Version 2026-09-25

Campaign content standards

Verified campaigns and party offices can publish their own candidates' background and positions on The Gist. It goes live right away, marked with the name of the organization that provided it. In exchange, every account holder agrees to these standards.

Who can have an account

Accounts are by invitation or application only, and every application is reviewed by a Gist editor. We verify that you speak for the campaign or party office you name, for example through campaign finance filings, an address at the campaign's own domain, or contact details published by the campaign. An organization can only edit the candidates an editor has assigned to it.

What you may publish

• Your own candidate's positions, priorities and plans, in your candidate's own words.
• Factual background: occupation, where the candidate lives, education, public and community service.
• A photo of the candidate you have the right to use, and a link to the campaign's own website.
• Up to 12 positions per race, each with a one-line summary of 160 characters or less.

What you may not publish

• Anything about other candidates. No comparisons, contrasts, criticism or claims about an opponent, their record, their party or their supporters. Say what your candidate will do, not what someone else did.
• Anything false or misleading. Background facts must be true and positions must be ones the candidate actually holds. Don't claim endorsements, credentials or offices the candidate doesn't have.
• Solicitations. No fundraising appeals, volunteer sign-ups, “vote for” calls to action, or links to donation pages.
• Abusive or hateful content, personal information about private individuals, or anything illegal.
• Content about anyone you don't represent. Only edit the candidates assigned to your organization.

Plain, specific language serves your candidate best. Voters on The Gist are comparing candidates side by side, and statements that read like ads stand out for the wrong reasons.

Reporting and enforcement

Anyone can report a position or background section with the “Report” link beside it. Editors review every report. When content breaks these standards we may edit or hide it, and for serious or repeated violations we may suspend the organization's account. Reports don't hide anything automatically, so a flood of reports can't take a candidate's information down.

Every change made through the portal is logged with the account that made it. Positions researched by Gist editors from public sources can't be edited by campaigns; campaigns can request a correction instead.

Your account

• Accounts are for one person. Don't share your password; your organization's lead can invite teammates.
• You're responsible for everything published from your account.
• By publishing, you confirm your organization has the right to share the content and allow The Gist to display it alongside other candidates' information.
• We may update these standards. You'll be asked to accept the new version before your next change.

Represent a candidate on the ballot? Apply for a verified account or sign in.