Election campaign costs and disclosing them

Election campaign costs refer to all costs that arise from the implementation of an election campaign during the campaign period and that are related to the elections. Costs incurred during the campaign period refer to costs incurred no earlier than six months before the election day and no later than two weeks after the election day, irrespective of when they are paid.

A candidate may not omit to disclose costs on the grounds that the candidate postpones the payment date to after the campaign period.

Campaign costs are not considered to include costs that the candidate would have incurred even without the elections. Such costs include, for example, political party membership fees. Nor is an election campaign considered to include contacts with voters outside the campaign period, even though their aim often is to promote the re-election of a candidate.

Events organised during the campaign period are, as a rule, considered to be part of an election campaign.‍

Itemisation of election campaign costs

The costs of an election campaign are itemised by type as follows: election campaign advertising, planning of an advertising campaign, rallies, costs for obtaining support for consideration, and other costs.

Examples of itemisation of costs

Costs of election campaign advertising

The costs of election campaign advertising are itemised into press, radio and TV advertising, advertising in data networks and other communications media, outdoor advertising and purchase of campaign newsletters, brochures and other printed materials.

Costs of press advertising refer to costs of advertising in newspapers, free newspapers and periodicals. For example, the costs of election campaign and event advertisements and thank-you notices published in newspapers are reported under this item.

Fees for broadcast airtime are reported as costs of radio or TV advertising. The costs of implementing radio or TV advertising are also reported under this item.

All online advertising is reported under data networks. This includes, for example, website maintenance costs and the costs of advertising on social media (such as Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, etc.).

The costs of advertising in communications media other than those mentioned above are reported under other media.

Outdoor advertising refers to advertising in outdoor spaces and public places. Outdoor advertising costs include, for example, the costs of advertisements on streets, roadsides or vehicles as well as renting advertising spaces.

All costs of purchasing printed products are reported under purchase of campaign newsletters, brochures and other printed materials. Printed materials include, for example, election newsletters, flyers, brochures and posters.

Planning of advertising

Planning of advertising refers to, for example, the design of printed materials, website design or the drawing up of a communications plan. The costs of these are reported under planning of advertising.

Rallies

Costs of rallies include, for example, venue rentals, refreshment costs and performers' fees.

Costs of obtaining support for consideration

Costs of obtaining support for consideration include the costs of purchasing products to be sold in support of the election campaign. Read more about election campaign funding and disclosing it under “Support for consideration”.

Other expenses

Other expenses in an election campaign may include different types of overheads, such as telephone and postage expenses, salaries, fees and travel expenses that are not directly related to any of the above items.

Disclosure of costs paid on behalf of the candidate

The value of, for example, a newspaper advertisement paid on the candidate's behalf shall be disclosed by the candidate as support received, if the only purpose of the advertisement is to support the candidate's election campaign and the candidate has had control over the generation of the cost. In that case, the candidate can also disclose the value of the advertisement as an election campaign cost in the election funding disclosure. The contribution will then correspond to the cost.

In the same way, the candidate shall disclose all other costs paid on their behalf and intended to support their election campaign.