Nexus Requirements

There must be a clear and logical nexus between the registered domain name and the content associated with that domain name (e.g. website content, email, FTP, etc.).  The following non-exhaustive examples provide the parameters by which Registry Operator will enforce these nexus requirements

Acceptable Nexus Requirements:

  • Registration and use of a candidate, political party, organization, or political action committee’s name (e.g. NAME.VOTE, NAME-ISSUE.VOTE) in connection to that candidate’s campaign or political party/organization/political action committee’s activity must only be portrayed in a supportive or positive light.  

  • Registration and use of a generic term, e.g. ISSUE.VOTE, in which the Registrant is either supporting or opposing the issue.

  • Registration and use of a domain name incorporating a candidate, political party, organization, or political action committee’s name where a third party would reasonably anticipate by the domain name itself that the content associated with it would not be supportive of such candidate, political party, organization, or political action committee (e.g. STOP-CANDIDATE.VOTE, IMPEACH-NAME.VOTE). 

  • Candidate-name.vote can be used by a candidate or authorized supporters

  • Candidate-name-issue.vote can be used by a candidate or authorized supporters

  • I-hate-candidate-name.vote can be used to oppose candidate

Unacceptable Nexus Requirements:

  • Registration and use of a candidate, political party, organization, or political action committee’s name in which content associated with the domain name (i) is critical of that candidate, political party, organization or political action committee (except as permitted under 4.2.1); (ii) redirects the user to unrelated content; or (iii) is intended to block the registration or use of the domain name by such candidate, political party, organization, or political action committee. 

  • Candidate-name.vote cannot redirect to candidates opponents web site.

  • Candidate-name.vote cannot redirect to any content that is negative about or unrelated to the candidate.

  • Candidate-name.vote of candidate-name-issue.vote cannot be used to profit (e.g., parking page with ad displayed) or to sell the domain to candidate or candidates supporters.