidate through public political advertising, a
statement shall appear or be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner in the advertising
that does both of the following:
(a) Clearly indicates that the communication or public political advertising is not authorized by
the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee;
(b) Clearly identifies the candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, political
contributing entity, or legislative campaign fund that has paid for the communication or public
political advertising in accordance with section 3517.20 of the Revised Code.
(2)(a) Whenever any campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action
committee, political contributing entity, or political party makes an independent expenditure in
support of or opposition to any candidate, the committee, entity, fund, or party shall report the
independent expenditure and identify the candidate on a statement prescribed by the
secretary of state and filed by the committee, entity, fund, or party as part of its statement of


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contributions and expenditures pursuant to division (A) of section 3517.10 and division (A) of
section 3517.11 of the Revised Code.
(b) Whenever any individual, partnership, or other entity, except a corporation, labor
organization, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee,
political contributing entity, or political party, makes one or more independent expenditures in
support of or opposition to any candidate, the individual, partnership, or other entity shall file
with the secretary of state in the case of a statewide candidate, or with the board of elections
in the county in which the candidate files the candidate's petitions for nomination or election
for district or local office, not later than the dates specified in divisions (A)(1), (2), (3), and (4)
of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code, and, except as otherwise provided in that section, a
statement itemizing all independent expenditures made during the period since the close of
business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed such statement, if any. The
statement shall be made on a form prescribed by the secretary of state or shall be filed by
electronic means of transmission pursuant to division (E) of section 3517.106 of the Revised
Code as authorized or required by that division. The statement shall indicate the date and the
amount of each independent expenditure and the candidate on whose behalf it was made and
shall be made under penalty of election falsification.
(C)(1) Whenever a corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, political action
committee with ten or more members, or legislative campaign fund makes an independent
expenditure, or whenever a political action committee with fewer than ten members makes an
independent expenditure in excess of one hundred dollars for a local ballot issue or question,
or in excess of five hundred dollars for a statewide ballot issue or question, for the purpose of
financing communications advocating support of or opposition to an identified ballot issue or
question or solicits without the express consent of the ballot issue committee a contribution
for or against an identified ballot issue or question through public political advertising, a
statement shall appear or be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner in the advertising
that does both of the following:
(a) Clearly indicates that the communication or public political advertising is not authorized by
the identified ballot issue committee;
(b) Clearly identifies the corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, legislative
campaign fund, or political action committee that has paid for the communication or public
political advertising in accordance with section 3517.20 of the Revised Code.
(2)(a) Whenever any corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, legislative
campaign fund, political party, or political action committee makes an independent
expenditure in support of or opposition to any ballot issue or question, the corporation or labor
organization shall report the independent expenditure in accordance with division (C) of


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section 3599.03 of the Revised Code, and the campaign committee, legislative campaign
fund, political party, or political action committee shall report the independent expenditure and
identify the ballot issue or question on a statement prescribed by the secretary of state and
filed by the committee, fund, or party as part of its statement of contributions and
expenditures pursuant to division (A) of section 3517.10 and division (A) of section 3517.11 of
the Revised Code.
(b) Whenever any individual, partnership, or other entity, except a corporation, labor
organization, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or
political party, makes one or more independent expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars
in support of or opposition to any ballot issue or question, the individual, partnership, or other
entity shall file with the secretary of state in the case of a statewide ballot issue or question, or
with the board of elections in the county that certifies the issue or question for placement on
the ballot in the case of a district or local issue or question, not later than the dates specified
in divisions (A)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code, and, except as
otherwise provided in that section, a statement itemizing all independent expenditures made
during the period since the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously
filed such statement, if any. The statement shall be made on a form prescribed by the
secretary of state or shall be filed by electronic means of transmission pursuant to division (E)
of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code as authorized or required by that division. The
statement shall indicate the date and the amount of each independent expenditure and the
ballot issue or question in support of or opposition to which it was made and shall be made
under penalty of election falsification.
(3) No person, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee,
corporation, labor organization, or other organization or association shall use or cause to be
used a false or fictitious name in making an independent expenditure in support of or
opposition to any candidate or any ballot issue or question. A name is false or fictitious if the
person, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee,
corporation, labor organization, or other organization or association does not actually exist or
operate, if the corporation, labor organization, or other organization or association has failed
to file a fictitious name or other registration with the secretary of state, if it is required to do so,
or if the person, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political action committee
has failed to file a designation of the appointment of a treasurer, if it is required to do so by
division (D)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(D) Any expenditure by a political party for the purpose of financing communications
advocating the election or defeat of a candidate for judicial office shall be deemed to be an
independent expenditure subject to the provisions of this section.



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