# BRD-241 — Political vetting is satisfied by exactly one recognised artefact

> A political brand must hold exactly one of: a Campaign Verify token, an Aegis political vet, or verified 501(c)(3/4/5/6) status.

- **Rule ID:** BRD-241
- **Layer:** Brand (`BRAND`)
- **Checks:** `the political vetting artefact`
- **Severity:** BLOCKING — Breaking this rule gets the submission rejected outright.
- **When it bites:** Gates approval — get this wrong and registration is refused
- **How it is detected:** External record we cannot query — reported as a warning to verify
- **Fix type:** Wait on an external system or a required interval
- **Required by:** TCR, Infobip
- **Applies:** Applies when the use case is POLITICAL.
- **Canonical URL:** https://ekas.io/rules/10dlc/brand/brd-241/

## Why this rule exists

The three routes are alternatives rather than a checklist, and they are not interchangeable in cost or lead time — Campaign Verify is free and slow, an Aegis vet is paid and faster, and the tax-exempt route is instant if you already hold the status. Choosing the wrong one for the time available is how political campaigns miss their own dates.

## How to fix it

Pick the route that fits the calendar: 501(c)(4), (5) or (6) status qualifies immediately at some providers; a Campaign Verify token needs an FEC or state filing and takes days; an Aegis political vet is bought and couriers a PIN. Start whichever one you choose weeks before the send date.

## Provider rejection codes

| Provider | Code | Resubmission allowed |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TCR | `509` | yes |
| Infobip | `9001` | yes |

## Check this yourself

**Have you chosen one of the three political routes deliberately, and started it far enough ahead of the send date?**

1. Pick by calendar, not by cost: 501(c)(4), (5) or (6) status qualifies immediately at some providers; a Campaign Verify token needs an FEC or state filing and takes days; an Aegis political vet is bought and couriers a PIN.
2. Start weeks before the send date. The Campaign Verify path depends on a filing reference and on post, and neither can be hurried.

*What wrong looks like:* The cheapest route is chosen in the last fortnight of a cycle. It is also the slowest, and the campaign misses its own date.

## Notes

Which artefacts a brand holds is not on the registration. What the user has to do is choose the route deliberately and start it early — the Campaign Verify path in particular depends on a filing reference and on post, neither of which can be hurried.