Google announces temporary restrictions on political advertising related to US elections, effective after the last polls close on election day.
Details:
- Pause begins: After polls close on November 5th
- Affects: All ads relating to US elections, their processes, or outcomes
- Includes: US Election Ads and broader election-related content
- Duration: Temporary, with no specified end date
Why we care. This update directly affects the ability to promote election-related content immediately after polls close in November. This move could disrupt post-election messaging strategies, a critical time when campaigns often seek to influence public opinion and shape narratives around election outcomes.
With no clear end date for the pause, if you run political campaigns, you will need to plan alternative strategies and closely monitor when the policy is lifted to resume their campaigns.
What’s exempt. Public information campaign ads run by state or federal election administration bodies
Between the lines: This policy aims to prevent the spread of misinformation during the crucial period immediately following the election.
What they’re saying: Google states it will notify advertisers when the policy is lifted.
What to watch:
- How political campaigns adjust their advertising strategies
- Potential impact on public discourse about election results
- When Google decides to lift the restriction
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About the author
Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.
In 2008, Anu’s career started with
delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side.
Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event – PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPCChat Roundup.
She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US), SMX (Munich), Friends of Search (Amsterdam), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna) and more.
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