funnily enough, at one stage in Australia, there were total bans on political commentary in the 24 hours leading up to the election, but only a ban on the use of electronic media. The press could print whatever they liked. It used to be a well-known factoid that the outcome of many elections was determined by the Saturday morning newspaper editorial...
There is a ban on 'political advertising' in Australia for 3 days prior to an election as well. To quote from http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rb/2004-05/05rb05.htm (an Australian Government Research Paper into Political Advertising in Australia):
Clause [...] 4 of Schedule 2 [to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992] require[s] broadcasters to [...] cease political advertisements in the three days before polling day (from midnight on the Wednesday before polling day to the close of the poll on polling day).
The aim of [the above] clause, which requires what is commonly known as the electronic media ‘blackout’, is to ‘provide a “cooling off period” for electors to consider their stance on the issues without the influences of electronic media advertising’. This provision had been in place for about 50 years before being deemed unnecessary in 1991 when a complete election advertising ban was imposed [...]. However, it was re-enacted in 1992 after a High Court decision declared the complete ban invalid. The ‘blackout’ can also be seen to prevent parties making claims late in election campaigns that cannot be scrutinised before election day.
However, as you can see from the quote, political parties can in fact advertise in 'non-electronic' media...
Slashdot Mirror
There is a ban on 'political advertising' in Australia for 3 days prior to an election as well. To quote from http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rb/2004-05/05rb05.htm (an Australian Government Research Paper into Political Advertising in Australia):
However, as you can see from the quote, political parties can in fact advertise in 'non-electronic' media...