Apply for Election Ads verification

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Before you begin

Google requires verification for advertisers who want to run Election Ads using Google Ads and Display & Video 360. The application process may require two 2 steps and each step can take up to 5 business days.

If you violate the Election Ads policy or you’ve provided false information during the verification process, your verification will be revoked and your account may be suspended.

Any substantial changes to the Google Ads payments profile, such as updates to the account type or legal name, will require you to complete verification again. You’ll also need to renew your verification periodically. You’ll receive an in-account notification when this verification is required.

Ads transparency and disclosures for Election Ads

Election Ads

All Election Ads run by verified election advertisers in regions where Election Ads verification is required must contain a disclosure that identifies who paid for the ad. For most ad formats, Google will automatically generate a “Paid for by” disclosure, using the information provided during the verification process.

For some ad formats and features, it’s the advertiser’s responsibility to include in-ad disclosures in Election Ads. Learn more about the Disclosure requirements for election advertising.

To provide transparency for users, Google publishes a Political Advertising transparency report and a political ads library. Only ads that are in scope of the Election Ads policy and that are run by verified election advertisers will be included in the report at this time. For example, EU Election Ads run by a verified EU election advertiser that serve in the EU will be included in the report. US Election Ads run by a verified EU election advertiser that serve in the EU will not be included.

Other ads

For ads you run that are not Election Ads, most ad formats will contain a disclosure using the information provided during the election advertising verification process. Google will also make publicly available additional inform

How disclosure appears in different ad formats

On Google Search and the Search Partner network, the disclosure will show in ads directly.
On YouTube, the disclosure will show in “Why this ad?” which can be accessed through the info icon or the 3-dot icon .
On websites and apps that partner with Google for display ads, the disclosure will show in “Why this ad?” which can be accessed through the AdChoices icon .

Keep in mind

Your account setup must be complete to be eligible for verification, including billing information. If you apply with incomplete billing information, your application will be rejected and you’ll need to resubmit your application.
Google Ad Grants accounts are not eligible to run Election Ads or apply for Election Ads verification.
For the full list of verification requirements, select the region for which you would like to complete Election Ads verification and your product below.
Advertisers are required to verify the end advertiser, not the agency or intermediary acting on their behalf. For example, an agency advertising on behalf of a political party should verify as the political party.

Reasons you may lose your verification to run Elections Ads

Changes to your payment profile

Because information in the Google Ads payment profile is used for verification, if you make changes to your payment profile in Google Ads, you’ll need to complete identity verification again. You’ll receive an in-account notification when this is required.
If you change your account’s invoice setup, you’ll need to verify your account again to run Election Ads.
If the information on your payment profile did not change, our team will review your account and reinstate your certificate within 24-48 hours. You can re-apply for verification during this review period.

Ineligibility

If we find that you’ve violated our Election Ads policy or you’ve provided false information during the verification process, your verification will be revoked, and your account may be suspended.

You’ll need to renew your verification periodically. You’ll receive a notification when this is required.

Changes to verification status

If you'd like Google to remove the Election Ads verification from your account, complete and submit the application to Withdraw your verification to run Election Ads. You'll need to provide the specific Google Ads Customer ID number for all accounts for which you’d like to withdraw your verification. If you continue to run Election Ads in an account that is no longer verified, those Election Ads will be disapproved. Election Ads that were run previously will still be viewable in the Political Advertising Transparency Report even after the associated account’s verification is withdrawn.

How to apply for verification

Advertisers must be verified by Google to run Election Ads. Select the location you intend to target from the list to learn more about requirements.

To run Election Ads in the region to which the ad content pertains, an advertiser must be verified under that region’s Election Ads verification process.
To run Election Ads outside the region to which the ad content pertains, an advertiser must be verified under either the Election Ads verification or Advertiser verification process for the region in which the advertiser is located.

The form below is the first step of the verification process for Election Ads. You’ll be asked to complete the steps for organizations or individuals, depending on your account setup.

Google will review your application and send you an email notification about your verification status within 5 business days.