RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia State Board of Elections approved new guidelines for how to implement the “Stand By Your Ad Law” on Wednesday.
The law was passed in 2002, requiring candidates to put information about who authorized or paid for an advertisement or poster. It lets voters know who is financially backing the candidate running for office.
The new policy specifies the proceedings for the State Board of Election hearings for complaints that are filed under the law.
“The legislation contains the broad rules that any agency or voters or campaigns have to follow, but the details are left up to the specific agencies,” James Alcorn, the Chairman of the Board of Elections, said.
Board members say there were inconsistencies they wanted to fix in how these complaints were filed, how the board was notified and the hearings following.
“In past, some of these have been heard a year later. You know, who cares? At that point, it’s a year later. The election’s gone,” said Clara Belle Wheeler, the Vice Chair of the State Board of Elections.
Some of the issues the guidelines try to address include how these complaints are filed and the timeline of these hearings.
“For the voters who are submitting these complaints, to have a consistent way to submit them and know that they will be researched and heard by the board,” Alcorn said. “For the candidates or committees that will have complaints before the board that they will receive due process.”
Voters who see an issue with an advertisement or poster can file it with the board by email or certified mail. Then they will have the opportunity to be heard by the board in person or by written statement.
Months ahead of the election, Alcorn says it’s important for voters to have easy access to all of the information they can get on a candidate as well as who’s backing them.
“It’s important the voters have confidence in the system and that they have confidence that the outcome of the election reflects the will of the people. Money plays a part in that,” Alcorn said.
The board will be having Stand By Your Ad hearings in September.
Election day is Tuesday, November 6th.