What is an imprint?

Some campaign material must have an imprint. Imprints state who is responsible for publishing campaign material and who they’re promoting it for. Imprints help you understand who is trying to influence you with campaign material.

Campaign material (print and digital) is any material that political parties, candidates or non-party campaigners send to voters. It could be an update about what’s happening in the constituency, information about a policy, or promotional material for an election or referendum, for example.

Some material must include an imprint by law. There are different rules on imprints based on the type of material.

An imprint must include the name and address of the person or organisation who has published the material. If they have published it on someone else’s behalf, the imprint also needs to include that person or organisation’s name and address. 

Printed material must also include the name and address of the printer.

Check what needs an imprint

Spotted material that’s missing an imprint? Use this tool to check if it needs to include one. 

If you are a campaigner, you can find out more about imprints in our guidance.

Read our guidance on imprints