The United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling granting a preliminary injunction against a Delaware campaign finance law requiring sponsors of third-party advertisements to disclose the identities of their donors.

Specifically, Section 8031 of the Delaware Election Disclosures Act, which became effective January 1, 2012, requires any person who makes an expenditure for a third-party advertisement exceeding $500 during an election period to file a report with the Elections Commission, including the names and addresses of each person who has made contributions to the sponsor of the third-party advertisements exceeding $100.

The Third Circuit ruled the lower court abused its discretion in granting the injunction. The Delaware Department of Elections may now enforce section 8031.

Seal of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by Djwalsh3 on Wikimedia Commons.