A Primer on Political Speech and Broadcasting

[Commentary] There is no speech more important than that of one citizen asking another for her vote. Congress has enacted a series of provisions addressing how broadcasters and cable operators treat candidates. With the 2014 primary season now under way, this is a good time to review those requirements. In the wake of Supreme Court rulings that have allowed far more money into the electoral process, the protections afforded by the measures discussed here are more important than ever. While equal treatment of candidates and increased disclosure and transparency will not stop ever greater political spending, these protections give important rights to candidates and allow the public some small degree of insight into how our democracy functions.