To check a PAC’s claim, preserve the full ad, identify who paid for it, isolate each factual assertion, and trace it to the original evidence. Then check the evidence’s date and context and corroborate it with an independent source. A disclaimer can tell you who is speaking; it cannot prove the claim is true.
Start by preserving the full ad
Save the ad, post, mailer, or transcript along with its date, exact wording, visuals, and disclaimer. For a video or audio clip, keep the full version if possible: a cropped repost may omit context that changes what it appears to show.
Record where you encountered it and any sources the ad names or links. That gives you a stable reference while you investigate, rather than relying on a paraphrase or a changing online post.
Separate facts from opinion and inference
Break a compound attack into individual propositions. For example, an ad might make a claim about a candidate’s vote, cite a statistic, and then argue that the vote caused a particular outcome. Those are separate claims, and the conclusion may go beyond the underlying evidence.
- Checkable facts: votes, public statements, donations, events, records, and numerical trends.
- Quotations: compare the words with the complete recording or transcript and note what was left out.
- Predictions and opinions: these express a forecast or judgment, not a past event that can be verified in the same way.
- Inferences: ask whether the cited facts actually support the conclusion the ad draws.
Do not label an entire ad true or false if you have checked only one of its claims. Explain which proposition the evidence addresses and what remains unestablished.
Use the disclaimer to identify the sponsor—not to judge accuracy
For covered U.S. federal communications, Federal Election Commission guidance says disclaimers identify who paid and indicate whether a candidate or campaign authorized the communication; specific requirements vary by medium. Read the disclaimer as a clue about who is speaking and the relationship to the campaign, then verify the factual content separately. See the FEC’s advertising and disclaimer guidance.
The FEC page warns that it has not been updated to reflect the Supreme Court’s June 30, 2026 decision affecting FECA coordinated-expenditure limits. Do not treat that page as a complete statement of the changed legal area.
Trace each factual claim to its original evidence
Follow the ad’s citations, links, quotations, and named sources until you can inspect the underlying record: a public filing, vote record, court or agency document, transcript, or data table. Check the record’s date, scope, definitions, and whether the ad describes it accurately. A document may support one narrow statement without supporting the broader message built around it.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #3
The FEC administers federal campaign-finance law and publishes committee disclosures and certified federal results. Its records can help test claims about federal committee finances, such as reported contributions or spending; they are not a universal database of a candidate’s conduct. The FEC does not administer voter registration or polling places and says it lacks jurisdiction over voting, voter fraud, intimidation, ballot access, and election results. Its campaign-finance overview explains its remit and directs voters to local election boards for registration and polling-place questions.
Corroborate the evidence and check what is missing
Look for another source with access to the evidence, preferably an official record or an accountable institution. If you consult fact checks, read their linked evidence and reasoning rather than relying only on a rating or headline. The FBI advises checking who produced election-related content, considering its source and intent, and confirming voting information against official election-office notices; the FBI’s election guidance outlines those steps.
Compare the ad’s wording with the original source. Ask whether a number is a share or a total, whether a quotation is complete, whether the account preserves the sequence of events, and whether the conclusion reaches beyond what the evidence establishes. If context is unresolved, say so instead of treating an implication as a proven fact.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.For voting procedures, check election officials
Claims about registration, polling places, deadlines, or voting methods should be checked with the relevant state or local election office. The FEC does not administer these matters. The FBI advises using official notices and reporting suspected voter suppression or disinformation about how, when, or where to vote through appropriate channels.
Best Value
Jurisdiction matters: federal campaign-finance rules do not automatically describe state or local races, and U.S. guidance does not establish rules in other countries. For example, the UK Electoral Commission says it does not regulate the content of campaign materials or have powers to verify or correct those claims, though it may respond to false information about election processes. Its campaign-material guidance illustrates why the relevant authority depends on both location and claim type; it is not a statement of U.S. law.
Example: a video of a ballot-marking machine
In an October 29, 2024 fact check, the Associated Press examined a viral Kentucky video presented as proof of fraud. AP reported that Laurel County Clerk Tony Brown said officials reproduced the issue by pressing between candidate boxes, and described what the footage showed. The useful verification method is to inspect the recording, seek an explanation from an accountable local official, and distinguish an observed incident from the stronger allegation that it proves fraud. This example concerns that incident only; it says nothing about other elections or machines. Read the AP fact check.
Write a conclusion that matches the evidence
State the exact claim you assessed, what the original evidence supports, and what is missing or remains uncertain. Separate documented facts from opinion and inference. When the evidence establishes only part of a claim, report that distinction rather than giving the whole ad a blanket verdict.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
