If you have not paid for the digital material to be published as an advert – for example, you just posted it on your own social media – then it is organic material.
This guidance only covers imprint requirements for organic material published by unregistered non-party campaigners at Scottish Parliamentary elections or council elections in Scotland.
The imprint requirements apply differently to individuals and organisations.
Unregistered non-party campaigners which are organisations must include an imprint on any organic election material.
An individual non-party campaigner who is not registered with the Electoral Commission does not have to include an imprint on any organic digital material.
There are also exceptions for some kinds of material. This guidance refers to these as exemptions.
Imprints are important for transparency in campaigning. It is therefore good practice to include an imprint on all material that relates to Scottish Parliamentary elections and council elections in Scotland, even if the material does not require one by law.
There are separate imprint requirements that are out of the scope of this guidance, for:
Printed material
Digital paid adverts
Organic digital material for registered non-party campaigners
For a single guidance document covering all imprint requirements for non-party campaigners at Scottish Parliamentary elections and council elections in Scotland, including the requirements covered in this statutory guidance, please see our non-statutory guidance.