WASHINGTON, DC – Following news that Google will temporarily pause all ads related to U.S. elections after polls close on November 5th, 2024, DSPolitical, the leading digital advertising technology partner for Democratic and progressive campaigns, issued the following statement urging a more nuanced approach:

“Google is right to be concerned about bad actors attempting to use its platform to spread post-election misinformation. However, a complete ban on election-related ads following Election Day could unintentionally harm campaigns engaged in runoff elections and ballot curing operations,” said Mark Jablonowski, President of DSPolitical.

He continued, “An outright ban would also likely have a disproportionate impact on Democratic campaigns by limiting their ability to effectively engage and mobilize their diverse voter base in the critical days immediately following the election. Runoff campaigns rely on swift and strategic communication, and this policy risks stifling that effort when it’s needed most.”

Jablonowski also highlighted the importance of proactive measures against misinformation, saying, “Rather than preventing campaigns from connecting with voters through legitimate, fact-based ads during the critical post-election period, Google should focus on stopping misleading ads and curbing the spread of organic misinformation on its platforms.”

DSPolitical will continue selling post-election ad inventory on other platforms while monitoring the impact of Google’s policy and advocating for transparency and flexibility that allows campaigns to effectively communicate with voters, especially in races that extend beyond Election Day.

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