At election time — and always, really — the playing fields must be fair and balanced among all political candidates.

That’s why all Americans should be appalled at an option that allows incumbent members of Congress to use tax dollars to advertise and promote their congressional service.

The advertising, which sounds or looks a lot like campaign commercials or posts, however, includes this disclaimer: “Paid for by official funds authorized by the House of Representatives.”

Political expert and Youngstown State University professor of political science Paul Sracic was clear in his views, when asked recently by our politics writer David Skolnick.

“They’re using tax dollars to indirectly campaign,” Sracic said. “There’s tons of unfair advantages for incumbents. This is one of them. It’s an advantage of incumbency. You have this money to get your name out there. For low-information voters, if they vote, they’ll say, ‘I’ll vote for the guy or woman who’s in there now.’ This builds name ID, as many people don’t know who their congressman is.”

Sracic is correct, and, from our vantage point, the whole concept is wrong.

These ridiculous advertising privileges are relatively new — permitted about three years ago. They come in addition to the ability incumbent Congress members already have to communicate via mail with constituents, called franking privileges. In case you’re wondering, franking privileges also are paid by taxpayers.

Funding for the commercials comes from each congressional office’s annual operating budget of about $1.3 million, referred to as a member’s representational allowance. It is funded, of course, with tax dollars. Other allowable expenses include staff salaries, travel and operating costs for district offices.

Among local elected officials, U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, and Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, are running radio ads paid with tax dollars. The two also are running for re-election in newly drawn districts with Johnson seeking to represent the 6th that has Mahoning as its most-populous county, and Joyce in the 14th that has Trumbull as its second most-populous county.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, who is running for U.S. Senate, has run no TV ads with the funds, but he has spent about $5,225 on online advertising to promote his office’s constituent services.

Johnson’s office has spent about $60,000 so far this year on two radio commercials.

Joyce’s congressional office is airing three radio commercials. His office didn’t disclose how much has been spent so far this year on the ads.

Spokespersons in each of the three congressional offices defended use of the ads as an important service to connect with their constituents.

Each ad must be approved by a bipartisan commission before it airs to determine if the content is “official congressional business,” and the ads are required to stop at least 60 days before a primary or general election.

Apparently, that’s their way of attempting to appear as though they aren’t taking advantage of this advertising perk during campaign season. We see that as a clear indication that they are fully cognizant of the unfair advantage it delivers to incumbents facing opponents.

Further, we all know that, especially these days, campaign season lasts much longer than 60 days.

Undeniably, this perk gives a very unfair advantage to incumbents over their political challengers. This outrageous use of tax dollars needs to be stopped.