The district can only inform. The committee can ask for the vote.
When a tax, bond or district is on the ballot, the advocacy campaign is run by a privately funded political committee. We build and run it, for or against.
What does URSA do for a PAC or ballot measure committee?
For political committees supporting or opposing a proposition, URSA builds the voter universe from the voter file and county parcel data in Culper, writes the message for each audience, produces the creative, places streaming TV, digital, mail and outdoor, and runs peer-to-peer texting and get out the vote. Every piece carries the committee's political advertising disclosure.
Why Measure Campaigns Need a Committee
In Texas, a political subdivision cannot spend public funds on political advertising for or against its own measure (Texas Election Code Section 255.003). An ESD, a school district or a county can explain what is on the ballot. It cannot ask anyone to vote yes.
That job belongs to a political committee, often a specific-purpose committee formed for one election, funded by private contributions and filing its own reports. The committee can say what the district cannot: vote for it, or vote against it, and why.
Committees must have a campaign treasurer appointment on file with the right filing authority before raising or spending money above the limits in state law, and every piece of political advertising they pay for has to say so. We plan around those requirements from day one.
What We Build for a Committee
The ballot and the math
Ballot language, the rate or bond amount, and what it costs real properties, from the entity's own figures.
The universe
Voters and parcels inside the boundary, tiered by vote history, property data and modeled scores. See voter data.
The message matrix
The argument each audience needs, and answers to the other side. See messaging strategy.
Creative and media
Streaming TV, digital, landing pages and calculators, mail, letters to business owners and outdoor.
Turnout
P2P persuasion scripts and a daily early vote scrub.
Disclosure on everything
The committee's political advertising disclosure on every ad, text, mailer and sign.
One side per election.
We work for or against a measure, never both in the same election, and never on the public entity's information campaign and the committee's advocacy for the same election without that separation being clear to everyone involved.
What is a specific-purpose committee in Texas?
A specific-purpose political committee is formed to support or oppose particular candidates or measures, such as one bond or tax election, rather than to support a party or many causes. It files its own campaign finance reports.
Can a PAC coordinate with the district holding the election?
The district cannot use public funds or resources for advocacy. District officials should get legal advice before any involvement with a committee, and the committee should pay for everything it uses. URSA keeps the two kinds of work separate.
What disclosure does political advertising need in Texas?
Political advertising generally must include a disclosure saying it is political advertising and who paid for it. The exact requirements depend on the medium, so we confirm them for every piece.
Keep reading.
- Public EntitiesFactual voter education for Emergency Services Districts, counties, County Assistance Districts and school districts holding elections: websites, explainer video, mail and FAQs that inform without advocating.
- ESD Tax ElectionsURSA runs voter education for Texas Emergency Services Districts and advocacy campaigns for the PACs that support them, on ESD sales tax, tax rate and creation elections. Targeted, compliant and built on real data.
- Tax Rate Elections (VATRE)URSA runs campaigns on Texas voter approval tax rate elections for school districts, cities, counties and special districts, built on the ballot language, the real cost per property and CAD parcel data.
Your victory starts here.
Tell us where you are running or what is on your ballot. We will show you who decides it, what moves them, and what it costs to reach them.
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