Virginia Regulatory Town Hall

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Definition of Express Advocacy
Stage: Final
 
1VAC20-90-30

1VAC20-90-30. Express advocacy.

When used in Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) and Chapter 9.5 (§ 24.2-955 et seq.) of Title 24.2 of the Code of Virginia, "expressly advocating" or any variation thereof shall mean any communication that uses phrases such as "vote for," "elect," "support," "cast your ballot for," "Smith for Congress," "vote against," "defeat," "reject," or any variation thereof or any communication when taken as a whole and with limited reference to external events, such as the proximity to the election, that could only be interpreted by a reasonable person as containing advocacy of the election or defeat of one or more clearly identified candidates because (i) the electoral portion of the communication is unmistakable, unambiguous, and suggestive of only one meaning and (ii) reasonable minds could not differ as to whether it encourages actions to elect or defeat one or more clearly identified candidates.