Registration and Reporting Processes
Registration Requirements
Campaign finance disclosure laws and procedures vary between states. Many states require candidates and political committees that have accepted contributions, or made expenditures, to support or opposed the election or defeat of a candidate or ballot measure, to register with the state.
Reporting Requirements
Some states require candidates and political committees to file reports after registering with the state and other states don’t require reporting until a specific threshold is met.
Alabama
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Persons.
A person means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization or any other organization or group of persons.
(Ala. Code § 17-5-2)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidate committees must file an Appointment of Principal Campaign Committee with the secretary of state or judge of probate within five days after any person becomes a candidate for office.
- PACs anticipating either to receive contributions or make expenditures during the calendar year in an aggregate amount more than $1,000 must register with the secretary of state or the judge of probate. A statement of organization must be filed within 10 days after the PAC’s organization or within 10 days after the date the committee anticipates it will receive contributions or make expenditures in an aggregate amount over $1,000.
(Ala. Code §§ 17-5-4, 17-5-5)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates are required to file disclosure reports when they either raise or spend more than $1,000 with the secretary of state. Candidates who have not reached the $1,000 threshold are exempt from filing.
- PACs are required to file when they participate in an election or have raised or spent more than $1,000 to influence the election with the secretary of state.
- Any person, including a candidate, who spends more than $1,000 on an electioneering communication is required to file a disclosure report with the secretary of state.
(Ala. Code § 17-5-8)
Reporting Timelines
During the election cycle, but no earlier than 12 months before an election, campaign finance disclosure reports are filed at specific times before the election. Candidates, PACs and persons must file:
- Annual reports for each campaign committee, PAC and elected official subject to disclosure reporting requirements must be filed annually with the secretary of state or judge of probate no later than Jan. 31 of each year and it covers each calendar year.
- Monthly reports are due no later than the second business day of the following month and must include all reportable transactions for the previous full month, including all unreported activity to date.
- Weekly reports are due on the Monday of the following week for each of the four weeks before the election. For reporting purposes, a week is defined as running from a Saturday to a Friday. The first weekly report should include all reportable transactions that occurred since the most recently filed prior report.
- Daily reporting begins on the eighth day before the election. Daily reports are due for principal campaign committees or PACs that receive or spend $5,000 or more on that day with a view toward influencing an election. Daily reports are due on those days that a $5,000 daily threshold is met.
(Ala. Code §17-5-8)
Filing Method
- All candidates for all legislative, state school board, county, district and statewide offices must file reports electronically.
- Reports for municipal offices may be filed by paper until Aug. 1, 2023; after that date, all reports must be filed electronically.
Penalties
- A candidate who intentionally violates a reporting requirement is guilty, upon conviction, of a Class A misdemeanor. The attorney general or a district attorney may prosecute any person who violates the Fair Campaign Practices Act.
- Any person who fails to timely file a report, or files a materially inaccurate report, may be levied an administrative penalty by the State Ethics Commission.
- Any person who fails to comply with the advertising requirements is a Class A misdemeanor and, upon conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $6,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than one year.
- The schedule of civil penalties:
- The lesser of $300 or 10% of the amount of contributions or expenditures not properly reported for a first offense in an election cycle.
- The lesser of $600 or 15% of the amount of contributions or expenditures not properly reported for a second offense in an election cycle.
- The lesser of $1,200 or 20% of the amount of contributions or expenditures not properly reported for a third or subsequent offense in an election cycle.
(Ala. Code §§ 17-5-19, 17-5-19.1, 13A-5-7, 13A-5-12)
Alaska
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates
- Groups, include:
- State and regional political parties.
- Political action committees (PACs).
- Any combination of two or more individuals acting jointly who organize for the principal purpose of influencing the outcome of one or more elections and who act to influence the outcome of an election.
- Any combination of two or more individuals acting jointly who organize for the principal purpose of filing an initiative proposal application or who files an initiative proposal application.
- Nongroup entity means a person, other than an individual, that takes action the major purpose of which is to influence the outcome of an election and that cannot participate in business activities; does not have shareholders who have a claim on corporate earnings; and is independent from the influence of business corporations.
- This may be a 501(c)(4) organization or group that doesn't participate in business. activities, does not have shareholders and is independent from the influence of business corporations.
(Alaska Stat. § 15.13.400)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must file a candidate registration form with the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) within 15 days of filing their declaration of candidacy with the Division of Elections; they may file sooner if they want to be able to expend and accept campaign funds.
- Any group, including a political party and an initiative committee, must register with the APOC before raising, soliciting, collecting, contributing, spending or incurring indebtedness of $500 or more in money or anything of value in the aggregate during a calendar year. This include making any expenditure in support of or in opposition to a candidate, a ballot proposition or question, an initiative proposal application.
- Nongroup entities must register as a nongroup entity before making any contribution or independent expenditure.
(Alaska Stat. § 15.13.050, 2 AAC 50.292)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and PACs do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Groups that receive contributions or spend or incur obligations over $500 must file reports with the APOC.
- Every individual, person, nongroup entity or group that makes independent expenditures and receive contributions for independent expenditures over $500 must file reports with the APOC.
- Every individual, person, nongroup entity or group that makes an independent expenditure or electioneering communications over $250 within 10 days of an election must file a report with the APOC.
- Every individual, person, nongroup entity or group contributing $500 or more to a group organized for the principal purpose of influencing the outcome of a proposition must file a report with the APOC.
Reporting Timelines
- Campaign finance disclosure reports are due 30 days before an election, seven days before an election and 105 days after an election for candidates and groups.
- Independent expenditure and ballot proposition groups are required to file independent expenditure reports in addition to the reports listed above. These reports must be filed no later than 10 days after the expenditure has been made, unless the expenditure exceeds $250 and is made within nine days of the election. In that case, the report must be filed within 24 hours.
- Independent expenditure groups must file an additional 24 hour report when receiving a contribution over $2,000 in the aggregate from a single contributor at any time during the election cycle.
- Every individual, person or group contributing a total of $500 or more to a ballot proposition group must file a statement of contribution within 30 days of making the contribution.
- Electioneering communications have the same reporting as independent expenditures.
Filing Method
Campaign finance disclosure reports may be filed electronically or by paper.
(Alaska Stat. § 15.13.110)
Penalties
- Late reports are assessed an initial civil penalty. A filer may appeal to the commission to reduce or waive a penalty. The initial civil penalty assessment is based on two factors: the number of days the report is late; and whether the report is due immediately before an election.
- Any person who fails to file a completed and certified report on time is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the commission.
- Any person who delays in reporting a contribution is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the commission.
- Misreports or failures to disclose the true source of a contribution is subject to a civil penalty of not more than the amount of the contribution that is the subject of the misreporting or failure to disclose. If the violation was intentional, a civil penalty of not more than three times the amount of the contribution may be imposed.
- Any other violations of the State Election Campaigns chapter, except as otherwise specified in this section, is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50 a day for each day the violation continues as determined by the commission.
(Alaska Stat. § 15.13.390)
Arizona
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate.
- Political committees.
- Includes candidate committees, political action committees (PAC) or a political party.
- Entity means a corporation, limited liability company, labor organization, partnership, trust, association, organization, joint venture, cooperative, unincorporated organization or association or other organized group that consists of more than one individual.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- A political committee must file a statement of organization with the filing officer within 10 days after qualifying as a committee.
- A candidate for election or retention must register as a candidate committee if the candidate receives contributions or makes expenditures, in any combination, of at least $1,000 in connection with that candidacy. (Due to biennial adjustments, the registration threshold increases by $100 every odd-numbered year.)
- An entity must register as a PAC if the entity is organized for the primary purpose of influencing the result of an election and the entity knowingly receives contributions or makes expenditures, in any combination, of at least $1,000 in connection with any election during a calendar year.
(Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 16-906, 16-905)
Reporting Thresholds
Candidates, political committees and entities that receive contributions or makes expenditures, in any combination, of at least $1,000 must file a report with the secretary of state.
(Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901)
Reporting Timelines
- Candidates file annual, quarterly and pre-election and post-election reports. The annual report is a cumulative report due in January. The quarterly reports are due in April, July, October and January. If there is an election during a quarter, then a pre-election report must be filed. The quarter will be split between a pre-election and post-election report. Pre-election reports are filed not later than 10 days before a primary and general election. Post-election reports are filed not later than 15 days after the applicable calendar quarter.
- PACs, political committees and political parties file quarterly reports, pre-election reports and post-election reports. If there is an election during a quarter, then a pre-election report must be filed. The quarter will be split between a pre-election and post-election report. Pre-election reports are filed not later than 10 days before a primary and general election. Post-election reports are filed not later than 15 days after the applicable calendar quarter.
- Independent expenditures and ballot measure expenditures are reported quarterly. During a quarter with an election, independent expenditures and ballot measure expenditures must be disclosed in pre-election and post-election reports. Pre-election reports are filed not later than 10 days before a primary and general election. Post-election reports are filed not later than 15 days after the applicable calendar quarter.
(Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-927)
Filing Requirement
Campaign finance disclosure reports may be filed electronically or by paper.
(Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 16-916, 16-958)
Penalties
- Late reports carry a penalty. The penalties accrue at $10 per day for the first 15 days following the deadline, and $25 per day for each day thereafter the report is not filed.
- Reporting requirement violations carry a civil penalty of $100 per day for candidates for the legislature and $300 per day for candidates for statewide office. The penalty shall be doubled if the amount not reported for a particular election cycle exceeds 10% of the adjusted primary or general election spending limit. No penalty shall exceed twice the amount of expenditures or contributions not reported.
- A committee that fails to file a complete report within 30 days after the filing deadline, the filing officer has discretion to refer the matter to the enforcement officer. The attorney general is the enforcement officer for statewide and legislative candidates and the county, city or town attorney (as applicable) is the enforcement officer for local candidates.
(Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-937)
Arkansas
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Political party committees.
- Political committees (Includes independent expenditure committees, ballot question committees, legislative question committees, exploratory committees and legislative caucus committees).
- Person means any individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, labor union, business trust, company, corporation, association, committee or any other organization or group of persons acting in concert.
(Ark. Code Ann. § 7-6-223)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must file a candidate information and receipt with the secretary of state.
- PACs and political committees must register with the secretary of state within 15 days after accepting contributions during a calendar year which, in the aggregate, exceeds $500 in the aggregate.
- County political party committees must register with the secretary of state within 15 days after accepting contributions during a calendar year which, in the aggregate, exceeds $5,000.
(Ark. Code Ann. §§ 7-6-215, 7-6-216, 7-6-227)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates, PACs, party committees and political committees that receive contributions or makes expenditures that exceed $500 must report with the secretary of state.
- A person who makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount or value over $500 in a calendar year must file reports with the secretary of state.
Reporting Timelines
- Candidates file quarterly, monthly, pre-election and final reports.
- A quarterly report is all contributions received, and expenditures made during a calendar year in which a candidate is not listed on any ballot for election.
- In an election year, monthly reports are required for all contributions received and expenditures made that have not been disclosed on previous reports.
- Pre-election reports are only required for candidates with opponents. Before any primary, runoff, general or special election in which the candidate’s name appears on the ballot, a report of all contributions received, and expenditures made between the previous report and 10 days before the election.
- Final reports are due no later than 30 days after the end of the month in which the candidate’s name appeared on the ballot in any primary, runoff or general election. A final report is all contributions received, and expenditures made that have not been disclosed on previous reports.
- PACs, political committees and political parties file quarterly reports.
- Exploratory committees file monthly reports.
- Independent expenditure reports for political committees, individuals and other persons may need to file:
- 35 day pre-election report filed no later than 30 days prior to election.
- 10 day pre-election report filed no later than seven days prior to election.
- Final report filed no later than 30 days after the end of the month in which the election is held.
(Ark. Code Ann. § 7-6-207, 153-00 Ark. Code R. § 006)
Filing Method
All statewide and legislative candidates file online.
A person or independent expenditure committee may file by paper if the person or independent expenditure committee:
- Does not have access to the technology necessary to submit reports in electronic form.
- If submitting reports in electronic form would constitute a substantial hardship for the person or independent expenditure committee.
- Submits a notarized affidavit.
PACs and political parties may file electronically or by paper.
Exploratory committees may file reports by paper if the exploratory committee does not have access to the technology necessary to submit reports online and submitting reports electronically would constitute a substantial hardship.
(Ark. Code Ann.§§ 7-6-216, 7-6-230, 7-6-231, 153-00 Ark. Code R. § 006)
Penalties
- A person who knowingly fails to comply with the campaign financing chapter shall upon conviction be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor unless a different penalty applies.
- Candidates who fail to file or file untimely the pre-election contribution and expenditure reports will be subject to the following fines:
- Any report filed up to 10 days late will be subject to a $25 fee for the first violation or $50 for repeated violations.
- Any report filed 11 to 20 days late will be subject to a $50 fee for the first violation or $100 for repeated violations.
- Any report filed 21 to 30 days late will be subject to a $100 fee for the first violation or $200 for repeated offenses.
- A candidate who gives false or materially misleading information on a contribution and expenditure report or omits information from that report may be assessed a fine of not less than $25 or more than $1,000 for each violation and may be issued a public letter of caution, warning or reprimand.
(Ark. Code Ann. §§ 7-6-202, 7-6-207, 7-6-208, 7-6-209, 7-6-218)
California
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Recipient committees.
- Persons.
Recipient committee means any person (including an officeholder or candidate), organization, group or other entity that raise contributions from others totaling $2,000 or more in a calendar year to spend on California elections. Recipient committees include: candidate committees, political action committees, independent expenditure committees, ballot measure committees and political party committees.
Person means an individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability company, association, committee and any other organization or group of persons acting in concert.
(Cal. Gov't Code § 82047)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
Recipient committees must file the statement of organization with the secretary of state within 10 days after the committee has qualified as a committee. Committee means any person or combination of persons who directly or indirectly does any of the following:
- Receives contributions totaling $2,000 or more in a calendar year.
- Makes independent expenditures totaling $1,000 or more in a calendar year; or
- Makes contributions totaling $10,000 or more in a calendar year to or at the behest of candidates or committees.
Independent expenditure committees, that don’t qualify as a recipient committee, must file the statement of organization within 24 hours if the committee makes independent expenditures of $1,000 or more to support or oppose a candidate or candidates for office, and it’s during the 90-day period preceding the date of the election or on the date of the election.
Reporting Thresholds
- Recipient committees that have raised or spent or will raise or spend $2,000 or more during a calendar year must report with the Fair Political Practices Commission.
- Multipurpose organizations that have raised or spent more than $50,000 in a period of 12 months or more than $100,000 in a period of four consecutive calendar years must report with the Fair Political Practices Commission. Multipurpose organizations are nonprofit organizations, such as 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, or labor unions. A multipurpose organization qualifies as a recipient committee for reporting purposes.
- Independent expenditure committees that make independent expenditures of $1,000 or more during a calendar year must report with the Fair Political Practices Commission.
- Any person who makes a payment or a promise of payment totaling $50,000 or more for a communication that clearly identifies a candidate for elective state office but does not expressly advocate the election or defeat of the candidate, and that is disseminated, broadcast or otherwise published within 45 days of an election must report with the Fair Political Practices Commission
(Cal. Gov't Code §§ 84222, 85310)
Reporting Timelines
Recipient committees may need to report campaign activity at the following times.
- Semi-annual reports are filed on July 31 and January 31 each year.
- Quarterly reports are required when a recipient committee spends $10,000 or more to support or oppose state elected officers. The committee would only need to file these statements during odd calendar years.
- Pre-election reports are required two times before an election. The first statement covers the period up to 45 days before the election. The second statement covers the period up to 17 days before the election.
Any recipient committee making or receiving a contribution of $1,000 or more to support a candidate or ballot measure within 90 days before or on the date of an election must file a late contribution report within 24 hours.
Independent expenditures that total in the aggregate $1,000 or more are made to support or oppose a candidate or a state ballot measure in the 90 days before or on the date of the candidate’s or measure’s election is due within 24 hours.
Independent expenditures totaling $5,000 or more to support or oppose the qualification or passage of a state ballot measure outside the 90-day election cycle is due within 10 business days.
Electioneering communication reports must be filed online with the secretary of state’s office within 48 hours of the payment being made or promised.
(Cal. Gov't Code §§ 84203, 84204, 85310)
Filing Method
Campaign finance disclosure reports may be filed electronically or by paper. Electronic filing is required for campaign entities that have raised or spent $25,000.
Penalties
- Failure to file campaign statements may result in late filing penalties of $10 per day. State committees may be fined $20 per day and fines of up to $5,000 per violation.
- Any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of the Political Reform Act is guilty of a misdemeanor.
- Any person who intentionally or negligently violates any of the reporting requirements will be liable in a civil action brought by the civil prosecutor or by a person residing within the jurisdiction for an amount not more than the amount or value not properly reported.
- In addition to other penalties, a fine may be issued up to $10,000 or three times the amount the person failed to report properly or unlawfully contributed, expended, gave or received may be imposed upon conviction for each violation.
(Cal. Gov't Code §§ 91000, 91004)
Colorado
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate committees.
- Political committees.
- Political parties.
- Issue committees.
- Small donor committees.
- Small-scale issue committees.
- Independent expenditure committees.
Political committee means any person that have accepted or made contributions or expenditures over $200 to support or oppose the nomination or election of one or more candidates. Political committees do not include political parties, issue committees or candidate committees.
Issue committee means any person or any group of two or more persons, that has a major purpose of supporting or opposing any ballot issue or ballot question; or that has accepted or made contributions or expenditures over $200 to support or oppose any ballot issue or ballot question.
Small-scale issue committee is an issue committee that accepts or makes contributions or expenditures in an aggregate amount between $200 and $5,000.
Small donor committee means any political committee that has accepted contributions only from persons who each contributed no more than $50 in the aggregate per year.
Small-scale issue committee is an issue committee that accepts or makes contributions or expenditures in an aggregate amount between $200 and $5,000.
An Independent Expenditure Committee is one or more persons who make independent expenditures in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000, or that collect in excess of $1,000 from one or more persons for the purpose of making an independent expenditure.
(Colo. Const. Art. XXVIII, Section 2)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- All candidate committees, political committees, small donor committees and political parties must register before accepting or making any contributions.
- Independent expenditure committees that accept a donation that is given for the purpose of making an independent expenditure over $1,000 or that makes an independent expenditure over $1,000 must register within two business days of the date on which an aggregate amount of donations reaches $1,000.
- Issue committees must register within ten calendar days of accepting or making contributions or expenditures over $200 to support or oppose any ballot issue or ballot question.
(C.R.S. § 1-45-108)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Political committees and issue committees must report accepting or making contributions or expenditures over $200 to support or oppose the nomination or election of one or more candidates and any ballot issue or ballot question with the secretary of state.
- Independent expenditure committees must register and report when they have accepted or made an independent expenditure over $1,000 with the secretary of state.
(Colo. Const. Art. XXVIII, Section 2, C.R.S. § 1-45-108)
Reporting Timelines
Disclosure reports by candidates and committees are required to be filed with the secretary of state at the following times.
- Quarterly. In off-election years, no later than the 15th calendar day following the end of the applicable quarter.
- In election years:
- On the first Monday in May and on each Monday every two weeks thereafter before the primary election.
- On the first day of each month beginning the sixth full month before the major election; except that no monthly report shall be required on the first day of the month in which the major election is held.
- On the first Monday in September and on each Monday every two weeks thereafter before the major election.
- 35 days after the major election in election years.
- 14 days before and 30 days after a special legislative election held in an off-election year.
Any single contribution, including loans and candidate loans, of $1,000 or more at any time within 30 days of a primary, general or regular biennial school election must be reported within 24 hours.
Any person, including a candidate and/or candidate committee, spending $1,000 or more per calendar year for broadcast or print messages that “unambiguously” refers to any candidate and are distributed within 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election, is required to report these expenditures.
Electioneering contributions and expenditures can be reported at the same time the committee reports other contributions and expenditures.
(C.R.S. § 1-45-108)
Filing Method
Disclosure reports must be filed electronically. Paper is allowed if a waiver is granted based on hardship or other good cause by the secretary of state.
(8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1505-6)
Penalties
- Failure to file campaign reports may result in late filing penalties of $50 per day.
- Failure to register a committee may result in a penalty. The penalty depends on the amount of contributions or donations accepted or expenditures made while out of compliance.
- If less than $1,000, the fine is at least $150.
- If between $1,001 and $5,000, the fine is at least $300.
- If greater than $5,000, the fine is at least $300 plus at least 10% f total amount of the contributions and expenditures made.
- Failure to file complete and accurate reports carries a $100 fine per report plus 5% of the activity not accurately or completely reported.
- Prohibited contributions, donations and expenditures carries a fine of at least $100 and 10% of the prohibited activity.
- Any communication without a proper disclaimer is a noncompliant communication. If the noncompliant communication is corrected prior to the election, the fine will be at least 5% cost of the noncompliant communication including cost to broadcast. If the noncompliant communication is not corrected prior to the election, the fine will be at least 10% of the cost of the communication including cost to broadcast.
(8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1505-6)
Connecticut
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political Parties.
- Political Committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means a committee organized by a business entity or organization; persons other than individuals, or two or more individuals organized or acting jointly conducting their activities in or outside the state; an exploratory committee; a committee established by or on behalf of a slate of candidates in a primary for the office of justice of the peace, but does not mean a candidate committee or a party committee; a legislative caucus committee; or a legislative leadership committee.
Person means an individual, committee, firm, partnership, organization, association, syndicate, company trust, corporation, limited liability company or any other legal entity of any kind but does not mean the state or any political or administrative subdivision of the state.
(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-601, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-601d)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
Each candidate must register a single candidate committee to fund their campaign. However, there are exemptions to this requirement:
- Candidates who intend to fund the campaign entirely from personal funds do not need to register a single candidate committee unless they expend more than $1,000 or accept any outside funds or in-kind contributions, in which case they must register within three days. If a candidate requests or receives funds or in-kind receipts from any outside source, the candidate must form a candidate committee within three days.
- Candidates who do not intend to receive or expend over $1,000 in funds from all sources. If the candidate receives or expends over $1,000, they no longer qualify for exemption status and must form a candidate committee.
- Candidates who do not intend to expend any funds for the campaign, including personal funds.
All statewide office and general assembly candidates are required to register no later than 10 days after becoming a candidate. An individual is deemed to have become a candidate if the candidate:
- Has solicited or received contributions or made expenditures.
- Has been endorsed or nominated by a political party.
- Is otherwise qualified for placement on the ballot pursuant to the election laws (whether or not funds or resources have been solicited, received or spent).
All political committees must file a registration statement within 10 days after their organization. If a political committee is organized within 10 days prior to any primary, election or referendum in connection with which it intends to make any contributions or expenditures, the committee must immediately file a registration statement.
An exploratory committee is a committee formed by a candidate for a single primary or election to determine whether to seek nomination or election, and/or where the candidate has not yet determined which particular public office to seek, yet desires to raise and spend funds to “test the waters.” The exploratory committee must register before raising or spending any funds,
Party committees must register before soliciting or receiving any funds or make expenditures.
Any person who makes or obligates to make an independent expenditure or expenditures in an election or primary for the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of the state, state treasurer, state comptroller, attorney general, state senator or state representative, which exceeds $1,000, during a primary campaign or a general election campaign must report.
(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-601)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and party committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Political committees and persons that receive or expend over $1,000 for purposes of the primary or election must report with the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC).
- Any person who makes or obligates to make an independent expenditure or expenditures in an election or primary more than $1,000 must report with the SEEC.
(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-608)
Reporting Timelines
Candidate must file disclosure statements due at the following times:
- Quarterly reports are due on Jan. 10, April 10, July 10 and Oct. 10.
- 7 days before the primary election.
- 30 days after the primary election.
- 7 days before the general election.
- 7 days before a special election.
- 45 days after the general election when the general election is not held in November.
- Weekly reports are due if the candidate is in a race with another candidate.
Political committees, including independent expenditure political committees and referendum political committees must file disclosure statements at the following times:
- Quarterly reports are due on Jan. 10, April 10, July 10 and Oct. 10.
- 7 days before the primary election, if they have spent in connection with a primary.
- 30 days following the primary, if they have spent in connection with a primary.
- 7 days before the general election, if they have spent in connection with the election.
State party committees must file disclosure statements on Jan. 10, April 10, July 10 and the 12th day prior to any regular state or municipal election.
State central committees must file on the 12th day before any other election or any primary or referendum when they have made or received a contribution or expenditure in connection with an election, primary or referendum.
Any person, political committee or independent expenditure political committee must file reports within 24 hours of making or obligating to make independent expenditures or electioneering communications over $1,000.
Filing Method
Disclosure statements must be filed electronically, but a waiver may be obtained to file by paper. All candidate committees and exploratory committees of candidates running for statewide office and General Assembly that raise or spend $1,000 or more are required to file their disclosure statements electronically.
(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-675)
Penalties
- A late filing penalty of $100 is charged for statements filed late. Any late statement that is not filed within 21 days after notification of a missed filing date, the treasurer is liable for a minimum penalty of $200 and may be liable for a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year or both.
- A person who is found to have knowingly and willfully violated any provisions of the campaign finance statutes faces a civil penalty of up to $25,000, unless a fine of a larger amount is otherwise provided for as a maximum fine in the Connecticut General Statutes.
- A person knowingly filing a false report is a Class A misdemeanor.
- Any person who violates any provision of Connecticut’s campaign finance laws is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,000 or twice the amount of the improper contribution or payment, whichever is greater.
- Any person who violates any provision of Connecticut’s campaign finance laws is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,000 or twice the amount of the improper contribution or payment, whichever is greater.
- Any person who fails to file a report for an independent expenditure or expenditures made or obligated to be made more than 90 days before the day of a primary or election, the person will be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000. If a person fails to file a report 90 days or less before the day of a primary or election, the person will be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $20,000. Any failure to file is knowing and willful, the person will also be fined not more than $50,000 and the SEEC may refer the matter to the chief state attorney.
(Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 9-7b, 9-623)
Delaware
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate committees.
- Political committees.
- Political parties.
- Persons.
Political committee means any organization or association, whether permanent or created for the purposes of a specific political campaign, which accepts contributions from or makes expenditures to any candidate, candidate committee or political party in an aggregate amount over $500 during an election period, not including independent expenditures.
Person includes any individual, corporation, company, incorporated or unincorporated association, general or limited partnership, society, joint stock company and any other organization or institution of any nature.
(Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 8002)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- A candidate must register after establishing a candidate committee and before accepting contributions or making expenditures.
- Political committees and political parties must file a statement of organization no later than 24 hours after receiving any contribution or making any expenditure, in the aggregate amount, over $500 during an election period.
(Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, §§ 8003, 8005)
Reporting Thresholds
Any candidate, political committee or political party that accepts any contributions or makes any expenditures in an aggregate amount over $500 during an election period must report with the Delaware Department of Elections (DDE).
Any person, other than a candidate committee or political party, who makes an expenditure for any third-party advertisement more than $500 during an election period must file a report. Third-party advertisement means independent expenditures or electioneering communications with the DDE.
Reporting Timelines
In an election year, candidates, political committees and party committees must file reports 30 days and eight days before an election and an annual report.
In a non-election year, candidates, political committees and party committees must file an annual report.
Independent expenditure must be reported 48 hours after the expenditure was made. If the expenditure is 30 days before a primary or special election or 60 before a general, the report must be filed 24 hours after the expenditure.
Electioneering communication made 30 days before a primary or special election or 60 before a general must be filed 24 hours after the expenditure.
(Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 8030)
Filing Method
Campaign disclosure reports may be filed electronically or by paper.
(Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, §§ 8030, 8004)
Penalties
- Failure to register and failure to keep records is a Class B misdemeanor.
- A person who knowingly makes or accepts an illegal contribution or expenditure and knowingly filing a false report are Class A misdemeanors.
- A person who knowingly accepting a contribution made in a fictitious name, in the name of another person or whose donor’s true name and address is not made known to the political committee is a Class G felony.
- Failure to identify the purchaser of advertisement will be assessed a fine of $500 or 25% of the cost of the campaign advertisement subject thereto, whichever is greater.
(Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 8043)
Florida
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates
- Political committees
- Electioneering communications organizations
- Persons
Political committee means a combination of two or more individuals, or a person other than an individual, that, in an aggregate amount over $500 during a single calendar year:
- Accepts contributions for the purpose of making contributions to any candidate, political committee, affiliated party committee or political party.
- Accepts contributions for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or the passage or defeat of an issue.
- Makes expenditures that expressly advocate the election or defeat of a candidate or the passage or defeat of an issue.
- Makes contributions to a common fund, other than a joint checking account between spouses, from which contributions are made to any candidate, political committee, affiliated party committee or political party.
Electioneering communications organization means any group, other than a political party, affiliated party committee or political committee, whose election-related activities are limited to making expenditures for electioneering communications or accepting contributions for the purpose of making electioneering communications and whose activities would not otherwise require the group to register as a political party or political committee.
Person means an individual or a corporation, association, firm, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, club, organization, estate, trust, business trust, syndicate or other combination of individuals having collective capacity. The term includes a political party, affiliated party committee or political committee.
(Fla. Stat. § 106.011)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- A political committee that receives contributions or makes expenditures during a calendar year in an aggregate amount exceeding $500 or that seeks the signatures of registered electors in support of an initiative shall file a statement of organization within 10 days after its organization.
- A political committee organized within 10 days of any election must immediately file the statement of organization.
- Each candidate must file a statement within 10 days after filing the appointment of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository.
- Each group must file a statement of organization as an electioneering communications organization within 24 hours after the date on which it makes expenditures for an electioneering communication over $5,000.
- A combination of two or more individuals, or a person other than an individual (i.e., organization) must file as a political committee and submit campaign reports when during a calendar year, in excess of $500 aggregate, they:
- Accept contributions or make expenditures to expressly advocate the election or defeat of a candidate or issue.
- Accepts contributions for the purpose of contributing to any candidate, political committee, affiliated party committee or political party.or
- Spnsor a proposed constitutional amendment by initiative and intend to seek signatures of registered electors.
(Fla. Stat. § 106.03, Fla. Stat. § 106.023)
Reporting Thresholds
- Political committees that receive contributions or makes expenditures during a calendar year in an aggregate amount exceeding $500 must report with the Division of Elections (DOE).
- Candidates must file reports after they register. No additional reporting threshold is required.
- Each person who makes an independent expenditure or electioneering communication, in the aggregate amount of $5,000 or more, must file reports with the DOE.
- Each electioneering communications organization must file regular reports of all contributions received and all expenditures made by or on behalf of the organization with the DOE.
Reporting Timelines
Candidates or political committees must file regular reports on the 10th day following the end of each calendar month.
In addition, a statewide candidate or political committee must file reports:
- On the 60th day immediately preceding the primary election, and each week thereafter, with the last weekly report being filed on the fourth day immediately preceding the general election.
- On the 10th day immediately preceding the general election, and each day thereafter, with the last daily report being filed the fifth day immediately preceding the general election.
All other candidates must file reports on the 60th day immediately preceding the primary election and bi-weekly on each Friday thereafter through and including the fourth day immediately preceding the general election, with additional reports due on the 25th and 11th days before the primary election and the general election.
Political parties must file quarterly reports.
Each person who makes an independent expenditure, in the aggregate amount of $5,000 or more, must file reports in the same manner and at the same time as a political committee supporting or opposing such candidate or issue.
Each electioneering communications organization must file regular reports of all contributions received and all expenditures made by or on behalf of the organization. Reports must be filed on the 10th day of each month.
For an electioneering communications organization required to file reports with the division, additional reports must be filed:
- On the 60th day immediately preceding the primary election, and each week thereafter, with the last weekly report being filed on the fourth day immediately preceding the general election.
- On the 10th day immediately preceding the general election, and every day thereafter excluding the fourth day immediately preceding the general election, with the last daily report being filed the day before the general election.
(Fla. Stat. §§ 106.07, 106.071)
Filing Method
Campaign disclosure reports must be filed electronically.
(Fla. Stat. § 106.0705)
Penalties
- Failure to file a report carries a fine of $50 per day for first three days late. Thereafter, it is $500 per day; not to exceed 25% of total receipts for the period covered by the late report.
- Any person who falsely reports or deliberately fails to include any information required by this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
- Any person who makes or authorizes any expenditure or any other expenditure prohibited by this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
- Any political committee that violates the independent expenditure requirements is liable for a civil fine of up to $5,000 to be determined by the Florida Elections Commission or the entire amount of the expenditures, whichever is greater.
- General violations of the campaign financing chapter carry a civil fine of up to $1,000 per count. In determining the amount of such civil penalties, the commission or administrative law judge will consider mitigating and aggravating circumstances:
- The gravity of the act or omission.
- Any previous history of similar acts or omissions.
- The appropriateness of such penalty to the financial resources of the person, political committee, affiliated party committee, electioneering communications organization or political party.
- Whether the person, political committee, affiliated party committee, electioneering communications organization or political party has shown good faith in attempting to comply with the campaign finance provisions.
(Fla. Stat. §§ 106.07, 106.19, 106.087, 106.265)
Georgia
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Campaign committees.
- Independent committees.
- Persons.
Campaign committee means any person, or committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the nomination or election of an individual to any elected office. The committee also means any person or any committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of any proposed constitutional amendment, a state-wide referendum or a proposed question which is to appear on the ballot in this state or in a county or a municipal election in this state.
Independent committee means any committee, club, association, partnership, corporation, labor union or other group of persons, other than a campaign committee, political party or political action committee, which receives donations during a calendar year from persons who are members or supporters of the committee and which expends such funds either for the purpose of affecting the outcome of an election for any elected office or to advocate the election or defeat of any particular candidate.
Person means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, professional corporation or other business entity recognized in the State of Georgia, labor organization or any other organization or group of persons.
(Ga. Code Ann. § 21-5-3)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- A candidate and campaign committees must register before accepting any contributions or making any expenditures.
- A PAC that receives contributions or makes expenditures during a calendar year in an aggregate amount exceeding $25,000 must register.
- All individuals or other persons making contributions and expenditures to or on behalf of candidates which do not exceed $25,000 in the aggregate in one calendar year are not required to register.
- Independent committees need to register prior to accepting contributions or making expenditures for the purpose of affecting the outcome of an election or advocates the election or defeat of any candidate.
(Ga. Code Ann. § 21-5-30, Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 189-3-.12)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates, campaign and independent committees have no reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- PACS and persons making contributions and expenditures that exceed $25,000 in the aggregate in one calendar year must file reports with the Georgia Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission (GTCFC).
(Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 189-3-.12)
Reporting Timelines
In nonelection years, candidates, PACS and other political committees must file reports on Jan. 31 and June 30.
In election years, candidates, PACs and other political committees must file reports:
- On Jan. 31, April 30, June 30, Sept. 30, Oct. 25 and Dec. 31.
- Six days before any run-off primary or election in which the candidate is listed on the ballot.
- 15 days prior to the special primary and six days prior to the special primary runoff or special election runoff.
- All contributions of $1,000 or more received during the last report and the date of any election must be reported within two business days of receipt and also reported on the next succeeding regularly scheduled campaign contribution disclosure.
Any campaign committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of a proposed constitutional amendment or a state-wide referendum must file a campaign contribution disclosure report 75, 45 and 15 days prior to the date of the election and must file a final report prior to Dec. 31 of the election year.
Independent committees must file disclosure reports as follows:
- On the first day of each of the two calendar months preceding any election.
- Two weeks prior to the date of an election.
- Within the two-week period prior to the date of an election, the independent committee must report within two business days any contributions or expenditure of more than $1,000.
- On Dec. 31 of the election year.
- The independent committee must file a final report prior to Dec. 31 of the election year and file supplemental reports on June 30 and Dec. 31 of each year that such independent committee continues to accept contributions or make expenditures.
(Ga. Code Ann. § 21-5-34)
Filing Method
Campaign disclosure reports must be filed electronically.
(Ga. Code Ann. § 21-5-34)
Penalties
- Any person who files a late report will be assessed a late fee of $125.
- Any person who knowingly fails to comply with or knowingly violates the campaign finance chapter may result in a misdemeanor.
- Any person who knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme or device a material fact; makes a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation; or makes or uses any false writing or document the knowingly filing of a false official document may constitute a felony and may result in imprisonment and/or up to a $1,000 fine.
- The GTCFC may refer cases to the appropriate law enforcement authority for further investigation and prosecution.
- The GTCFC has authority to issue an order directing a violator:
- To cease and desist from violating the Act.
- To make public complete statements containing the information.
- To refile and correct the reports at issue.
- To pay a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation for first violation; up to $10,000 per violation for second violation; and up to $25,000 per violation for third or subsequent violations.
(O.C.G.A. §§ 21-5-34, 21-5-6, 21-5-9, 16-10-20)
Hawaii
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions
- Who needs to register with the state
- Reporting thresholds
- Reporting timelines
- Filing methods
- Penalties
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate committees
- Non-candidate committees
Noncandidate committee means an organization, association, party or individual that has the purpose of making or receiving contributions, making expenditures or incurring financial obligations to influence the nomination for election, or the election, of any candidate to office, or for or against any question or issue on the ballot.
- An independent expenditure committee means a noncandidate committee that has registered and certified to the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission (HCSC) that it will only make independent expenditures.
(Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-302)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
Candidate committees must register within 10 days of the earlier of the date the candidate files nomination papers for office or the date the candidate or candidate committee receives contributions or makes or incurs expenditures of more than $100 in the aggregate during the applicable election period.
Noncandidate committees must register within 10 days of receiving contributions or making or incurring expenditures of more than $1,000, in the aggregate, in a two-year election period; or within two days of receiving contributions or making expenditures of more than $1,000, in the aggregate, in a two-year election period if it is within 30 days prior to an election.
(Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-321)
Reporting Thresholds
Candidate committees receiving contributions or making or incurring expenditures of more than $100 in the aggregate during the reporting period must file reports with the HCSC.
Noncandidate committees receiving contributions or making or incurring expenditures of more than $1,000 in the aggregate during the reporting period must file reports with the HCSC.
(Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-321)
Reporting Timelines
Candidate committees must file reports:
- On April 30 in a general election year.
- 30 calendar days before a primary, initial special or initial nonpartisan election.
- 10 calendar days before a primary, initial special or initial nonpartisan election.
- On Oct. 1 in a general election year.
- 10 calendar days before a general, subsequent special or subsequent nonpartisan election. A candidate who is unsuccessful in a primary, initial special or initial nonpartisan election, or a candidate who is elected to office in the primary, initial special or initial nonpartisan election doesn’t need to file this report.
- 20 calendar days after a primary, initial special or initial nonpartisan election.
- 30 calendar days after a general, subsequent, subsequent special or subsequent nonpartisan election.
- Supplemental reports are due on Jan. 31 and July 31 after an election year.
Non candidate committees must file reports:
- 10 calendar days prior to a primary, special or nonpartisan election.
- 10 calendar days prior to a general election.
- On Oct. 1 in a general election year.
- 20 calendar days after the primary, initial special or initial nonpartisan election.
- 30 calendar days after a general, subsequent special or subsequent nonpartisan election.
- Supplemental reports are due on Jan. 31 and July 31 after an election year.
Candidate and non-candidate committees that receive contributions from any person and any contributions made to a candidate aggregating more than $500 within the period of four to 14 days prior to an election, a late contribution report must be filed within three calendar days.
Candidate committees or noncandidate committees whose aggregate contributions and aggregate expenditures for the election period total $1,000 or less must file only a final election period report, 30 calendar days after a general, subsequent special or subsequent nonpartisan election.
Noncandidate committees that makes independent expenditures aggregating more than $500 within the period of four to 14 days prior to an election must file a report within three calendar days.
An expenditure for electioneering communications in an aggregate amount of more than $1,000 during any calendar year must be filed with the HCSC within 24 hours.
(Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 11-333, 11-334, 11-335, 11-339)
Filing Method
Disclosure reports must be filed electronically with the commission.
(Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-331)
Penalties
- The HCSC may assess a fine against a person who is required to file a report and it is not filed by the due date or if the report is substantially defective or deficient. The fine for not filing a report by the due date, if assessed, will not exceed $50 per day for the first seven days, beginning with the day after the due date of the report, and will not exceed $200 per day thereafter; provided that:
- In aggregate, the fine does not exceed 25% of the total amount of contributions or expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by the report; and
- The minimum fine for a report filed more than four days after the due date, if assessed, is $200.
- Any candidate and noncandidate committee that does not file reports before an election will be fined, and it will not exceed $300 per day; provided that:
- The fine does not exceed 25% of the total amount of contributions or expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by the report; and
- The minimum fine, if assessed, is $300.
- Any report that is substantially defective or deficient, the HCSC will notify the candidate committee by first Class mail that the report is substantially defective or deficient and a fine may be assessed.
- If the corrected report is not filed on or before the 14th day after the notice has been mailed, the HCSC will issue a fine that will not exceed $50 per day for the first seven days, beginning with the 15th day after the notice was sent, and will not exceed $200 per day thereafter; provided that:
- The fine shall not exceed 25% of the total amount of contributions or expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by the report; and
- The minimum fine for not filing a corrected report more than 18 days after the notice, if assessed, is $200.
- A knowing, intentional or reckless violation of campaign finance laws is a misdemeanor.
- A knowing or intentionally violation of falsifying any report is a Class C felony.
- Failure to provide disclaimers to advertisements is a fine of $25 per advertisement for a first violation, a fine of $100 per advertisement for a second violation and a fine of $500 per advertisement for a third violation for each advertisement that lacks the required disclaimer. Fines for further violations shall be determined by the HCSC but will not exceed an aggregate amount of $5,000.
(Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-340)
Idaho
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions
- Who needs to register with the state
- Reporting thresholds
- Reporting timelines
- Filing methods
- Penalties
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates
- Political committees
- Nonbusiness entities
- Persons
Political committee means:
- Any person specifically designated to support or oppose any candidate or measure; or
- Any person who receives contributions and makes expenditures in an amount exceeding $1,000 in any calendar year for the purpose of supporting or opposing one or more candidates or measures.
- A county, district or regional committee of a recognized political party will not be considered a political committee unless such party committee has expenditures exceeding $5,000 in a calendar year.
Nonbusiness entity means any group of two or more individuals, a corporation, association, firm, partnership, committee, club or other organization that does not have as its principal purpose the conduct of business activities for profit; and received contributions, gifts or membership fees in the aggregate more than 10% of its total receipts for the year.
Person means an individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership, committee, political party, club or other organization or group of persons.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Individuals must register once they become a candidate. A person becomes a candidate when any of the following occurs:
- Receives contributions, makes expenditures or reserves space or facilities with the intent to promote their candidacy for office.
- Announces publicly their intent to run for office.
- Files an Appointment of Political Treasurer.
- Files a Declaration of Candidacy form.
- Political committees must register if the committee is specifically designed to support or oppose any candidate or measure or the committee received contributions and made expenditures in an amount exceeding $500 in any calendar year for the purpose of supporting or opposing one or more candidates and/or measures.
- Political committees, not specifically designed to support or oppose any candidate or measure, must register when the committee received contributions and made expenditures in an amount exceeding $1,000 in any calendar year.
Reporting Thresholds
- Political committees, specifically designed to support or oppose any candidate or measure, must file disclosure reports with the secretary of state when the committee receives contributions and makes expenditures in an amount exceeding $500 in any calendar year.
- Political committees, not specifically designed to support or oppose any candidate or measure, must file disclosure reports with the secretary of state when the committee receives contributions and makes expenditures in an amount exceeding $1,000 in any calendar year.
- Candidates do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Any person that incurs costs over $100 when making an electioneering communication must file a report with the secretary of state.
- Any person who makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount more than $100 in support of or in opposition to any one candidate, political committee or measure must file a report with the secretary of state.
- Any nonbusiness entity that is not a political committee making expenditures in or directed to voters in an amount more than $1,000 in any calendar year for the purpose of supporting or opposing one or more candidates or measures must file a statement with the secretary of state.
Reporting Timelines
Candidates and political committees must file reports at the following times:
- File monthly reports in an election year.
- File annual reports in a non-election year.
- Report any contribution of $1,000 or more within 48 hours of receiving the contribution.
Political committees must file independent expenditures with the reports mentioned above.
Each person who makes an independent expenditure in an aggregate amount of $1,000 or more must report the expenditure not more than 48 hours from the time of such expenditure.
Each person who makes electioneering communication expenditures in an aggregate amount more than $100 must file reports not less than seven days prior to the primary and general election and 30 days after the primary and general election.
Any person that incurs costs of $1,000 or more when making an electioneering communication must file a statement within 48 hours of incurring the costs for such communication.
Filing Method
Candidates and political committees must file campaign finance reports electronically, unless a waiver has been granted.
(Idaho Code § 67-6607)
Penalties
- Any person who violates the campaign finance provisions of the Idaho Code will be liable for a civil fine not to exceed $250 if an individual, and not more than $2,500 if a person other than an individual. The burden of proof for such civil liability shall be met by showing a preponderance of the evidence.
- Any person who fails to file a report on or before the reporting deadline will be liable in the amount of $50 per day beginning 48 hours after the deadline until the report is filed.
- Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the campaign finance provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, in addition to the fines mentioned above, may be imprisoned for not more than six months or be both fined and imprisoned.
- The attorney general or the appropriate prosecuting attorney may prosecute any violations of this act. Prosecution must be commenced within two years after the date on which the violation occurred.
(Idaho Code § 67-6625)
Illinois
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate committees.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee includes a candidate political committee, a political party committee, a political action committee, a ballot initiative committee and an independent expenditure committee.
Person means a person, trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation or any other organization or group of persons.
(10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/9-1.8, 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/9-1.6)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Political committees, including candidate political committees, must file a statement of organization after reaching the $5,000 filing threshold. A committee must file within 10 days of creation or within two days if it is 30 days from an election.
(10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/9-3)
Reporting Thresholds
- A candidate committee or political committee must file campaign disclosure reports when it reaches $5,000 in contributions or expenditures with the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE).
- The $5,000 threshold applies to any contributions or expenditures received or made with the purpose of securing a place on the ballot for, advocating the defeat or passage of, or engaging in electioneering communication requires that a committee file campaign disclosure documents with the ISBE.
- A person who makes independent expenditures supporting or opposing a candidate does not qualify as a committee but is required to file a special written disclosure with the ISBE if the independent expenditures total more than $3,000 in a 12-month period.
- Any persons, individuals, groups of persons or any organizations, political or otherwise, who have received or made expenditures in excess of $5,000 within a 12-month period for electioneering communication must file a report with the ISBE.
(10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/9-1.8)
Reporting Timelines
- Candidates and political committees must file quarterly reports on April 15, July 15, Oct. 15 and Jan. 15.
- Candidates and political committees must file a report when any contribution of $1,000 or more within five business days after receipt of the contribution.
- Political committees that make independent expenditures exceeding $1,000 must file a report within five business days after making the independent expenditure, except that the report must be filed within two business days after making the independent expenditure during the 60-day period before an election.
- Independent expenditure committees that make large contributions (more than $250,000 for statewide office or $100,000 for all other elective offices) supporting or opposing a public official or candidate during the election cycle, in an aggregate, must file a written disclosure with the ISBE within two business days after making any expenditure that results in the independent expenditure committee exceeding the threshold.
- A person who makes independent expenditures, including electioneering communications, supporting or opposing a candidate does not qualify as an independent expenditure committee must file a special written disclosure with the ISBE if the expenditures total more than $3,000 in a 12-month period within two business days.
(10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/9-10)
Filing Method
- Campaign disclosure reports may be filed electronically or by paper.
- Electronic filing is required for all political committees that during the reporting period had at any time a balance or an accumulation of contributions of $10,000 or more, made aggregate expenditures of $10,000 or more or received loans of an aggregate of $10,000 or more.
- A political committee that makes independent expenditures of $1,000 or more during the period 30 days or fewer before an election must electronically file a report with the Board within five business days.
(10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/9-28)
Penalties
- Civil penalty assessments for late filings:
- If the committee's total receipts, total expenditures and balance remaining at the end of the reporting period for which the delinquent report was due are each $5,000 or less, and if the delinquent report is a quarterly report, the political committee shall be assessed a fine of $25 per business day for the first violation, $50 per business day for the second violation, and $75 per business day for the third and each subsequent violation, to a maximum of $5,000. However, the civil penalty for any committee shall not exceed $1,000 for first time offense involving a filing that is less than 10 days late.
- If the committee's total receipts, total expenditures, or balance remaining at the end of the reporting period for which the delinquent report was due exceeds $5,000, and if the delinquent report is a quarterly report, the political committee will be assessed a fine of $50 per business day for the first violation, $100 per business day for the second violation, and $200 per business day for the third and each subsequent violation, to a maximum of $5,000. However, the civil penalty for any committee shall not exceed $1,000 for a first time offense involving a filing that is less than 10 days late.
- The ISBE may assess a civil penalty against a committee for any violation of disclosure of contributions and expenditures. The fine will not exceed the amount of the contribution and may be no more than $500 for the first violation, no more than $1,000 for the second violation, no more than $2,000 for a third violation, and no more than $3,000 for any subsequent violations.
- The receiving of contributions solicited illegally is a Class A misdemeanor.
- The willful failure to file or the willful filing of false or incomplete information is a civil fine of up to $5,000.
- The willful filing of a false complaint is a Class B misdemeanor.
- Any person who fails or refuses to comply with an order, stipulation, settlement or consent order by the Board may be assessed a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $5,000; except that for state officers and candidates and political committees formed for statewide office, the civil penalty may not exceed $10,000.
(10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/9-10, 5/9-25.2, 5/9-26, 5/9-26)
Indiana
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Party committees.
- Political action committees (PAC).
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must file a statement of organization not later than 10 days after becoming a candidate (that is, raising or spending more than $100 threshold dollar); or seven days after filing either a declaration of candidacy, a petition of nomination, a certificate of nomination, a certificate of candidate selection to fill a ballot vacancy, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.
- PACs and party committees must file a statement of organization not later than 10 days after it becomes a committee.
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates who receive more than $100 in contributions or make more than $100 in expenditures must file disclosure reports with the secretary of state.
- PACs that accept contributions or makes expenditures during a calendar year to influence the election of a candidate for state, legislative, local or school board office or the outcome of a public question that will appear on the ballot in Indiana; and receives or spends, in the aggregate, over $100 must file disclosure reports with the secretary of state.
(Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 3-5-2-37)
Reporting Timelines
- Non-statewide candidates on the ballot, party committees and PACs must file annual (January), pre-primary (April) and pre-election (October) reports.
- Statewide candidates (on the ballot) must file annual (January) and quarterly (April, July, October, November) reports.
- Statewide candidates (not on ballot) must file annual and semi-annual reports.
- Any large contribution that is received by a candidate for a state office or candidate’s committee that is at least $1,000 after the end of a reporting period and not less than 48 hours before an election must file supplemental reports within 48 hours.
- Any single contribution over $10,000 that is received by a candidate for a statewide office at any time must be reported seven days after the contribution is received.
(Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 3-9-5-22)
Filing Method
- Candidates for statewide and state legislative office must file all campaign finance reports and documents electronically.
- Other candidates and committee may file electronically or by paper.
- Contributions of $1,000 or more can be filed by facsimile transmission or as an electronic report.
(Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 3-9-5-22).
Penalties
- Late filings carry a fine of $50 per calendar day up to a maximum fine of $1,000 for reports filed past the deadline. Failure to timely file a campaign finance report may also result in criminal penalties.
- Failure to correct the report in a timely manner carry a fine of $10 per calendar day up to a maximum fine of $100. Any person who fails to file a correction to a defective report after being notified to do so is subject to a civil penalty up to $100. The Indiana Election Commission or county election board may add investigative costs to the penalty.
- A person who knowingly files a fraudulent report commits a level six felony and is subject to a $10,000 fine, two and one-half years imprisonment, or both.
- A person who fails to file a report with the proper office commits a Class B misdemeanor.
(Burns Ind. Code Ann. §§ 3-9-4-16, 3-9-4-17, 3-14-1-13)
Iowa
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means any of the following:
- A committee, but not a candidate’s committee, that accepts contributions over $1,000 in the aggregate, makes expenditures over $1,000 in the aggregate, or incurs indebtedness over $1,000 in the aggregate in any one calendar year to expressly advocate the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate for public office, or to expressly advocate the passage or defeat of a ballot issue.
- An association, lodge, society, cooperative, union, fraternity, sorority, educational institution, civic organization, labor organization, religious organization or professional organization that accepts contributions over $1,000 in the aggregate, makes expenditures over $1,000 in the aggregate, or incurs indebtedness over $1,000 in the aggregate in any one calendar year to expressly advocate the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate for public office, or to expressly advocate the passage or defeat of a ballot issue.
- A person, other than an individual, that accepts contributions over $1,000 in the aggregate, makes expenditures over $1,000 in the aggregate, or incurs indebtedness over $1,000 in the aggregate in any one calendar year to expressly advocate that an individual should or should not seek election to a public office prior to the individual becoming a candidate.
Person means any individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, labor union or any other legal entity.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Political committees that accept contributions, makes expenditures or incurs indebtedness over $1,000 in the aggregate in any one calendar year to expressly advocate the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate for public office, or to expressly advocate the passage or defeat of a ballot issue must register within 10 days.
- Candidate committee that accepts contributions, expend funds or incur indebtedness over $1,000 in the aggregate in any calendar year must register within 10 days.
(Iowa Code § 68A.201)
Reporting Thresholds
Candidates and political committees that accept contributions, makes expenditures or incurs indebtedness over $1,000 in the aggregate in any one calendar year must file disclosure reports with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB).
(Iowa Code § 68A.102)
Reporting Timelines
Candidate for statewide office, general assembly or a judge standing for retention must file campaign disclosure reports:
- Annually and quarterly on May 19, July 19, Oct, 19 and Jan. 19 in an election year. In addition, pre-primary and pre-general reports must be filed.
- Annually on Jan. 19 in a non-election year.
Political committees must file campaign disclosure reports:
- May 19, July 19, Oct. 19 and Jan. 19 in an election year.
- Annually on Jan. 19 in a non-election year.
PACs must file campaign disclosure reports:
- Quarterly on May 19, July 19, Oct. 19 and Jan. 19 in an election year.
- Semi-annually on July 19 and Jan. 19 in a non-election year.
An independent expenditure statement must be filed within 48 hours of the making of an independent expenditure over $1,000 in the aggregate, or within 48 hours of disseminating the communication to its intended audience, whichever is earlier.
(Iowa Code §§ 68A.402, 68A.404, 351 IAC 4.9)
Filing Method
Disclosure reports must be filed electronically.
(351 IAC 4.8)
Penalties
- Late filings of a report may carry a civil penalty. The amount of the civil penalty is automatically set by the IECDB based on the number of days late and if it is a repeat violation.
- Statewide, general assembly, state statutry, state political committees and a judge standing for retention shall be assessed civil penalties for late-filed reports:
- One to 14 consecutive days delinquent $50 (first time) $100 (repeat).
- 31 to 45 consecutive days delinquent $200 (first time) $300 (repeat).
- 15 to 30 consecutive days delinquent $100 (first time) $200 (repeat).
- General assembly candidates' cmmittees required to file supplementary disclosure reports will be assessed a $200 civil penalty for filing a supplementary report one or more days late. Statewide committees required to file supplementary disclosure reports shall be assessed a $400 civil penalty for filing a supplementary report one or more days late.
- The IECDB, after a hearing and upon a finding that a campaign finance violation, may do one or more of the following:
- Issue an order requiring the violator to cease and desist from the violation found.
- Issue an order requiring the violator to take any remedial action deemed appropriate by the board.
- Issue an order requiring the violator to file any report, statement or other information.
- Issue a written recommendation to the violator’s appointing authority that the violator be removed or suspended from office and include in the recommendation the length of the suspension.
- Issue an order requiring the violator to pay a civil penalty of not more than $2,000 for each violation.
- Issue a referral of the complaint and supporting information to the attorney general or appropriate county attorney with a recommendation for prosecution or enforcement of criminal penalties.
- Any person who willfully violates any of the campaign finance provisions will, upon conviction, be guilty of a serious misdemeanor.
(Iowa Code § 68A.701)
Kansas
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate.
- Party committee.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means any combination of two or more individuals or any person other than an individual, a major purpose of which is to expressly advocate the nomination, election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for state or local office or make contributions to or expenditures for the nomination, election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for state or local office.
Person means any individual, committee, corporation, partnership, trust, organization or association.
(K.S.A. § 25-4143)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must register not later than 10 days after becoming a candidate.
- Party committees and political committees which anticipates receiving contributions or making expenditures for a candidate for state office must file a statement of organization with the secretary of state not later than 10 days after establishment of such committee.
(K.S.A. § § 25-4144, 25-4145)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates that receive $1,000 or more in contributions and spends $1,000 or more must file reports with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission (KGEC). An Affidavit of Exemption can be filed in lieu of the receipts and expenditures reports if the candidate anticipates receiving less than $1,000 in total contributions and anticipates spending less than $1,000 in total expenditures in each of the primary and general elections.
- An Affidavit of Exemption may be filed by a candidate who anticipates receiving less than $1,000 in total contributions and anticipates spending less than $1,000 in total expenditures in each of the primary and general elections.
- Party and political committees that receives $1,000 or more in contributions and spends $1,000 or more must file reports with the KGEC.
- An Affidavit of Exemption can only be filed by a party committee or political committee that anticipates receiving contributions less than $1,000 and spending less than $1,000 in the calendar year. To qualify for filing the Affidavit, the party committee or political committee cannot receive any single contribution over $50.
- Any individual or organization, other than a political or party committee, that makes an independent expenditure in the amount of $100 or more is required to file a report with the KGEC.
(K.S.A. §§ 25-4173, 25-4175, 25-4148a)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates and political committees must file the following reports in an election year:
- In July, October and January.
- On the eighth day preceding the primary election.
- On the eighth day preceding a general election.
- On Jan. 10 of the year after an election year.
In a non-election year, a report must be filed on Jan. 10 in the following calendar year.
Any candidate, political and party committee that receives a contribution in the amount of $300 or more beginning 11 days before the primary or general election and ending on the Monday preceding the date of election must file a last-minute contributions report.
In addition to the reports mentioned above, any political and party committee that makes an independent expenditure more than $300 beginning 11 days before the primary or general election and ending on the Wednesday preceding the date of the election must file a last-minute independent expenditures report.
Any political and party committee that makes an independent expenditure on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding the election must file a daily report.
Any person engaging in an activity promoting the adoption or repeal of a provision of the Kansas constitution who accepts any contributed moneys for such activity must file:
- An annual report in January.
- A preliminary report 15 days prior to each election at which a proposed constitutional amendment is submitted.
- A supplement report 15 days after each election at which a proposed constitutional amendment is submitted.
An Affidavit of Exemption requesting an exemption from the above reporting requirements must be filed on or before the due date for the first receipts and expenditures report. If the affidavit is received after the due date for the first receipts and expenditures report, it will be invalid, and the campaign or committee will be required to file all receipts and expenditures reports for the election year.
(K.S.A. § 25-4148)
Filing Method
Campaign finance reports may be filed electronically or by paper.
(K.S.A. § 25-4158a, K.S.A. § 25-4148b)
Penalties
- The KGEC may assess a civil fine against any person for a violation of the campaign finance act in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for the first violation, $10,000 for the second violation and $15,000 for the third violation and subsequent violations.
- Any person who fails to file reports will be assessed a civil penalty of $10 per day for each day that such report or statement remains unfiled, except that no such civil penalty shall exceed $300. The candidate will be liable for a civil penalty of $100 for the first day the report is more than 48 hours late and $50 for each subsequent day the report is late, but in no case shall the civil penalty exceed $1,000. A political committee will be liable for a civil penalty of $100 for the first day the report is more than 48 hours late and $50 for each subsequent day the report is late, but in no case shall the civil penalty exceed $1,000.
- Failure to file a campaign finance report is a Class A misdemeanor.
- The intentional making of any false material statements in a report or statement made under the campaign finance act is a Class A misdemeanor.
(K.S.A. § 25-4181, K.S.A. § 25-4152, K.S.A. § 25-4167, K.S.A. § 25-4168)
Kentucky
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates or campaign committees.
- Permanent committees.
- Other committees.
Permanent committee means a group of individuals, including an association, committee or organization, other than a campaign committee, political issues committee, inaugural committee, caucus campaign committee or party executive committee, which is established as, or intended to be, a permanent organization having as a primary purpose expressly advocating the election or defeat of one or more clearly identified candidates, slates of candidates or political parties, which functions on a regular basis throughout the year. A political action committee is a permanent committee.
Other committee includes caucus campaign committees, political issues committees, executive committees of a political party and inaugural committees.
(Ky. Rev. Stat. § 121.015)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidate, permanent and other committees, must register with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (KREF) by filing official notice of intention at the time of organization.
- Federal political action committees (PAC) and out-of-state PACs are exempt from registering in Kentucky.
(Ky. Rev. Stat. § 121.170)
Reporting Thresholds
- Permanent and other committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported. Candidates and political issues committees must file reports with the KREF if the committee receives contributions or expends over $3,000 in one election. Candidates and political issues committees that do not anticipate or expect to go over the $3,000 threshold must file an exemption for each primary, regular or special election.
Reporting Timelines
- Candidates and campaign committees must file quarterly and annual reports. In addition, if candidates raise or spend over $3,000 for an election, they must file 30-day pre-election, 15-day pre-election, 30-day post-election and 60-day post-election supplemental reports.
- Permanent committees must file quarterly reports on Mar. 31, June 30, Sept. 30 and Dec. 31.
- Executive committees and caucus campaign committees file semi-annual reports.
- All independent expenditure reports must be submitted electronically within 48 hours of the date that the communication is publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated.
- Political issue committees must file 60-day pre-general election report, 30-day pre-general election report, 15-day pre-general election report, annual report in December, 30-day post-general election report and a 60-day post-general election report.
- Political issues committees that register prior to the year of the election for which the public question or constitutional amendment will appear on the ballot will have additional reports due on a quarterly basis until the year of the election.
(Ky. Rev. Stat. § 121.180; 32 Ky. Admin. Regs. 2:100)
Filing Method
Disclosure reports must be filed electronically.
Penalties
- Any person who knowingly violates the campaign finance provisions may be guilty of a Class D felony. Violations include, but are not limited to:
- Failure to make required reports or to file reports at times specified.
- Making any false statement or report.
- Giving money under a fictitious name. or
- Making any communication violation.
- Substantial civil penalties may also be assessed for violations committed unknowingly.
- Any candidate, slate of candidates or political issues committee that is exempt from filing campaign finance reports that accepts contributions or makes expenditures in excess of the $3,000 limit without rescinding the request for exemption in a timely manner is subject to a fine of not less than $500.
- The attorney general, a commonwealth’s attorney, the KREF or any qualified voter may sue for injunctive relief to compel compliance.
(Ky. Rev. Stat. § 121.990)
Louisiana
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
The following must file reports of contributions and expenditures:
- Candidates.
- Political committees, including political action committee (PAC).
- Persons.
Political committee means two or more persons, other than a husband and wife, and any corporation organized for the primary purpose of supporting or opposing one or more candidates, propositions, recalls of a public officer, or political parties, which accepts contributions in the name of the committee, or makes expenditures from committee funds or in the name of the committee, or makes a transfer of funds to or receives a transfer of funds from another committee, or receives or makes loans in an aggregate amount over $500 within any calendar year.
Person means any individual, partnership, limited liability company or corporation, association, labor union, political committee, corporation or other legal entity, including their subsidiaries.
(La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 18:1484, 18:1483)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
Political committees that know or anticipate that it will receive contributions or loans, make expenditures or loans, or make a transfer of funds to or receive a transfer of funds from another committee during a calendar year in the aggregate amount exceeding $500 must file a statement of organization annually in January of each calendar year.
An out-of-state PAC that supports candidates in states other than Louisiana, receives less than 50% of its receipts during a calendar year from persons in Louisiana, and expends less than 50% of its disbursements during a calendar year, but not more than $20,000, to support or oppose Louisiana candidates is exempted from registering and reporting in Louisiana.
(La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 18:1491.1)
Reporting Thresholds
- Political committees that accept or make contributions and expenditures in an aggregate amount more than $500 in a calendar year must file campaign finance reports with the Louisiana Ethics Administration Program (LEAP).
- Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of insurance, the superintendent of education, public service commissioner, justice of the supreme court, court of appeal judge, district court judge or the Louisiana legislature must file campaign finance reports with the LEAP.
- Candidates for any other public office who makes expenditures over$2,500; or receives contributions from a single source totaling over$200 must file reports with the LEAP.
- Persons, other than a candidate or a political committee, who makes any independent expenditures or who accepts any contributions for independent expenditures in an aggregate amount more than $500 in a calendar year must file reports with the LEAP.
- Any person, other than a candidate or political committee, who solicits or receives any contribution or makes any expenditure in support of, or opposition to, a proposition or question submitted to the voters if the aggregate amount of contributions or expenditures equals or exceeds $1,000 must file reports with the LEAP.
- Any candidate or political committee who solicits or receives any contribution or makes any expenditure in support of, or opposition to, a proposition or question submitted to the voters if the aggregate amount of contributions or expenditures equals or exceeds $200 must file reports with the LEAP. Candidates for major office do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
(La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 18:1483, 18:1486, 18:1501.1)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates, political committees and other persons may need to report campaign activity at the following times:
- Each candidate and committee must file an annual report no later than Feb. 15 of each year. An annual report is not due if another required report was filed after Dec. 10 and before Feb. 15, or if the candidate or committee has received no contributions, made no expenditures and received or made no loans during the reporting period.
- Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of insurance, the superintendent of education, public service commissioner, justice of the supreme court, court of appeal judge, district court judge and any office with an election district containing a population in excess of 250,000 must file a report 180 days before to the primary election.
- Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of insurance, the superintendent of education, public service commissioner, justice of the supreme court, court of appeal judge, district court judge and any office with an election district containing a population in excess of 250,000 must file a report 90 days prior to the primary election.
- All candidates and committees participating in the primary election must report 30 days prior to the primary election.
- All candidates and committees participating in the primary election must report 10 days prior to the primary election.
- All candidates and committees participating in the primary election must report 10 days prior to the general election.
- Candidates and committees participating in the general election must report 40 days after the general election.
Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of insurance, the superintendent of education, public service commissioner, justice of the supreme court, court of appeal judge, district court judge, any office with an election district containing a population in excess of 250,000 or the Louisiana legislature who do not spend over $5,000 and do not receive contributions from one source, including the use of the candidate's personal funds, totaling over $200 may file an affidavit, but no campaign finance report.
Late special reports are required during the 20-day period immediately preceding an election and must be filed within two business days of the transaction, if a contribution or loan in excess of $1,000 for major office candidates or $500 for district office candidates, or $250 for any other office candidates is received and accepted during the 20-day period, or an expenditure over $200 is made during the 20-day period to a candidate, committee or other person required to file disclosure reports who makes endorsements. Special Reports must be filed within two business days of the transaction.
Supplemental reports are required to be filed annually by Feb. 15 if a candidate shows outstanding debts or loans or surplus funds. A supplemental report need not be filed if the candidate is not elected to any office and shows outstanding debts and loans or a surplus totaling less than $2,500.
Any person who makes any independent expenditures or who accepts any contributions for independent expenditures must file report within 48 hours after the time the contribution is received or expenditure made.
Any person who accepts any contribution or makes expenditures in support or opposition to a proposition election must file reports 30 days prior to the election, 10 days prior to the election and 40 days after the election. Special reports are required for any contribution or expenditure in excess of $200 during the 20-day period immediately preceding the proposition election.
(La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 18:1491.6, 18:1495.4)
Filing Method
- All candidates, slates of candidates, committees and contributing organizations must file campaign finance reports electronically.
- Statewide offices and legislative members offices should file campaign finance reports electronically.
- Political committees that receive contributions over $50,000 or make expenditures over $50,000 in a calendar year must file disclosure reports electronically.
(La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 18:1485)
Penalties
- Failure to submit reports or failure to disclose information constitutes a violation.
- Any candidate, political committee or any other person required to file reports and who knowingly fails to file or who knowingly fails to timely file may be assessed a civil penalty. The amount of such penalty may be:
- $100 per day, not to exceed $2,500, for each candidate for major office and any treasurer or chairman of any political committee designated as a principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee of such a candidate.
- $60 per day, not to exceed $2,000, for any candidate for district office and any treasurer or chairman of any political committee designated as a principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee of such a candidate.
- $40 per day, not to exceed $1,000, for any candidate for all other offices and any treasurer or chairman of any political committee designated as a principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee of such a candidate.
- $40 per day, no to exceed $1,000, for any person or the treasurer or chairman of any political committee, not supporting or opposing a candidate, but only supporting or opposing any proposition or question submitted to the voters or any recall of a public officer.
- $200 per day, not to exceed $3,000, for the treasurer or chairman of any political committee supporting or opposing a candidate, other than a candidate’s principal or subsidiary campaign committee.
- A knowing or willful violation of the campaign finance laws carries a civil penalty, criminal penalty or both.
- Any candidate, treasurer or chairman of a political committee or any other person required to file such reports who knowingly, willfully and fraudulently fails to disclose any such information or who knowingly, willfully and fraudulently fails to accurately disclose such information will, upon conviction, be sentenced to not over six months in jail or to pay a fine of not more than $500, or both.
(La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 18:1505.4, 18:1505.5, 18:1505.6)
Maine
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Party committees.
- Ballot question committees.
- Persons.
Person means an individual, committee, firm, partnership, corporation, association or organization.
(Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1001)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
Candidates must register no later than 10 days after becoming a candidate and before accepting contributions, making expenditures or incurring obligations.
PACs must file an initial campaign finance report within seven days of registration or within 14 days of having been required to register, whichever comes first. The registration thresholds are $2,500 for an organization or voluntary association which participates in a candidate election and $5,000 for organization, voluntary association or individual which participates in a referendum election.
The district, county and municipal party committees must submit to their state party committees the names, mailing addresses and email addresses of all their officers and of their treasurers and the name and address of the principal paid employee, if any, within 10 days after the appointment, election or hiring of these persons. Municipal committees must file copies of the same information with the municipal clerk. No later than June 15 of each year, the state party committee will submit to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices (GEEP) a consolidated report of the names, mailing addresses and e-mail addresses of the chair and treasurer of the district, county and municipal committees
Ballot question committees must register with the commission within seven days of receiving contributions or making expenditures in the aggregate in excess of $5,000.
(21-A M.R.S. § 1013-A)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates have no reporting threshold.
- Party committees that raise or spend $1,500 or more in a calendar year must file reports with the GEEP.
- PACs that raise or spend $2,500 or more in a calendar year must file reports with the GEEP.
- Any person, including any corporation or association, other than an individual, which receives contributions or makes expenditures aggregating more than $2,500 in a calendar year, for an organization or voluntary association which participates in a candidate election, must file reports with the GEEP.
- Any person, party committee or PAC that makes independent expenditures or electioneering communications over $250 must file reports with the GEEP.
- Any person, including any corporation or association, other than an individual, which receives contributions or makes expenditures aggregating more than $5,000 in a calendar year, for an organization or voluntary association which participates in a referendum election, must file reports with the GEEP.
- Ballot question committees that raise or spend $5,000 or more in a calendar year must file reports with the GEEP.
Reporting Timelines
Candidates report campaign activity at the following times:
- Semiannual reports must be filed by gubernatorial candidates that have received contributions over $1,000 or made or authorized expenditures over $1,000 and other candidates that have received contributions over $500 or made or authorized expenditures over $500.
- 11-day pre-primary report.
- 42-day post-primary report.
- 42-day pre-general report.
- 11-day pre-general report.
- 42-day post-general report.
- 24-hour reports apply to the 13 days prior to an election. A report must be filed if the candidate accepts a single contribution or makes a single expenditure of $1,000 or more. This includes loans, debts and debt payments.
PAC, ballot question committees and party committees file reports at the following times:
- Quarterly reports on Jan. 15, April 10, July 15 and Oct. 5.
- In an election year, an April quarterly, 11-day pre-primary, 42-day post-primary, October quarterly, 11-day pre-general, 42-day post-general and January quarterly reports.
- Any single contribution of $5,000 or more or single expenditure of $1,000 or more made after the 14th day before the election and more than 24 hours before the day of the election must be filed within 24 hours.
It is the amount of the expenditure spent that determines whether an independent expenditure has to be reported. When an independent expenditure report has to be filed depends on the timing of the expenditure. A person, party committee or political action committee that makes any independent expenditure over $250 during any one candidate’s election must file a report with the MCGEEP.
- A report must be filed by 11:59 p.m. on the 60th day before the election is held and be complete as of the 61st day before the election.
- From the 60th day through the 14th day before an election, a report must be filed within two calendar days of the expenditure.
- After the 14th day before an election, a report must be filed within one calendar day of the expenditure.
(Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, §§ 1059, 1017-A, 94-270-001 Me. Code R. § 1)
Filing Method
Campaign disclosure reports must be filed electronically, although the MCGEEP may grant exceptions to submitting electronic reports.
(Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1017, 1017-A, 1059)
Penalties
- Late report filings will be assessed late filing fees. Those fees are based on a percentage of the total contributions or expenditures for the filing period, whichever is greater, multiplied by the number of calendar days late. The first violation is 2%, the second violation is 4% and the third and subsequent violations is 6%.
- A person who knowingly makes or accepts a contribution or expenditure in violation of the campaign finance laws is guilty of a Class E crime.
- A person who makes a false statement in a campaign finance report is guilty of a Class E crime.
- A candidate who fails to register the name of a candidate, treasurer or political committee on time may be assessed a fine of $100.
- A person who fails to register a political action committee or ballot question committee is guilty of a Class E crime.
- The intentional solicitation or giving of a campaign contribution to the governor, members of the legislature or constitutional officers when the legislature is in session is a $1,000 penalty.
- The making of an expenditure, communication or broadcast within 10 days before the election that does not state who authorized it is a $200 fine.
- Failure to register is a $10 penalty.
- A violation of the requirements for publication or distribution of political communications may result in a civil penalty of no more than 100% of the amount of the expenditure in violation, except that an expenditure for yard signs lacking the required information may result in a maximum civil penalty of $200.
- In assessing a civil penalty, the commission will consider, among other things, how widely the communication was disseminated, whether the violation was intentional, whether the violation occurred as the result of an error by a printer or other paid vendor and whether the communication conceals or misrepresents the identity of the person who financed it.
- If the person who financed the communication or who committed the violation corrects the violation within 10 days after receiving notification of the violation from the commission by adding the missing information to the communication, the commission may decide to assess no civil penalty.
(Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § § 1004, 1015, 1014)
Maryland
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means a combination of two or more individuals that has as its major purpose promoting the success or defeat of a candidate, political party, question or prospective question submitted to a vote at any election. Political committees include a political action committee, political party, legislative party caucus committee, independent expenditure committee and ballot issue committee.
(Md. Election Law Code Ann. § 1-101)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates and political committees must register and file a statement of organization before the committee can receive or disburse money or any other thing of value.
- Out-of-state political committees must register with the Maryland State Board of Elections (MSBE) within 48 hours after directly or indirectly making transfers in a cumulative amount of $6,000 or more in an election cycle to one or more campaign finance entities.
- Independent expenditure committees must file a registration form with the Maryland State Board of Elections within 48 hours after a person makes aggregate independent expenditures of $5,000 or more in an election cycle.
(Md. Election Law Code Ann. §§ 13-207, 13-301)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and political committees have no reporting threshold.
- A political committee may file an Affidavit of Limited Contributions and Expenditures if the committee did not receive or spend more than $1,000 in the aggregate, during the reporting period. The affidavit would be in lieu of a report.
- A person or independent expenditures committee must report an independent expenditure when it makes aggregate expenditures of $5,000 or more in an election cycle for campaign material that is a public communication with the MSBE.
- A person who makes aggregate disbursements of $5,000 or more in an election cycle for electioneering communications must register with the MSBE within 48 hours.
(Md. Election Law Code Ann. §§ 13-207, 13-301, 13-307)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates and political committees, except for a ballot issue committee, submit an annual campaign finance report in January. In addition, the committees may need to file pre-primary reports on the fifth Tuesday and second Friday before a primary election; pre-general reports on the last Tuesday in August and the second Friday before a general election; and a post-general report due on the second Tuesday after the general election.
- Annual Report due in January.
- Spring Report due in April (only required for new committees that were not required to file the annual report).
- Pre-Primary Report one due in June.
- Pre-Primary Report two due in July.
- Pre-General Report one due in August.
- Pre-General Report two due in October.
- Post-General Report due in November.
In addition to the reports mentioned above, a person making independent expenditures may need to file other reports. A person must file an independent expenditure report with the MSBE within 48 hours after a day on which a person makes aggregate independent expenditures of $10,000 or more in an election cycle.
A ballot issue committee must file campaign finance reports as follows:
- On the third Wednesday in January, if needed. (If the ballot issue committee is established a year or more before the election, it is required to file an annual report each year until the year of the election.)
- On or before the last Tuesday in August immediately preceding a general election.
- On or before the fourth Friday immediately preceding a general election.
- On or before the second Friday immediately preceding a general election.
- On or before the second Tuesday after a general election.
(Md. Election Law Code Ann. §§ 13-306, 13-309)
Filing Method
All political committees must file their campaign finance reports electronically. The MSBE may grant a waiver if a political committee maintains a cash balance of less than $3,000 and/or has less than 20 transactions during a reporting period.
Penalties
- The MSBE will assess late fees for each day or part of a day that a campaign finance report, an affidavit, or an amended campaign finance report is overdue. The penalty is $20 for each of the first seven days; $35 for each of the following seven days; and $50 for each day thereafter. The maximum fee is $1,000.
- Failure to file a campaign finance report may result in the MSBE referring the matter for prosecution.
- The acceptance of a contribution during the legislative session is a civil penalty equal to the sum of $1,000 plus the amount of the contribution.
- General violations of the campaign finance laws are a misdemeanor and may result in a fine of up to $25,000, up to one year imprisonment, or both.
- A person who unknowingly violates a provision of the campaign finance laws will pay a civil penalty up to $5,000.
- The MSBE may assess a civil penalty for failure to file properly an independent expenditure report or an amended independent expenditure report in an amount not exceeding the greater of:
- $1,000 for each day or part of a day that an independent expenditure report or amended independent expenditure report is overdue. or
- 10% of the amount of the donations or independent expenditures that were not reported in a timely manner.
- The failure to file properly an independent expenditure report or an amended independent expenditure report occurs more than 28 days before the day of a primary or general election, the MSBE may assess a civil penalty in an amount not exceeding the greater of:
- $100 for each day or part of a day that an independent expenditure report or amended independent expenditure report is overdue. or
- 10% of the amount of the donations or disbursements for independent expenditures that were not reported in a timely manner.
(Md. Election Law Code Ann. §§ 13-331, 13-335 13-603)
Massachusetts
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means any committee, association, organization or other group of persons, including a national, regional, state, county or municipal committee, which receives contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate, or candidates, or of presidential and vice presidential electors, or for the purpose of opposing or promoting a charter change, referendum question, constitutional amendment or other question submitted to the voters. Political committees include a political action committee, political party committee and ballot question committee.
Person means any individual, group, association, corporation, labor union and any other entity that is not a political committee.
(Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 55, § 1)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
Candidates and political committees may not accept any contributions nor incur any expenses until it has registered and filed statement of organizations with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (MOCPF).
(Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 55, § 5)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and political committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Any person not registered as political committees that makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount exceeding $250 during any calendar year must file reports with the MOCPF.
- Any person not registered as political committees that make electioneering communications must file a report with the MOCPF, when electioneering communications exceed $250 in the aggregate during any calendar year.
Reporting Timelines
Candidates and political committees may need to report campaign activity at the following times:
- In odd-numbered years, legislative candidates file quarterly reports on Jan. 20, April 20, July 20 and Oct. 20.
- In even numbered years, legislative candidates file quarterly reports on Jan. 20, April 20, July 20 and Oct. 20 and eight days before the primary election and eight days before the general election.
- Monthly reports of all expenditure activity are due no later than the fifth day of the following month.
- Year-end reports must be filed by Jan. 20 each year. The year-end report summarizes all deposit and expenditure activity and provides disclosure of all in-kind contributions received or liabilities incurred during the year.
Every individual, group, association, corporation, labor union, political committee or other entity that makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount exceeding $250 during any calendar year for the express purpose of promoting the election or defeat of a candidate must file with the director:
- Within seven business days after the goods or services for which the independent expenditure was made are utilized to advocate for the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate.
- Within 24 hours after the goods or services for which the independent expenditure was made are utilized after the 10th day, but 24 hours before an election.
A ballot measure committee will file the following reports:
- An initial report must be filed within three days of a committee organizing. Any receipts or expenditures that occurred in the PAC’s first three days must be disclosed.
- Semi-monthly reports must be submitted by the fifth day and the 20th day of the month.
- Committees that receive a contribution of $500 or more after the 18th day, but more than 72 hours, before the date of an election must file a late contribution report within 72 hours of receipt.
- Committees must file a summary year-end report which is due on Jan. 20 of the following year.
Electioneering reports must be filed within seven days after an electioneering communication is made before the seventh day preceding any election. During the final seven days before an election, electioneering reports must be filed within 48 hours for electioneering communications that exceeds $1,000.
(Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 55, §§ 18A, 18F)
Filing Method
Campaign disclosure reports are filed electronically.
Penalties
- Civil penalties for any report, statement or affidavit required to be filed and is filed later than the prescribed date carries a $25 fine per day with a maximum penalty no greater than $5,000 for any one report, statement or affidavit.
- Failure to keep campaign finance records as prescribed by law carries a one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
- Failure to disclose a contributor’s identity may be punished by a fine up to $1,000, and imprisonment up to one year.
- Any candidate or political committee who violates the receiving or expending rules may be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than $500.
- Any person or corporation, association, organization or other group of persons who violate the reporting rules for ballot question contributions and expenditures will be punished by a fine of not more than $50,000.
- Any person who violates or in any way knowingly aids or abets the violation of the reporting rules for ballot question contributions and expenditures will be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both.
- Any person who violates the disclaimer rules will be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
(Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 55, §§ 2, 3, 7, 10, 18, 22)
Michigan
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate committees.
- Political committees.
- Political party committees.
- Independent expenditure committees.
- Ballot question committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means a committee that was formed to support one or more candidates and may also support or oppose ballot questions. A political committee includes: a political action committee (PAC), leadership PAC, legislative PAC, leadership fund, victory fund, majority fund, minority fund and independent committee.
Person means a business, individual, proprietorship, limited liability company, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, business trust, labor organization, company, corporation, association, committee or any other organization or group of persons acting jointly.
(Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 169.211)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must register and form a candidate committee and as soon as a person becomes a candidate. The candidate has up to 10 calendar days to form a committee.
- Political committees receiving contributions and making expenditures more than $500 must register within 10 days.
- Political party committees receiving contributions and making expenditures more than $500 must register within 10 calendar days.
- Independent expenditure committee spending $500 or more in a calendar year on independent expenditures must register within 10 calendar days.
- Ballot question committee receiving contributions and making expenditures more than $500 in support of, or in opposition to, the qualification, passage or defeat of a ballot question must register within 10 calendar days.
(Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. §§ 169.221, 169.224)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates that expect to receive or spend more than $1,000 for an election must file disclosure reports with the secretary of state. A candidate committee may obtain a reporting waiver exemption from filing detailed campaign statements if they don’t expect to receive or spend more than $1,000 for an election.
- Political committees, political party committees and ballot question committees that expects to receive $500 or more of contributions or spends $500 or more for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of the voters in a calendar year must file disclosure reports with the secretary of state.
- Independent expenditure political committees that spend $500 or more in a calendar year on independent expenditures must file reports with the secretary of state.
- Any person, other than a committee, that makes an independent expenditure in an amount of $100.01 or more in a calendar year must file a report with the secretary of state.
(Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 169.203)
Reporting Timelines
- Candidates in an election year may need to report campaign activity at the following times:
- A pre-election campaign statement must be filed not later than the 11th day before an election.
- A post-election campaign statement must be filed not later than the 30th day following the election.
- A July quarterly must be filed each year in which the office is not up for election.
- An October quarterly must be filed each year in which the office is not up for election.
- An annual campaign statement must be filed in January for the previous year’s activities.
- Candidates in a non-election year need to report campaign activity by July 25 and Oct. 25.
- Candidates who receive any single or cumulative contribution of $500 or more received from the same person between the day following the close of the last report and the third day before an election in which the candidate participates must file late contribution report within 48 hours.
- Political committees, including state level PACs, including super PACS and caucus committees registered with the Michigan Department of State’s Bureau of Elections are required to file reports in January, April, July and October.
- Local level PACs registered with a county clerk’s office are required to file annual reports and any pre-election and post-election statements for elections where the committees spend money to influence voters.
- State level political party committees are required to file annual reports and any pre-election and post-election statements for elections where the committees spend money to influence voters.
- Political committees and political party committees must file a late contribution report if:
- The committee receives a single or cumulative contribution of $2,500 or more received from the same person between the day following the close of the last report and the third day before the date of any election; and
- The committee has made an expenditure to support or oppose a candidate or ballot question on the ballot during the same late contribution report period described above.
- Caucus committees and political party committees are required to file daily reports from the 14th day preceding an election to the day after the election, if the committee receives a contribution or makes an expenditure of more than $1,000 per day.
- Political committees file independent expenditures with the reports mentioned above. In addition, if an independent expenditure is made within 45 days of a special election by a political committee, a report of the expenditure must be filed within 48 hours.
- Any person, other than a committee, that makes an independent expenditure, advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or the qualification, passage or defeat of a ballot question, in an amount of $100.01 or more in a calendar year must file a report of the independent expenditure, within 10 days after making that independent expenditure.
- Ballot question committees must file:
- A pre-election campaign report, the closing date of which is the 16th day before the election, must not be filed later than the 11th day before the election.
- A postelection campaign report, the closing date of which is the 20th day following the election, must not be filed later than the 30th day following an election.
- April 25 with a closing date of April 20 of that year.
- July 25 with a closing date of July 20 of that year.
- In every odd numbered year, a report must be filed no later than October 25 with a closing date of Oct. 20 of that year.
- A ballot question committee supporting or opposing a statewide ballot question must file a report, of which the closing date is the 28th day after the filing of the petition form, not later than 35 days after the petition form is filed.
- A ballot question committee must file a late contribution if the committee receives a single or cumulative contribution of $2,500 or more from the same person between the day following the close of the last report and the third day before the date of any election; and the committee has made an expenditure to support or oppose a candidate or ballot question on the ballot during the same late contribution report period described above.
(Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. §§ 169.233, 169.234)
Filing Method
- Campaign disclosure reports may be filed electronically or on paper.
- Committees are required to file electronically if the committee received or expended $5,000 or more in the preceding calendar year or expects to receive or expend $5,000 or more in the current calendar year.
(Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 169.218)
Penalties
- Late filing fees are assessed for filings that are required to be filed but are not filed on time.
- For committees that have raised $10,000 or less during the previous two years, the fine is $25 per day, not to exceed $500.
- For committees that have raised more than $10,000 during the previous two years, the fine is $25 per day, an additional $25 per day after the first three days, an additional $50 per day after the first 10 days, not to exceed $1,000.
- A person who fails to file two statements and both of the statements remain unfiled for more than 30 days is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
- A person that violates the requirements and reporting of contributions and expenditures may be subject to a civil fine of not more than $1,000.
- A person who fails to file a statement of organization will pay a late filing fee of $10 for each business day the statement remains not filed. The late filing fee will not exceed $300. A person who fails to file for more than 30 days after a statement of organization is required to be filed is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.
- An individual, group or organization the fails to file or late files an Independent Expenditure Report, a late filing fee will be assessed as follows:
- If the Independent Expenditure is less than $10,000, the fee accrues at $25 per business day to a maximum of $1,000.
- If the Independent Expenditure is $10,000 or more, the fee accrues at $50 per business day to a maximum of $5,000.
- A person that fails to file a required report for more than 30 calendar days is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000 or both.
- A person who knowingly violates the disclaimer requirements is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, or imprisonment for not more than 93 days, or both.
(Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. §§ 169.221, 169.233, 169.234, 169.235)
Minnesota
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Political party unit.
Political committee means an association whose major purpose is to influence the nomination or election of one or more candidates or to promote or defeat a ballot question, other than a principal campaign committee or a political party unit. Political committee includes, but is not limited to political action committees, independent expenditure political committee, ballot question political committees.
Political party unit means the state committee of a political party or the party organization in a body of the legislature, a congressional district, a county, a legislative district, a city, a township or a precinct. A state political party is made up of all of its individual party units.
(Minn. Stat. § 10A.01)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must register the candidate’s campaign committee with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board (Board) within 14 days after receiving more than $750 from supporters or spending more than $750 to help the candidate get nominated or elected.
- Political committees, political funds, principal campaign committees or party units must register and the registration statement must be filed by the earliest of the following dates: (1) no later than 14 days after the committee, fund or party unit has made a contribution, received contributions, or made expenditures over$750; or (2) no later than the next report of receipts and expenditures filing date applicable to the committee, fund or party unit if the committee, fund or party unit reached the threshold.
- Independent expenditure or ballot question political committees or funds must register and the registration statement must be filed by the earliest of the following dates no later than 14 calendar days after the committee has:
- Received aggregate contributions for independent expenditures of more than $1,500 in a calendar year.
- Received aggregate contributions for expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot question of more than $5,000 in a calendar year.
- Made aggregate independent expenditures of more than $1,500 in a calendar year. or
- Made aggregate expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot question of more than $5,000 in a calendar year.
(Minn. Stat. § 10A.14)
Reporting Thresholds
Candidates, political committees and political party units must file reports after receiving contributions or making expenditures over $750.
Any independent expenditure committee or political fund that has received contributions or made independent expenditures aggregating more than $1,500 in a calendar year must file reports with the Board.
Any ballot question political committee that has received or made expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot question aggregating more than $5,000 in a calendar year must file reports with the Board.
(Minn. Stat. § 10A.20)
Reporting Timelines
In a non-election year, candidates must file a campaign report annually.
In an election year, candidates must file:
- Pre-primary election report due 15 days before the primary.
- Pre-general election report due 10 days before the general election.
- Post-general election report due 30 days after a general or special election.
- Year-end report due on Jan. 31.
- During election years, there is a gap between the filing of the pre-election reports and the date of the election. If a candidate receives any contributions or allocations of money over $500 during this time frame, the candidate must report this late contribution within 24 hours to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
In each general election year, a political committee, a political fund, a state party committee and a party unit must file:
- A first-quarter report due on April 14.
- A second-quarter report due on June 14.
- A pre-primary election report due 15 days before a primary election.
- A pre-general election report due 42 days before the general election.
- A pre-general election report due 10 days before a general election.
- Post-general election report due 30 days after a general or special election.
- During election years, there is a gap between the filing of the pre-election reports and the date of the election. If a political committee receives any contributions or allocations of money, more than $1,000, during this time frame, the committee must report this late contribution within 24 hours to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
In odd-numbered election year, independent expenditure and ballot question committees must file a year-end report is due on Jan. 31 of the following year.
In even-numbered election year, the following reports will be filed:
- A first-quarter report due on April 14.
- A second-quarter report due on June 14.
- Pre-primary election report due 15 days before the primary.
- A pre-general election report due 42 days before the general election.
- A pre-general election report due 10 days before a general election.
- Year-end report due on Jan. 31 of the following year.
- During election years, there is a gap between the filing of the pre-election reports and the date of the election. If a political committee receives any contributions or allocations of money, more than $1,000, during this time frame, the committee must report this late contribution within 24 hours to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
(Minn. Stat. § 10A.20)
Filing Method
- Campaign disclosure reports must be filed electronically. There are exceptions for good cause and if granted, a person may file by paper.
- Late contribution reports may be filed either electronically or by fax.
(Minn. Stat. § 10A.025)
Penalties
- If an individual fails to file a report, the board may impose a late filing fee of $25 per day, not to exceed $1,000, commencing the day after the report was due.
- If an individual fails to file a report that is due before a primary or general election, the board may impose a late filing fee of $50 per day, not to exceed $1,000, commencing on the day after the date the statement was due. The board must send notice by certified mail to an individual who fails to file a report within ten business days after the report was due that the individual may be subject to a civil penalty for failure to file the report. An individual who fails to file the report within seven days after the certified mail notice was sent by the board is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the board of up to $1,000.
- Any person who knowingly files a false report may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $3,000 and is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
- A violation of the campaign financial reports chapter for which no other penalty is provided is a misdemeanor.
- Any person who participates in the preparation or dissemination of campaign material that does not prominently include the name and address of the person or committee causing the material to be prepared or disseminated is guilty of a misdemeanor.
- An independent expenditure political committee or independent expenditure political fund is subject to a civil penalty of up to four times the amount of the contribution or approved expenditure.
(Minn. Stat. § 10A.20, Minn. Stat. § 10A.025, Minn. Stat. § 10A.121, Minn. Stat. § 211B.04)
Mississippi
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means any committee, party, club, association, political action committee, campaign committee or other groups of persons or affiliated organizations that receives contributions aggregating over$200 during a calendar year or that makes expenditures aggregating in excess $200 during a calendar year for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of voters for or against the nomination for election, or election, of one or more candidates, or balloted measures.
Person means any individual, family, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other legal entity.
(Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-801)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Political committees and candidates must file a statement of organization which must be received by the Secretary of State no later than 48 hours after the receipt of contributions or having made expenditures aggregating over $200.
(Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-803)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and political committees must file reports with the secretary of state after receiving contribution or making expenditures over $200.
- Every person who makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount or value over $200 during a calendar year must file reports with the secretary of state.
- Every person who makes expenditures for ballot measure in an aggregate amount or value over $200 during a calendar year must file reports with the secretary of state.
(Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-809)
Reporting Timelines
- Candidates need to file annual reports and periodic reports on May 10, June 10, July 10, Oct. 10 and Jan. 10. In addition, candidates who are opposed need to file pre-primary, pre-runoff and pre-election reports.
- Political committees, who did not support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure, needs to file an annual report.
- Political committees, who supports or opposes a candidate or ballot measure, needs to file pre-election reports and periodic reports on May 10, June 10, July 10, Oct. 10 and Jan. 10.
- Independent expenditures committees follow the reporting schedules above.
- A person who expends over $200 for independent expenditures is required to file monthly campaign finance reports.
- A person who expends over $200 for the purpose of influencing the passage or defeat of a constitutional initiative measure is required to file monthly campaign finance reports.
- A political committee which receives contributions or makes expenditures over $200 for the purpose of influencing the passage or defeat of a constitutional initiative measure is required to file monthly campaign finance reports with the secretary of state.
Filing Method
Campaign disclosure reports may be filed electronically or by paper.
(Miss. Code §23-15-807)
Penalties
- The Mississippi Ethics Commission may impose administrative penalties against any political committee that fails to comply with the registration requirements in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per violation.
- Any candidate or other person who willfully violates the disclosure provisions will be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be punished by a fine not to exceed $3,000 or imprisoned for not longer than six months or by both fine and imprisonment.
- Any candidate or political committee who fails to file a campaign finance disclosure report or fails to substantially comply with the requirements may be assessed a civil penalty. Within five calendar days after any deadline for filing a report, the secretary of state will provide each candidate or political committee a notice of the failure by first-class mail. Beginning with the 10th calendar day after which any report is due, the Commission will assess the delinquent candidate and political committee a civil penalty of $50 for each day or part of any day until a valid report is delivered to the secretary of state.
- If any candidate or political committee is assessed a civil penalty, the candidate or political committee must pay the fine within 90 days. If, after 120 days the assessed fine has not been received, the Commission will notify the attorney general and the attorney general may file a suit to compel payment of the civil penalty.
- Any political committee or person who violates the reporting requirements for initiative measures is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-803, 23-17-61)
Missouri
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate committees.
- Continuing committees.
- Persons.
Committee means a person or any combination of persons, who accepts contributions or makes expenditures for the primary or incidental purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of voters for or against the nomination or election to public office of one or more candidates or the qualification, passage or defeat of any ballot measure or for the purpose of paying a previously incurred campaign debt or obligation of a candidate or the debts or obligations of a committee or for the purpose of contributing funds to another committee.
Continuing committee is a committee of continuing existence which is not formed, controlled or directed by a candidate and is a committee other than a candidate committee or campaign committee, whose primary or incidental purpose is to receive contributions or make expenditures to influence or attempt to influence the action of voters whether or not a particular candidate or candidates or a particular ballot measure or measures to be supported or opposed has been determined at the time the committee is required to file any statement or report pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Continuing committee includes, but is not limited to, any committee organized or sponsored by a business entity, a labor organization, a professional association, a trade or business association, a club or other organization and whose primary purpose is to solicit, accept and use contributions from the members, employees or stockholders of such entity and any individual or group of individuals who accept and use contributions to influence or attempt to influence the action of voters. Includes political action committees PACs and political party committees.
Person is an individual, group of individuals, corporation, partnership, committee, proprietorship, joint venture, any department, agency, board, institution or other entity of the state or any of its political subdivisions, union, labor organization, trade or professional or business association, association, political party or any executive committee thereof, or any other club or organization however constituted or any officer or employee of such entity acting in the person’s official capacity.
(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 130.011)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidate committees receiving more than $325 from a single contributor or making expenditures totaling over $500 or received over $500 in contributions from others in a calendar year must submit a statement of committee organization with the Missouri Ethics Commission within 20 days.
- Continuing committees receiving contributions totaling more than $250 from a single contributor or accepting contributions or making expenditures of $500 or more in a calendar year must submit a statement of committee organization with the Missouri Ethics Commission within 20 days.
(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 130.011)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidate committees receiving more than $325 from a single contributor or making expenditures totaling over $500 or received over $500 in contributions from others in a calendar year must file reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC).
- Continuing committees receiving contributions totaling more than $250 from a single contributor or accepts contributions or make expenditures of $500 or more in a calendar year must file reports with the MEC.
Reporting Timelines
The disclosure reports for candidate and continuing committees must be filed at the following times and for the following periods:
- The eighth day before an election if the committee has made any contribution or expenditure either in support or opposition to any candidate or ballot measure.
- The 30th day after an election if the committee has made any contribution or expenditure either in support of or opposition to any candidate or ballot measure.
- Quarterly on Jan. 15, April 15, July 15 and Oct. 15.
- Any contributions by any single contributor over $5,000 must be electronically reported within 48 hours of receipt.
- Any late contribution or loan of more than $250 by a candidate committee supporting a candidate for statewide office or by any other committee received after the closing date of the last disclosure report but received prior to the election itself must be reported within 24 hours after receipt.
- Any late expenditures of more than $250 by a continuing committee, whether in a single expenditure or in combined expenditures, after the 12th day before an election must be reported within 24 hours.
Any person who is not a defined committee who makes an expenditure or expenditures aggregating $500 or more in support of, or opposition to, one or more candidates or in support of, or in opposition to, the qualification or passage of one or more ballot measures must file a report no later than 14 days after the date of making an expenditure which by itself or when added to all other such expenditures during the same campaign equals $500 or more. If, after filing such report, additional expenditures are made, a further report should be filed no later than 14 after the date of making the additional expenditures; except that, if the expenditure is made within 14 days prior to an election, the report should be filed no later than 48 hours after the date of such expenditure.
Any person that receives a single contribution, including a loan, from a contributor in an amount over $5,000 must electronically report the contribution to the MEC within 48 hours of its receipt.
(Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 130.046, 130.047, 130.044, 130.050)
Filing Method
- Campaign disclosure reports may be filed electronically or on paper.
- Candidates for the office of state representative, state senator and for statewide elected office must file reports electronically.
- 48 hour reports of contributions over $5,000 must be filed electronically.
(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 130.044, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 130.046)
Penalties
- Any person who commits a contribution or expenditure violation will be assessed a civil penalty and be held liable to the state. The civil penalty will be in an amount equal the contribution or expenditure in violation.
- Any person who fails to file a report will be assessed a $10 per day late fee. If late filing extends beyond 30 days, the amount of the late filing fee will increase to $100 per day. The total amount of late fees assessed per report will not exceed $3,000. In addition, the Missouri Ethics Commission could take an enforcement action and conducting an investigation.
- Any person who knowingly accepts or makes a contribution or makes an expenditure in violation or who knowingly conceals a contribution or expenditure by filing a false or incomplete report or by not filing a required report, will be held liable for civil penalties in an amount equal to any such contribution or expenditure.
- Any purposeful violation of the campaign finance chapter is a Class A misdemeanor.
(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 105.963, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 130.072, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 130.081)
Montana
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate
- Political committees
Political committee means a combination of two or more individuals or a person other than an individual who receives a contribution or makes an expenditure:
- To support or oppose a candidate or a committee organized to support or oppose a candidate or a petition for nomination.
- To support or oppose a ballot issue or a committee organized to support or oppose a ballot issue.; or
- To prepare or disseminate an election communication, an electioneering communication or an independent expenditure.
Political committees include ballot issue committees, incidental committees, independent committees and political party committees.
- Incidental committee means a political committee that is not specifically organized or operating for the primary purpose of supporting or opposing candidates or ballot issues but that may incidentally become a political committee by receiving a contribution or making an expenditure.
- Independent committee means a political committee organized for the primary purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures that is not controlled either directly or indirectly by a candidate and that does not coordinate with a candidate in conjunction with the making of expenditures.
(Mont. Code Ann. § 13-1-101)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must register within five business days of becoming a candidate.
- Political committees register within five days after it makes an expenditure or authorizes another person to make an expenditure on its behalf, whichever occurs first.
(Mont. Code Ann. § 13-37-201, ARM 44.11.220 )
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates for statewide or state district seats do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Local candidates accepting contributions or making expenditures of $500 or more must report reports with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices (MOPP).
- Political committees making expenditures in a total amount over $250 must file reports with the MOPP.
(Mont. Code Ann. § 13-37-226, ARM 44.11.304)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates must file the following:
- Quarterly reports are due on the fifth day following a calendar quarter.
- In election years in which a candidate participates, report must be filed by the 20th day of March, April, May, June, August, September, October and November.
- Late expenditure reports must be reported within two business days of making an expenditure of $250 or more if the candidate is a candidate for statewide office or $125 or more for any other candidate if made between the 15th day of the month preceding an election in which the candidate participates and the day before the election.
- Semi-annual reports are due on the 10th day of March and September, starting in the year following an election in which the candidate participates until the candidate files a closing report.
Political committees must file the following:
- Quarterly reports are due on the fifth day following a calendar quarter, beginning with the calendar quarter in which the political committee or the joint fundraising committee receives a contribution or makes an expenditure after an individual becomes a candidate or an issue becomes a ballot issue.
- In election years, reports are due on the 30th day of March, April, May, June, August, September, October and November in the year of an election in which the political committee or the joint fundraising committee participates.
- Late contribution reports must be reported within two business days of receiving a contribution of $500 or more if received between the 25th day of the month before an election in which the political committee or the joint fundraising committee participates and the day before the election.
- An expenditure of $500 or more that is made between the 25th day of the month before an election and the day before the election must file a late expenditure report within two business days of making the expenditure.
Candidates and political committees that participate in a special election must file reports on the 60th, 35th and 12th days preceding the date of the special election and 20 days after the special election.
Nonresident and federally-filling committees must file periodic reports only for periods in which a federally-filing committee or nonresident committee receives contributions from Montana sources or makes expenditures elections in Montana.
(ARM 44.11.305)
Filing Method
Candidates and political committees must file electronically but a waiver may be requested. If waiver is granted, then reports may be filed by paper.
(MCA §13-37-226, ARM 44.11.402, ARM 44.11.302)
Penalties
- A person who intentionally or negligently violates any of the reporting provisions is liable in a civil action brought by MOPP or a county attorney for an amount up to $500 or three times the amount of the unlawful contributions or expenditures, whichever is greater.
- A person who makes or receives a contribution or expenditure in violation is liable in a civil action brought by MOPP or a county attorney for an amount up to $500 or three times the amount of the unlawful contribution or expenditure, whichever is greater.
- A person who violates the provisions is liable in a civil action brought by MOPP or a county attorney pursuant to the provisions for an amount up to $500 or three times the amount of the unlawful disbursement, contribution, expenditure or promise, whichever is greater.
- A person who knowingly violates a provision of the election laws of this state for which no other penalty is specified is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-103, 13-35-106, 13-37-128, ARM 44.11.106)
Nebraska
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions
- Who needs to register with the state
- Reporting thresholds
- Reporting timelines
- Filing methods
- Penalties
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Independent committees.
- Committees.
- Persons.
Committee means:
- Any combination of two or more individuals which receives contributions or makes expenditures of more than $5,000 in a calendar year for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of the voters for or against the nomination or election of one or more candidates or the qualification, passage or defeat of one or more ballot questions. or
- A person whose primary purpose is to receive contributions or make expenditures and who receives or makes contributions or expenditures of more than $5,000 in a calendar year for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of the voters for or against the nomination or election of one or more candidates or the qualification, passage or defeat of one or more ballot questions, except that an individual, other than a candidate, shall not constitute a committee.
Independent committee means a committee other than a candidate, ballot question or political party committee. This includes political action committees.
Person means a business, individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, syndicate, business trust, labor organization, company, corporation, association, committee or other organization or group of persons acting jointly.
(Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann § 49-1413, 49-1427, 49-1438)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates who raise, expend or receive more than $5,000 in a calendar year for the purpose of advancing his or her candidacy must file a statement of organization with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission (NADC).
- Committees and independent committees receiving contributions or making expenditures of more than $5,000 in a calendar year for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of the voters for or against the nomination or election of one or more candidates or the qualification, passage or defeat of one or more ballot questions must file a statement of organization within 10 days.
(Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann §§ 49-1445, 49-1413)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates, committees and independent committees receiving contributions or making expenditures of more than $5,000 in a calendar year must file reports with NADC.
- Major out-of-state contributors that make contributions or expenditures totaling more than $10,000 in any calendar year in connection with one or more elections must report expenditures with NADC.
- Any person, other than a committee, who makes an independent expenditure over $250 advocating the election of a candidate or the defeat of a candidate’s opponents or the qualification, passage or defeat of a ballot question, must file a report within 10 days with the NADC.
(Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann §§ 49-1459, 49-1433.01)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates, committees and independent expenditure committees must file reports:
- 30 days before, 10 days before and 40 days after each primary election.
- 30 days before, 10 days before and 70 days after each general election.
- Annual report is due on Jan. 31
- Any contribution (including an in-kind contribution, a loan or a pledge) of $1,000 or more received from a single source (including the candidate) during the 14-day period immediately preceding an election must be filed within two days after the contribution is received by the candidate or committee.
- Any committee that makes expenditures of more than $1,000 in the calendar year or made within 15 days before an election must report the expenditure within two days after the date of the expenditure.
Any person, other than a committee, who makes an independent expenditure in an amount of more than $250, must file a report of the independent expenditure within 10 days with the NADC.
(Neb. Rev. Stat. § 49-1455)
Filing Method
- Campaign disclosure reports must be filed electronically.
- The filing of a late independent expenditure report may be by any written means of communication approved by NADC.
(Neb. Rev. Stat. § 49-14,141)
Penalties
- The late filing of a statement of organizations carries a fine of $25 per day penalty and the maximum fine will not exceed $750.
- The late filing of a late contribution report carries a fine of $100 per day penalty and the maximum fine will not exceed $3,000 or 10% of the late contribution, whichever is greater.
- The late filing of a late expenditure report carries a fine of $100 per day penalty and the maximum fine will not exceed $3,000 or 10% of the late expenditure, whichever is greater.
- Failure to file an independent expenditure report carries a late filing fee of $25, not to exceed $750.
- Failure to file a late independent expenditure report carries a late filing fee of $100 for each of the first 10 days. After the 10th day, an additional late filing fee of one % of the amount of the late independent expenditure, which was required to be reported, not to exceed 10% of the amount of the late independent expenditure which was required to be reported.
- Any person who knowingly violates the disclaimer provisions will be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor.
(Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann §§ 49-1463, 49-1449, 49-1467, 49-1458, 49-1474.01, 49-1478.01, 14-1478)
Nevada
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Committees for political action (PAC).
- Political party.
- Persons.
Committee for political action means:
- Any group or entities that solicits or receives contributions from any other person, group or entity and makes or intends to make contributions to candidates or other persons; or makes or intends to make expenditures, designed to affect the outcome of any primary election, general election, special election or question on the ballot.
- Any business or social organization, corporation, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization or labor union which has as its primary purpose affecting the outcome of any primary election, general election, special election or any question on the ballot and for that purpose receives contributions over $1,500 in a calendar year or makes expenditures over $1,500 in a calendar year; or which does not have as its primary purpose affecting the outcome of any primary election, general election, special election or any question on the ballot, but for the purpose of affecting the outcome of any specific election or question on the ballot receives contributions over $5,000 in a calendar year or makes independent expenditures over $5,000 in a calendar year.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates file a declaration of candidacy with the secretary of state before engaging in any activity in the state.
- PACs and political parties must register with the secretary of state before engaging in any activity in the state.
- Nonprofit corporation must register before engaging in any of the following activities:
- Soliciting or receiving contributions from any other person, group or entity.
- Making contributions to candidates or other persons. or
- Making expenditures.
(Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 294A.0055, Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 294A.230, Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 294A.225)
Reporting Thresholds
- After a candidate who files a declaration of candidacy, or whose name appears on an official ballot, or who has received contribution over $100, must file contribution and expenditure reports.
- A primary prupose PAC or political party that receives contributions or makes expenditures over $1,500 in a calendar year must file contribution and expenditure reports.
- A non-primary purpose PAC that receives contributions or makes expenditures over $5,000 in a calendar year must file contribution and expenditure reports.
- A nonprofit corporation must file reports once it solicits or receives contributions, makes contributions to a candidate or other persons or makes expenditures.
- Every person who makes an independent expenditure over $1,000 must file reports.
(Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 294A.120, Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 294A.200, Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 294A.140)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates, PACs and party committees must file annual reports in January and quarterly campaign contributions and expenses reports in April, July, October and January.
Every person, PAC, political party and committee sponsored by a political party that makes an independent expenditure over $1,000 for or against a candidate for office or a group of such candidates must file annual reports in January and quarterly campaign contributions and expenses reports in April, July, October and January.
Every person, PAC and political party which makes an independent expenditure for or against a candidate for office at a special election. For special elections, reporting timelines vary.
Filing Method
All campaign contributions and expense reports must be filed electronically. A waiver may be granted to file a paper report only if:
- The candidate did not receive or expend money over $10,000 after becoming a candidate.
- The candidate files an affidavit with the secretary of state which states the candidate does not own or have the ability to access the technology necessary to file the report electronically.
(Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 294A.120, 194A.3733)
Penalties
- Any PAC that fails to register with the secretary of state may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each activity in which the PAC engages.
- Late filing penalty fees:
- If the report is filed one to seven days late, $25 for each day the report is late.
- If the report is filed eight to 15 days late, $50 for each day the report is late.
- If the report is filed more than 15 days late, $100 for each day the report is late, up to a maximum of $10,000 for each violation.
- Any person who believes that a campaign finance provision has been violated may notify the secretary of state.
- Any person who violates the registration and reporting requirements, unless otherwise provided, is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation and payment of court costs and attorney’s fees.
(Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 294A.230, 294A.420)
New Hampshire
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Political advocacy organizations.
Political committee means:
- Any organization of two or more persons that promotes the success or defeat of a candidate or candidates or measure or measures, including the political committee of a political party.
- Any segregated fund established by any organization the purpose of which is to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or candidates or measure or measures.
- Any organization that has as its major purpose to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or candidates or measure or measures and whose receipts or expenditures total $2,500 or more in a calendar year for that purpose.
- Any organization that does not have as its major purpose to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or candidates or measure or measures but that makes expenditures that total $5,000 or more in a calendar year. or
- Any segregated fund that is voluntarily registered with the secretary of state for the purpose of reporting its receipts and expenditures under this chapter or any organization that voluntarily registers with the secretary of state.
Political advocacy organization means any entity that spends $5,000 or more in a calendar year to pay for a communication that is functionally equivalent to express advocacy because, when taken as a whole, such communication is likely to be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or candidates or the success or defeat of a measure or measures, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy or a political party, or takes a position on a candidate’s character, qualifications or fitness for office.
(N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 664:2)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
A political committee’s registration must be received by the secretary of state not later than 48 hours after the committee meets at least one of the following criteria:
- Political committees whose major purpose is to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or candidates or measure or measures and whose receipts or expenditures total $2,500 or more in a calendar year.
- Political committees who do not have as its major purpose to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or candidates or measure or measures but that makes expenditures that total $5,000 or more in a calendar year.
Registration requirements for political advocacy organizations are the same as for political committees.
(N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 664:2, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 664:3-a)
Reporting Thresholds
- Any candidate at the primary or general election for governor, councilor, state senator, representative to general court, or county officer whose receipts or expenditures exceeding $1,000 must file reports.
- Any political committee that has as its major purpose to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or candidates or measure or measures and whose receipts or expenditures total $2,500 or more in a calendar year must file reports.
- Any political committee that does not have as its major purpose to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or candidates or measure or measures but that makes expenditures that total $5,000 or more in a calendar year must file reports.
- Any political committee whose independent expenditures, in aggregate, total $1,000 or more in a calendar year must file reports.
- Any entity that spends $5,000 or more in a calendar year to pay for a communication that is functionally equivalent to express advocacy because, when taken as a whole, such communication is likely to be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or candidates or the success or defeat of a measure or measures must file reports.
(N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 664:6, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 664:6-a, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 664:7)
Reporting Timelines
Candidate committee, political committee and political advocacy organizations disclosure statements must be filed:
- Not later than the first Wednesday in June and December after the state general election.
- Not later than the Wednesday 12 weeks immediately preceding a primary election.
- Wednesday immediately preceding a primary and a general election.
Candidates and political committees must file a report within 48 hours of any contribution exceeding $500 that is received after the last report was filed and prior to the day of election.
Any candidate or political committee which has any outstanding debt, obligation or surplus following the election must file reports at least once every six months thereafter until the obligation or indebtedness is entirely satisfied or surplus deleted, at which time a final report should be filed.
(N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 664:6, RSA 664:6, 7)
Filing Method
Reports of receipts and expenditures may be filed electronically.
(N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 664:9-b)
Penalties
- Any individual who violates any provision of the political expenditures and contributions chapter will be guilty of a misdemeanor, and any other entity who does the same will be guilty of a felony.
- Any political committee other than a political committee of a candidate that fails to register will be subject to a fine up to 25% of the total amount of independent expenditures made during the period from the date the political committee was required to register to the date the political committee registered.
- Any political committee that fails to report independent expenditures will be subject to a fine up to 25% of the total amount of independent expenditures not reported or reported late.
- Any person who fails to file any report or statement on the date on which the report or statement is due shall be subject to a daily fine of $25 for every weekday for which the report or statement is late until the report or statement is actually filed, except candidates for the New Hampshire General Court will be subject to a daily fine of $5.
- Any person who willfully makes and subscribes to any statement filed under the political expenditures and contributions chapter that he or she does not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter will be guilty of false swearing.
(N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 664:21)
New Jersey
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate committees.
- Political committees.
- Continuing political committees.
- Political party committees.
Political committees means any two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership or any other incorporated or unincorporated association which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate or candidates for public office, or which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, if the political committee raises or expends $2,400 or more to so aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate or candidates or the passage or defeat of a public question.
Continuing political committee means any group of two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership or any other incorporated or unincorporated association, including a political club, political action committee, civic association or other organization, which in any calendar year contributes or expects to contribute at least $5,500 to the aid or promotion of a candidate, or the passage or defeat of a public question or public questions.
(N.J. Stat. § 19:44A-3)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must register by filing the Single Candidate Committee Certificate of Organization and Designation of Campaign Treasurer and Depository no later than 10 days after establishing a candidate committee.
- Political committees that raise or expend $2,400 or more to aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate or candidates or the passage or defeat of a public question must register.
- Continuing political committees that contribute or expect to contribute at least $5,500 to the aid or promotion of the candidacy of an individual, or of the candidacies of individuals, for elective public office, or the passage or defeat of a public question or public questions, must register.
- Independent expenditure committees that raise or expend $3,000 or more in influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of any election or the nomination, election or defeat of any person to any state or local elective public office, or the passage or defeat of any public question, legislation or regulation must register.
(N.J. Stat. § 19:44A-3)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Political committees that raise or expend $2,400 or more to aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate or candidates or the passage or defeat of a public question must file reports with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJELEC).
- Continuing political committees that contribute or expect to contribute at least $5,500 to the aid or promotion of the candidacy of an individual, or of the candidacies of individuals, for elective public office, or the passage or defeat of a public question or public questions must file reports with the NJELEC.
- Independent expenditure committees that raise or expend $3,000 or more in influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of any election or the nomination, election or defeat of any person to any State or local elective public office, or the passage or defeat of any public question, legislation or regulation must file reports with the NJELEC.
(N.J.A.C. 19:25-10.2, N.J.A.C. 19:25-8.8)
Reporting Timelines
The timing for filing reports depends upon when the committee begins financial activity. If the committee is established within five months or less before the pre-election report, the committee will file a pre-election report as the initial report. However, if the committee is established more than five months prior to the pre-election report, the committee must file a quarterly report as its initial election fund report.
Candidates, political committees and continuing political committees must file:
- Quarterly reports on April 15, July 15, Oct. 15 and Jan. 15.
- 29-day pre-election report on the 29th day before the election.
- 11-day pre-election report on the 11th day before the election.
- 20-day post-election report on the 20th day following the election.
Any candidate or committee that receives contributions from a single source aggregating more than $1,900, or that make expenditures aggregating more than $1,900, between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election must file a report within 48 hours.
Political party committees file quarterly reports on April 15, July 15, Oct. 15 and Jan. 15.
(N.J.A.C. 19:25-8.1, N.J.A.C. 19:25-8.3, N.J.A.C. 19:25-8.6A, N.J.A.C. 19:25-8.9)
Filing Method
Electronic Filing is mandatory for all candidates and committees.
(N.J.S.A. 19:44A-16)
Penalties
- Any person who fails to file reports will be subject to a penalty. The penalty for each such separate offense in an amount that is not less than the dollar amount of the unreported contribution or expenditure reporting transaction, up to the maximum penalty for each unreported contribution or expenditure reporting transaction. The maximum penalty will not be more than $9,800 for the first offense and not more than $19,500 for the second and each subsequent offense.
- Any person who purposely and with intent to conceal or misrepresent contributions given or received or expenditures made or incurred is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
- The purposeful filing of an inaccurate, false or incomplete report or purposely failing or refusing to file a report is a crime of the fourth degree.
- Any person who willfully makes or accepts illegal contributions will be subject to a penalty. The penalty varies from $5,000 to $100,000, depending on the amount of the illegal contribution.
- Any person who fails, neglects or omits to prepare, certify, file, or retain any such report, record, notice or document is liable to a penalty of not more than $9,800 for the first offense and not more than $19,500 for the second and each subsequent offense.
(N.J.A.C. 19:25-17.3)
New Mexico
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means:
- A political party.
- A legislative caucus committee.
- An association that consists of two or more persons whose primary purpose is to make contributions to candidates, campaign committees or political committees or make coordinated expenditures or any combination thereof.
- An association that consists of two or more persons whose primary purpose is to make independent expenditures and that has received more than $5,000 in contributions or made independent expenditures of more than $5,000 in the election cycle.
Person means an individual or entity.
(N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-19-26)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Political committees need to register and file a statement of organization with the secretary of state prior to receiving or making any contribution or expenditure for a political purpose.
- Candidates for a non-statewide office must register the candidate's campaign committee with the secretary of state within 10 days of receiving contributions or expending $1,000 or more.
- Candidates for statewide office must register the candidate's campaign committee with the secretary of state within 10 days of receiving contributions or expending $3,000 or more.
(1.10.13.10 NMAC, N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-19-26.1, 1.10.13.8 NMAC)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and political committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Any person who makes an independent expenditure of more than $1,000 in a non-statewide election or question or in an amount more than $3,000 in a statewide race or ballot measure must file a report with the secretary of state.
(1.10.13.12 NMAC, 1.10.13.13 NMAC)
Reporting Timelines
In a non-election year, candidates and political committees file biannual reports no later than the second Monday in April and October.
In an election year, candidates and political committees file the following reports:
- No later than the second Monday in April, a report of all expenditures made, and contributions received on or before the first Monday in April and not previously reported.
- No later than the second Monday in May, a report of all expenditures made, and contributions received on or before the first Monday in May and not previously reported.
- No later than the second Monday in September, a report of all expenditures made, and contributions received on or before the first Monday in September and not previously reported.
- No later than the second Monday in October, a report of all expenditures made, and contributions received on or before the first Monday in October and not previously reported; provided that if the second Monday of October is a state holiday, the report must be made on the following day.
- Any contribution or pledge to contribute that is received after 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election and that is for more than $1,000 in a non-statewide election or more than $3,000 in a statewide election must be reported within 24 hours.
- A report is due by 5 p.m. on the 30th day after a primary, general or statewide special election, reporting all expenditures made and contributions received on or before the 25th day after the election that have not been previously disclosed.
- No later than the 30th day after a primary election, a report by all reporting individuals, except those individuals that become candidates after the primary election, of all expenditures made and contributions received on or before the twenty-fifth day after the primary election and not previously reported.
- No later than the 30th day after a statewide special election, a report of all expenditures made, and contributions received on or before the 25th day after the statewide special election and not previously reported.
- No later than Jan. 7 after a general election a report of all expenditures made and contributions received on or before Dec. 31 after the general election and not previously reported.
In addition to the reports mentioned above, additional reports may need to be filed:
- A person who makes an independent expenditure must file within three days of making the expenditure if the expenditure, by itself or aggregated with all independent expenditures made by the same person during the election cycle, exceeds $1,000 in a non-statewide election(s) or question(s) or in an amount that exceeds $3,000 in a statewide race(s) or ballot measure(s).
- Any expenditure in an amount of $3,000 or more that is made within seven days before a non-statewide election must be reported within 24 hours.
(N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-19-29, 1.10.13.14 NMAC)
Filing Method
The campaign finance disclosure reports should be filed electronically. A waiver may be given due to hardship.
(N.M. Stat. Ann. §1-19-29, 1.10.13.12 NMAC)
Penalties
- Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of the Campaign Reporting Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both.
- Any person who files a false, late or incomplete report will be assessed $500 the first day, $50 for each regular working day until a complete report is filed. The maximum penalty is $5,000.
- Any person who fails to file a report of late contributions will be assessed a penalty equal to the amount of the contribution not reported. The maximum cumulative penalties for each report for which fines are assessed are as follows:
- $5,000 for statewide candidate committees and political committees.
- $2,500 for legislative, district judge, district attorney and public education commission candidate committees.
- $1,000 for county candidate committees running in a county designated as Class A.
- $500 for all other non-Class A county candidate committees.
- If the secretary of state exhausts efforts in seeking voluntary compliance and reasonably believes that a person committed, or is about to commit, a violation of the Campaign Reporting Act, the secretary of state will refer the matter to the attorney general for enforcement. With or without a referral from the secretary of state, attorney general may institute a civil action in district court if a violation has occurred or to prevent a violation of any provision of the Campaign Reporting Act. Relief may include a permanent or temporary injunction, a restraining order or any other appropriate order, including an order for a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation not to exceed a total of $20,000.
(N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 1-19-35, 1-19-34.6, 1-19-36:1)
New York
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means any corporation aiding or promoting and any committee, political club or combination of one or more persons operating or co-operating to aid or to promote the success or defeat of a political party or principle, or of any ballot proposal; or to aid or take part in the election or defeat of a candidate for public office or to aid or take part in the election or defeat of a candidate for nomination at a primary election or convention, including all proceedings prior to such primary election, or of a candidate for any party position voted for at a primary election, or to aid or defeat the nomination by petition of an independent candidate for public office.
- Political committees include, but are not limited to, candidate committees, PAC committees, party committees, independent expenditure committees and ballot issue committees.
Person means an individual, group of persons, corporation, unincorporated business entity, labor organization or business, trade or professional association or organization or political committee.
(N.Y. Elec. Law § 14-100)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- All candidate and political committees must file the appropriate registration forms to register with the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBE). Registration forms must be submitted within five days of choosing a treasurer and depository and prior to receiving or expending any funds.
- Independent expenditure committees must register within five days of choosing a treasurer and depository and prior to receiving and expending any funds.
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates that expect to receive or spend more than $1,000 for an election must file reports with the NYSBE. A candidate committee may obtain a reporting waiver exemption from filing detailed campaign statements if the threshold is not met.
- Political committees that expect to receive $1,000 in the aggregate in any calendar year must file reports with the NYSBE. A reporting waiver exemption may be granted if the threshold is not met and the committee made no expenditures.
- A political committee formed solely to promote the success or defeat of any ballot proposal submitted to voters doesn't need to file until that committee has received or expended an amount over $100.
- Any independent expenditure committee that has registered must disclose to the NYSBE any contributions of $1,000 or more, any expenditures over $5,000, and any independent expenditure in the form of a paid internet or digital advertisement over $500 made during the reporting period.
- Any independent expenditure committee that has registered with the NYSBE must disclose, within 24 hours, any contribution of $1,000 or more or expenditure made over $5,000 made within 30 days before any primary, general or special election.
- A person making independent expenditures for a communication must file a report with the NYSBE. Persons making independent expenditures and electioneering communications expenditures do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
(NY CLS Elec § 14-124, 14-107)
Reporting Timelines
All candidates and/or registered committees must file reports:
- 32 days pre-election.
- 11-days pre-election.
- 10-days post-election for primary elections.
- 27-days post-election for general or special elections.
All candidates and/or registered committees are required to file January and July periodic reports until termination of the committee.
Any contribution or loan over $1,000, when it is received after the 11-day pre-election report and up to Election Day must be reported and submitted within 24 hours of receipt of contribution or loan. This same contribution or loan must also be reported in the post-election report.
If the candidate or committee has had no activity, (i.e., receipts and/or expenditures, such as interest, dividends and bank charges; any outstanding loans/liabilities) during any required reporting period, the candidate or committee may file a no-activity report.
Any person and political committee making independent expenditures and electioneering communications must file:
- When a contribution or loan of $1,000 or more is received outside the 30-days of an election, it must be disclosed on a weekly basis, on Monday to the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBE).
- When an expenditure over $5,000 is made outside of the 30-days of an election, it must be disclosed on a weekly basis, on Monday, to the NYSBE.
- When a liability is incurred over $5,000 (year-round), it must be disclosed on a weekly basis, on Monday, to the NYSBE.
- Any paid advertisement expenditure over $500 must be disclosed on a weekly basis, on Monday, to the NYSBE.
- When a contribution or loan of $1,000 or more is received within 30 days of the election, it must be disclosed within 24 hours to the NYSBE.
- When an expenditure over $5,000 is made within 30 days of the election, it must be disclosed within 24 hours to the NYSBE.
(NY CLS Elec § 14-108, 9 NYCRR § 6200.2)
Filing Method
Campaign finance disclosure reports should be filed electronically. An exemption may be granted to file reports by mail.
(NY CLS Elec § 14-102)
Penalties
- Bearing false statements, sworn or subscribed, are punishable as a Class A misdemeanor.
- Failure to file a statement carries a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000.
- Unlawfully accepting a contribution over a contribution limitation carries a civil penalty equal to the excess amount plus a fine of up to $10,000.
- Any person who falsely identifies or knowingly fails to identify any independent expenditure shall be subject to a civil penalty up to $1,000 or up to the cost of the communication, whichever is greater.
- Any person who knowingly and willfully contributes, accepts or aids or participates in the acceptance of a contribution more than the contribution limit will be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
- Any person who knowingly and willfully makes expenditures or solicits any person to make any such expenditures, for the purpose of evading the contribution limits will be guilty of a Class E felony.
- Any online platform that fails to verify that an independent expenditure committee is registered in New York will be subject to a civil penalty up to $1,000 for each violation in a special proceeding or civil action brought by the State Board of Elections Chief Enforcement Counsel.
(NY CLS Elec § 14-124, NY CLS Elec § 14-126)
North Carolina
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means a combination of two or more individuals, such as any person, committee, association, organization or other entity that makes, or accepts anything of value to make, contributions or expenditures and has one or more of the following characteristics:
- Is controlled by a candidate.
- Is a political party or executive committee of a political party.
- Is created by a corporation, business entity, insurance company, labor union or professional association.
- Has the major purpose to support or oppose the nomination or election of one or more clearly identified candidates.
- Is an affiliated party committee.
Person means any business entity, corporation, insurance company, labor union or professional association.
(N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-278.6)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
Candidates and political committees must register no later than the 10th day following the day the candidate files notice of candidacy or the 10th day following the organization of the political committee, whichever occurs first.
(N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-278.7)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and political committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Any individual or person making independent expenditures more than $100 must file a statement with the State Board of Elections (SBE).
- Any individual or person making electioneering communication expenditures more than $5,000 must file a statement with the SBE.
(N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 163-278.12, 163-278.12C)
Reporting Timelines
A candidate and political committee must file:
- Quarterly reports in election years.
- Semi-annual reports in July and January in non-election years.
- Any contribution of $1,000 or more received after the filing of the last report, but before an election must be reported within 48 hours.
A referendum committee must file:
- Pre-referendum reports before the primary and general election.
- Final reports covering the 14 days before a primary and general election.
- Supplemental final reports, if the final report does not cover all contributions and expenditures.
- An annual report in January.
- Any contribution $1,000 or more received before an election must be reported within 48 hours.
Independent expenditures are required to be reported within 30 days after they exceed $100 or 10 days before an election, whichever occurs earlier.
Subsequent reporting of independent expenditures is on the same schedule required of political committees.
An individual or person that makes an independent expenditure or produces or airs an electioneering communication must report within 48 hours of incurring an expense of $5,000 or more or receiving a donation of $1,000 or more for making an electioneering communication after the period covered by the last report and before the election.
Filing Method
Campaign disclosure reports may be filed electronically or on paper.
The following entities must electronically file each report:
- A candidate for statewide office, if contributions and expenditures are more than $5,000.
- A state, district, county or precinct executive committee of a political party or an affiliated party committee, if the committee makes contributions or independent expenditures over $5,000 that affect contests for statewide office.
- A political committee that makes contributions over $5,000 to candidates for statewide office or makes independent expenditures over $5,000 that affect contests for statewide office.
- All other political committees, if contributions and expenditures are more than $10,000.
(N.C.G.S. §163-278.9, 08 NCAC 21 .0106)
Penalties
- An intentional violation of most provisions of campaign finance law carries a Class Two misdemeanor.
- Illegal contributions or unlawful expenditures carries a civil penalty not to exceed three times the amount of the illegal contribution or expenditure.
- The late filing penalty carries a fine of $250 per day for a report affecting statewide elections, not to exceed $10,000, and $50 per day for a report affecting non-statewide elections, not to exceed $500. If a committee intentionally files a report late in order to conceal contributions or expenditures, the SBE may assess additional financial penalties.
- The SBE, in lieu of or in addition to imposing a civil penalty for late penalties and illegal contributions or expenditures, may take one or more of the following actions:
- Issue an order requiring the violator to cease and desist from the violation found.
- Issue an order to cease receiving contributions and making expenditures until a delinquent report has been filed and any civil penalty satisfied.
- Issue an order requiring the violator to take any remedial action deemed appropriate by the State Board of Elections.
- Issue an order requiring the violator to file any report, statement or other information.
- Publicly reprimand the violator for the violation.
(N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-278.34, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-278.27)
North Dakota
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Political parties.
- Persons.
Political committee means any committee, club, association or other group of persons which receives contributions or makes expenditures for political purposes and includes:
- A political action committee not connected to another, or derived from a corporation, cooperative corporation, limited liability company, affiliate, subsidiary, or an association that solicits or receives contributions from its employees or members, or makes expenditures for political purposes on behalf of its employees or members.
- A candidate committee established to support an individual candidate seeking public office which solicits or receives contributions for political purposes.
- A political organization registered with the Federal Election Commission, which solicits or receives contributions or makes expenditures for political purposes.
- A multicandidate political committee, including a caucus, established to support multiple groups or slates of candidates seeking public office, which solicits or receives contributions for political purposes.
- A measure committee, including an initiative- or referendum-sponsoring committee at any stage of its organization, which solicits or receives contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of aiding or opposing a measure to be voted on by the voters of the state.
Person means an individual, partnership, political committee, association, corporation, cooperative corporation, limited liability company or other organization or group of persons.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates and political committees must register with the secretary of state within 15 business days of the receipt of any contribution or expenditure made.
A political committee that organizes and registers according to federal law and makes an independent expenditure or makes a disbursement over $200 to a nonfederal candidate seeking public office, a political party or political committee in this state is not required to register as a political committee.
(N.D. Cent. Code, § 16.1-08.1-03.2)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and political committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Persons making independent expenditures do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- The reporting threshold is $100 for any person engaged in ballot measure activities.
Reporting Timelines
Candidates and political committees must file:
- An annual report on Jan. 31.
- A pre-primary report no later than 32 days before the election.
- Pre-general report no later than 32 days before the election.
- The receipt of a contribution or aggregate contributions from a contributor which is over $500 must be filed within 48 hours if it is within 39 days before the election.
Political committees making independent expenditures file the same reports mentioned above.
Independent expenditure filers must file a report disclosing a contribution or an independent expenditure within 48 hours after making the contribution or independent expenditure.
Filing Method
Campaign finance disclosure reports must be filed electronically.
(N.D.C.C. §16.1-08.1-06)
Penalties
- Any person who willfully violates any provision of the campaign contribution statements requirements may be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
- A late report is subject to late fees:
- Within six days after the prescribed time, the late fee is $25.
- Within 11 days after the prescribed time, the late fee is $50.
- Thereafter, the late fee is $100.
- A late amendment to a report is subject to late fees:
- Within six days after the date the amendment was due, the late fee is $50;
- Within 11 days after the date the amendment was due, the late fee is $100; and
- Thereafter, the late fee is $200.
- Any person violating the political advertisements requirements is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(N.D. Cent. Code, § 16.1-08.1-07)
Ohio
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Political contributing entities.
- Political parties.
- Persons.
Political contributing entity means any entity, including a corporation or labor organization, that may lawfully make contributions and expenditures and that is not an individual or a PAC, continuing association, campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, designated state campaign committee or state candidate fund.
Person means an individual, partnership, unincorporated business organization or association, PAC, political contributing entity, separate segregated fund, association or other organization or group of persons, but not a labor organization or a corporation unless the labor organization or corporation is a political contributing entity.
(Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3517.01)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
Candidates, PACs, political contributing entities, campaign committees, legislative campaign funds or political parties must register before receiving any contribution or making any expenditure.
(Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 3517.10 and 3517.11)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates, PACs, political contributing entities and political parties do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Persons making independent expenditures do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Any person that makes disbursements for the producing or airing of electioneering communications aggregating over $10,000 must file a report with secretary of state.
(Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3517.10, 3517.1011)
Reporting Timelines
Every campaign committee, PAC, political party and political contributing entity that made or received a contribution or made an expenditure must file:
- An annual report on the last business day of January.
- A pre-primary election report 12 days before an election. However:
- Any campaign committee, political action committee, political party or political contributing entity that has received contributions of less than $1,000 and has made expenditures of less than $1,000 at the close of business on the 20th day before the election do not need to file this report.
- A post-primary report 38 days after an election.
- A pre-general election report due 12 days before an election. However:
- Any campaign committee, political action committee, political party or political contributing entity that has received contributions of less than $1,000 and has made expenditures of less than $1,000 at the close of business on the 20th day before the election do not need to file this report.
- A post-general report 38 days after an election.
- A monthly report in July, August and September in the year of the general election in which the candidate seeks office. This report is filed by statewide candidates only.
In non-election years, statewide and county candidate must file semiannual reports on the last business day of July.
(Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §3517.10)
Filing Method
Campaign finance disclosure reports must be filed electronically.
(ORC Ann. 3517.11)
Penalties
- A board of elections, the secretary of state, or an individual may file a campaign finance-related complaint, but only the Ohio Elections Commission may find a violation of campaign finance law and impose a penalty.
- A candidate whose campaign committee fails to file a complete and accurate report will be fined not more than $100 per day.
- A PAC that fails to file a complete and accurate report will be fined not more than $100 per day.
- A candidate campaign committee or a treasurer of a campaign committee that violates the reporting requirements will be fined not more than $500.
- Any individual, campaign committee, PAC, political contributing entity, political party or other entity that violates any provision of the Ohio Elections Chapter for which no penalty is provided will be fined not more than $1,000.
- Each report must contain a statement that the report is complete and accurate. Any person who falsifies a report is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.
- Any person who violates the disclaimer rules will be fined not more than $500.
(Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §3517.11, 3517.105, 3517.153, 3517.20, 3517.992, 3599.36)
Oklahoma
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate committees.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Party committees.
- Persons.
Person means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, association, proprietorship, firm, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, syndicate, business trust, estate, trust, company, organization, committee, club or a group of persons who are voluntarily acting in concert.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must file a statement of organization within 10 days after a candidate has accepted or spent more than $1,000 for his or her campaign.
- PACs must file a statement of organization within 10 days after the PAC has accepted or spent more than $1,000.
- State political party committees are required to register or renew with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission (OEC) by filing a statement of organization in July of any odd-numbered year.
- Ballot measure committees must register by filing a statement of organization with the OEC when its contributions or expenditures exceed $1,000.
Reporting Thresholds
- Any candidate, PAC or ballot measure committee that accepts or gives contributions or makes expenditures aggregating $1,000 or more must file a report with the OEC.
- Any person, other than an individual or a political action committee, who makes an independent expenditure or electioneering communication of $5,000 or more, in the aggregate, at least 15 days prior to any election must be required to file a report with the OEC.
Reporting Timelines
All committees must file:
- Quarterly reports in non-election years in April, July, October and January.
- Pre-election reports no later than eight days before an election.
- Post-election reports in January of the year following the general election.
- Any contributions over $1,000 in the aggregate must be filed within 24 hours if received:
- After the last day of the primary election pre-election reporting period and ending two days before the primary election.
- After the last day of the runoff primary election pre-election reporting period and ending two days before the runoff.
- After the last day of the general election pre-election reporting period and ending two days before the general election.
A state political party committee files quarterly reports in April, July, October and January.
Any person other than an individual, including a PAC and political party committee, that makes an electioneering communication expenditure of $5,000 or more in the aggregate during the period beginning no more than 14 days prior to any election and ending on the day of the election must file a report within 24 hours.
(Ethics Commission Annotated Rule 2.100, 74 Okl. St. Chap. 62, Appx., Standard 257 10-1-13)
Filing Method
Campaign reports must be filed electronically.
(74 Okl. St. Chap. 62, Appx., Standard 257 10-1-18)
Penalties
- The OEC is authorized to issue compliance orders to obtain compliance with campaign finance rules, including late fees.
- A candidate committee that files more than one quarterly report after the due date is deemed to have intentionally failed to file the report, unless good cause is shown. A committee that files reports significantly late or has significant compliance issues may be addressed through the OEC’s complaints process, rather than through compliance orders.
The OEC may accept a complaint from any source, other than an anonymous source.
Oregon
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Petition committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means a combination of two or more individuals, or a person other than an individual, that has received a contribution for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate, measure or political party; or made an expenditure for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate, measure or political party.
Petition committee means an initiative, referendum or recall petition committee.
Person means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, labor organization, association, firm, partnership, joint stock company, club, organization or other combination of individuals having collective capacity.
(Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 260.005)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidate and political committees must register by the third business day after a political committee first receives a contribution or makes an expenditure.
- Petition committees must file a statement of organization not later than three business days after first receiving a contribution or making an expenditure after filing a prospective petition.
- A person must register as an independent expenditure filer if any of the following are true:
- A person makes independent expenditures of more than $250 in a calendar year for a communication to support or oppose any candidate or measure.
- A person makes independent expenditures of $250 or more for a communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate or measure that will appear on the ballot and the communication is published and disseminated to the relevant electorate within 60 calendar days before the primary election, 120 calendar days before the general election or 90 calendar days before any other election.
- A person makes independent expenditures of more than $250 for a communication that refers to a political party and the communication is published and disseminated to the relevant electorate within 60 calendar days before the primary election, 120 calendar days before the general election or 90 calendar days before any other election.
(Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 260.035)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates, political committees and petition committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- A person that makes independent expenditures of more than $250 in a calendar year for a communication to support or oppose any candidate or measure must report with the secretary of state.
Reporting Timelines
Candidate, political and petition committees must file:
- Reports of transactions that occur between the 42nd day before the election and Election Day are due no later than seven calendar days after the date of the transaction.
- Reports of transactions that occur prior to the 42nd day before the election and has not been filed by the 43rd day before the election is due not later than 30 calendar days after the date of the transactions or by the 35th day before the election, whichever date occurs first.
- A statement of contributions received and expenditures made not later than 30 calendar days after a contribution is received or an expenditure is made.
All candidate and political committees are presumed to be active at each primary and general election unless they are eligible to inactivate themselves for the election and affirmatively take steps to do so by opting out of seven-day reporting.
Political committees making independent expenditures must file:
- Reports within 30 days of the date of independent expenditures.
- Reports of independent expenditures made between the 42nd day before the election and Election Day are due seven calendar days after the date of the transaction.
- Reports of independent expenditures that occur prior to the 42nd day before the election and have not been reported by the 43rd day before the election is due by the 35th day before the election.
Any persons or independent expenditure filers making independent expenditures must file:
- Reports within seven days of initially exceeding the $250 threshold amount.
- Additional reports are generally due within 30 days of the date of making a subsequent independent expenditure.
- Reports on independent expenditures made prior to the 42nd days before an election that have not been reported are due by the 35th day before an election.
- If an independent expenditure is made within 42 days of a primary or general election, the statement must be filed within seven days.
(Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 260.057)
Filing Method
- Reports may be filed electronically or by paper.
- If a committee expects to receive a total of more than $3,500 or spend a total of more than $3,500 for a calendar year, the committee must file all transactions electronically.
(Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 260.057)
Penalties
- The secretary of state may impose civil penalties for failure to file a timely or sufficient transaction report or to include required information in a report. The penalty for a late transaction is one-half of 1% of the amount of the transaction or one-half of 1% of the amount of the change (for an increase or decrease in transaction amount) multiplied by the number of business days the transaction is filed late.
- The secretary of state may impose civil penalties for certain campaign finance violations in addition to late or insufficient transaction reports.
- Criminal penalties may apply if a transaction report verified as true by the treasurer or candidate is knowingly submitted with false information.
- Failure to file a statement or certificate will be assessed 10% of the total amount of the contribution or expenditure required to be included in the statement.
- The penalty is $10 per item for all missing or insufficient items, except for the failure to provide the terms of a loan made or received, which is 1% of the loan amount.
(Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 260.995, 260.232, 260.205)
Pennsylvania
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means any committee, club, association or other group of persons which receives contributions or makes expenditures.
(25 P.S. § 3241)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
Candidates and political committees must register within 20 days after the date on which its total of contributions reach $250 or more.
Reporting Thresholds
Political committees and candidates must file reports of receipts and expenditures if the total amount received or expended, or liabilities, are $250 or more with the secretary of the commonwealth.
Any person, other than a political committee, who makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount more than $100 during a calendar year must file a report with the secretary of the commonwealth.
(25 P.S. § 3246)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates and political committees must file a report:
- Annually on Jan. 31.
- On the sixth Tuesday before an election.
- On the second Tuesday before an election.
- 30 days after an election.
Any candidate or political committee which receives any contribution or pledge of $500 or more 15 days before the primary general election must report the contribution within 24 hours.
Persons making independent expenditures other than by contributions to a political committee or candidate in an aggregate amount over $100 during a calendar year must file reports not later than 45 days and at least 10 days before the election in the case of statewide elections.
Persons making independent expenditures other than by contributions to a political committee or candidate in an aggregate amount over $100 during a calendar year must file election reports not later than 10 days prior to the election in the case of candidates or questions which are not statewide. These reports must indicate expenditures as of 15 days prior to the election.
Candidates, political committees and persons who make independent expenditures and are required to file a pre-election report must also file a post-election report not later than 30 days after the election. This report must indicate receipts and expenditures as of 20 days after the election.
Persons making an independent expenditure of $500 or more after 15 days prior to the election must file a report within 24 hours of the expenditure.
(4 Pa. Code § 177.3, 25 P.S. § 3247, 25 P.S. § 3248)
Filing Method
- Reports may be filed on paper, electronically or on a compact disc.
- 24 hour reports can be filed either by fax or email.
(25 Pa. C.S. §3251)
Penalties
- Each report or statement of expenditures and contributions not filed within the prescribed period is subject to a $10 fee for each day the report is overdue. An additional fee of $10 is due for each of the first six days that a report is overdue. The maximum fee for a single report is $250.
- Criminal proceedings against candidates who willfully accepted any contributions or made any expenditures in violation is possible. Criminal determinations are made by the attorney general.
(25 P.S. § 3252, 25 P.S. § 3257)
Rhode Island
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Political party committees.
- Ballot-question advocates.
- Persons.
Person means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, union, charity and/or any other organization.
A ballot-question advocate is any person making an expenditure with a cumulative total that exceeds $1,000 in a calendar year for ballot question advocacy on a particular ballot question.
(R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 17-25-3, 17-25-7)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must register before receiving a contribution or making an expenditure, or upon filing for candidacy, whichever is earlier.
- PACs must register before receiving a contribution or making an expenditure.
- Political party committees must register on or before Jan. 31 every calendar year.
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidate, PACs and political party committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- A person or PAC who makes or contracts to make independent expenditures or electioneering communications with an aggregate value of $1,000 or more must electronically file a campaign finance report to the Rhode Island State Board of Elections (SBE).
- Ballot-question advocates who expends a cumulative total that exceeds $1,000 for ballot-question advocacy must report to the SBE.
(R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-25.3-1)
Reporting Timelines
- In a non-election year, candidates, PACs and parties not participating in an election must file quarterly reports.
- In an election year, candidates, PACs and parties participating in an election must file reports:
- Quarterly.
- 28 days before primary.
- Seven days before primary.
- 28 days before general.
- Seven days before general.
- 20 days after election.
- Any person, business entity or PAC making independent expenditures or electioneering communications more than $1,000must report all such campaign finance expenditures and expenses to the Board of Elections within seven days of making the expenditure.
- Any person, business entity or PAC making independent expenditures or electioneering communications more than $1,000 30 days prior to the election must report all expenditures and expenses within 24 hours.
- The first report must be filed by a ballot-question advocate when the ballot-question advocate expends a cumulative total that exceeds $1,000 for ballot-question advocacy. A ballot-question advocate must thereafter file calendar month reports with the board of elections due no later than seven days after the end of the month.
- A ballot-question advocate must file a final report of contributions received and expenditures made for ballot-question advocacy no later than 30 days after the election for the ballot question is held.
- The board of elections may grant a seven-day extension for filing a report; provided, however, that the request must be received no later than the date and time upon which the report is due to be filed. If the election for the ballot question is to be held less than seven days from the report due date and time, the report must be filed prior to the election date.
(R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 17-25.2-5, 17-25-11)
Filing Method
- Candidates for governor, lt. governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state treasurer must file electronically.
- All other candidates for public office and political parties, other than state political parties, who raise or expend more than $10,000 annually, or whose report shows a balance of $25,000 or more must file electronically.
- State political parties and PACs required to file campaign finance reports and who raise or expend more than $10,000 annually, or whose report shows a balance of $25,000 or more must file electronically.
(R.I. Gen. Laws Section 17-25-7.6)
Penalties
- The SBE may fine any person or entity who violates the provisions of campaign reporting chapter in an amount up to $100 per violation. The board may also request the attorney general to bring an action in the superior court against a person or entity which may result in fines and forfeitures.
- Any person who willfully and knowingly violates the campaign contributions and expenditures reporting requirements will, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and will be fined not more than $1,000 per violation.
- The SBE may fine any person or entity who violates the campaign contributions and expenditures reporting requirements in an amount not more than $100 per violation.
- Fines, fees and penalties imposed by the SBE for violations of the campaign contributions and expenditures reporting requirements will be paid for by the candidate, officeholder or entity against whose campaign the fines, fees or penalties have been levied. Fines, fees and penalties levied by the Board of Elections will not be paid for from contributions or funds available in a campaign account.
- Any person who willfully and knowingly violates the independent expenditure and electioneering communication requirements will, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined not more than $1,000 per violation.
- The SBE may impose a civil penalty upon any person, business entity or PAC that violates the independent expenditure and electioneering communication requirements in the amount of $1,000, or up to 150% of the aggregate amount of the independent expenditures or electioneering communications per violation, whichever is greater.
(R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-25-13, R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-25.3-4)
South Carolina
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Committees.
- Noncandidate committees.
- Persons.
Committee means an association, a club, an organization or a group of persons which, to influence the outcome of an elective office, receives contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $500 in the aggregate during an election cycle. It also means a person who, to influence the outcome of an elective office, makes:
- Contributions aggregating at least $25,000 during an election cycle to or at the request of a candidate or a committee or a combination of them. or
- Independent expenditures aggregating $500 or more during an election cycle for the election or defeat of a candidate.
Committee includes a party committee, a legislative caucus committee or a committee that is not a campaign committee for a candidate but that is organized for the purpose of influencing an election.
Noncandidate committee means a committee that is not a campaign committee for a candidate but is organized to influence an election or to support or oppose a candidate or public official, which receives contributions or makes expenditures more than $500 in the aggregate during an election cycle.
A political action committee is a noncandidate committee.
Person means an individual, a proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, syndicate, business trust, an estate, a company, committee, an association, a corporation, club, labor organization or any other organization or group of persons acting in concert.
(S.C. Code Ann. § 8-13-100)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Committees and noncandidate committees that receive or expend more than $500 in the aggregate during an election cycle to influence the outcome of an elective office must file a statement of organization with the State Ethics Commission (SEC) no later than five days after receiving the contribution or making the expenditure.
- An out-of-state committee which expends more than $500 in the aggregate during an election cycle to influence the outcome of an elective office must file a statement of organization with the State Ethics Commission (SEC) no later than five days after making the expenditure
- A ballot measure committee which receives or expends more than $2,500 in the aggregate during an election cycle to influence the outcome of a ballot measure must file a statement of organization with the SEC no later than five days after receiving the contribution or making the expenditure.
- An out-of-state ballot measure committee which expends more than $2,500 in the aggregate during an election cycle to influence the outcome of a ballot measure must file a statement of organization with the SEC no later than five days after making the expenditure.
(S.C. Code Ann. § 8-13-1304)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates, committees and noncandidate committees that receive more than $500 in the aggregate during an election cycle must file reports with the SEC.
- Any committee or noncandidate committee that receives contributions or makes independent expenditures in excess of $500 or more during an election cycle for the election or defeat of a candidate must file a report with the SEC.
- Persons who, to influence the outcome of an elective office, make contributions aggregating at least $25,000 during an election cycle to or at the request of a candidate or a committee, or a combination of them, must file a report with the SEC.
Reporting Timelines
Candidates, committees and noncandidate committees must file campaign disclosure reports:
- Within 10 days after spending or receiving the first $500 of the campaign funds.
- No later than 15 days prior to each election. This report is required regardless of whether there has been any financial campaign activity or not.
- Quarterly on Jan. 10, April 10, July 10 and Oct. 10 whether there has been any financial activity or not.
A committee must file a campaign report listing expenditures if it makes an independent expenditure or an incurred expenditure, an amount owed to a creditor for purchase of delivered goods or completed services, within the calendar quarter in which the election is conducted or 20 days before the election, whichever period of time is greater, in excess of:
- $10,000 in the case of a candidate for statewide office. or
- $2,000 in the case of a candidate for any other office.
A ballot measure committee is required to file a report within 10 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures totaling, in an accumulated aggregate, $2,500 or more. Ballot measure committees must file:
- Quarterly reports on Jan. 10, April 10, July 10 and Oct. 10.
- At least 15 days before a ballot measure election, a report showing contributions of more than $100 and expenditures to or by the ballot measure committee. This may be filed together with the quarterly report.
(S.C. Code Ann. § 8-13-1308)
Filing Method
Campaign disclosure reports can be filed either electronically or in a format specified by the SEC.
(S.C. Code §8-13-365)
Penalties
- Civil penalties for late filings or failure to file reports carries a fine of $100 if the report is not filed within five days after established deadline. If notice has been given that a required statement or report has not been filed, a fine of $10 per day for the first 10 days and $100 for each additional day will be imposed.
- Violations are a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $5,000, up to one year in prison, or both.
(S.C. Code Ann. § 8-13-1510, S.C. Code Ann. § 8-13-1520)
South Dakota
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Political party committees.
- Ballot question committees.
- Entities.
Political committee means any candidate campaign committee, political action committee (PAC), political party or ballot question committee.
Entity means any organized or unorganized association, business corporation, limited liability company, nonprofit corporation, limited liability partnership, limited liability limited partnership, limited partnership, partnership, cooperative, trust, a business trust, association, club, labor union or collective bargaining organization.
(S.D. Codified Laws § 12-27-1)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Political committees must file a statement of organization with the secretary of state not later than 15 days after the date upon which the committee made contributions, received contributions, or paid expenses over $500. If such activity falls within 30 days of any statewide election, the statement of organization must be filed within 48 hours.
- Candidates must file a statement of organization for a candidate campaign committee with the secretary of state not later than 15 days after becoming a candidate.
(S.D. Codified Laws § 12-27-3)
Reporting Thresholds
- Political committees, including ballot measure committees, that received contributions, or paid expenses over $500 must file reports with the secretary of state.
- Candidates do not have a reporting threshold; in other words, everything must be reported.
- Any person or entity that makes a payment or promise of payment totaling more than $100, including donated goods or services for an independent communication expenditure that concerns a candidate, public office holder, ballot question or political party must file a report with the secretary of state.
Reporting Timelines
All statewide candidates, statewide elected officials, statewide PACs, statewide political parties and statewide ballot question committee must file:
- Year-end reports on the last Friday in January each year.
- Pre-primary reports 15 days prior to the primary election.
- Pre-general reports 15 days prior to the general election.
All legislative candidates and campaign committees must file:
- Year-end reports the last Friday in January each year. Legislative candidates only file reports in even number years.
- Pre-primary reports the last Friday in January each year. Legislative candidates only file if there is a race in that office.
- Pre-general reports 15 days prior to the general election.
For any political committee that receives a contribution of $500 or more from any single source within 20 days before an election, a supplemental report must be filed within 48 hours of receipt of the contribution. If the contribution is received on or after Election Day, a supplemental report is not required.
Political committees that receive contributions and make independent expenditures and electioneering communications of $500 or more must list communication expenditures on their campaign finance disclosure report. A communication expenditures report is due within 48 hours of dissemination of the communication.
Any person or entity that makes a payment or promise of payment totaling more than $100, including donated goods or services, for an independent communication expenditure must file a communication report within 48 hours of dissemination of the communication.
Filing Method
- Campaign disclosure reports may be filed electronically or by paper.
- A candidate campaign committee for any statewide or legislative office or ballot question committee is required to file electronically with the secretary of state.
- A political committee or political party is required to file electronically with the secretary of state if the committee has received contributions in the aggregate of $1,000 or more during the period covered by the report.
(S.D. Codified Laws § 12-27-41)
Penalties
- A registration violation is a Class two misdemeanor and any subsequent offense within a calendar year is a Class one misdemeanor.
- A campaign finance disclosure statement violation is a Class one misdemeanor.
- The attorney general may bring an action for a civil penalty against any person, political committee, political party or organization that violates the independent expenditure and communications requirements. In addition to any other penalties, the civil penalty may not exceed $2,000 for each violation.
- The secretary of state may impose a $200 civil penalty for the failure to timely file any statement, amendment or correction required to be filed.
- The secretary of state may refer repeated violations for prosecution by a state's attorney or the attorney general.
(S.D. Codified Laws § 12-27-3, S.D. Codified Laws § 12-27-22, S.D. Codified Laws § 12-27-43, S.D. Codified Laws § 12-27-29.1)
Tennessee
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political campaign committees.
- Persons.
Political campaign committee means any corporation, or any other organization making expenditures to support or oppose a measure; or any committee, club, corporation, association or other group of persons which receives contributions or makes expenditures to support or oppose any candidate or measure during a calendar year in an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000. This committee includes political actions committees (PAC) and measure committees.
A corporation that uses corporate funds, moneys or credits for communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate which funds, moneys or credits are not used with the cooperation or with the prior consent of, or in consultation with, or at the request of, or suggestion of, a candidate or any agent or authorized committee of the candidate will be considered a political campaign committee for purposes of reporting such expenditures.
Person means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization or any other organization or group of persons.
(Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 2-10-102, 2-10-132)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Each candidate and political campaign committee must certify the name and address of the candidate's or committee's political treasurer to the registry of election finance or the county election commission, where appropriate, before the candidate or committee may receive a contribution or make an expenditure in a state or local election.
(Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-10-105)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates who receive contributions or makes expenditures more than $1,000 during a reporting period must file a report with Tennessee Registry of Election Finance (TREF).
- Political campaign committees that receive contributions or makes expenditures more than $1,000 to support or oppose any candidate or measure during a reporting period must file a report with the TREF.
(Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-10-107, Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-10-105, Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-10-102)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates and political campaign committees must file:
- Quarterly reports on Mar. 31, June 30, Sept. 30 and Jan. 15 during the election year.
- Pre-primary reports that cover the period from the last day included in the July quarterly report through the 10th day before the primary election. This report is due seven days before the primary election.
- Pre-general election reports that cover the period from the last day included in the third quarterly report through the 10th day before the general election. This report is due seven days before the general election.
- A final report is due in January. If the final report shows an unexpended balance of contributions, continuing debts and obligations or an expenditure deficit the campaign treasurer must file supplemental semiannual reports of contributions and expenditures.
(Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-10-105, Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-10-106)
Filing Method
- Reports may be filed electronically or by paper.
- Candidates for state public offices and campaign committees that have contributions or expenditures over $1,000 per reporting period must file electronically.
- During the period beginning at midnight of the 10th day prior to a primary, general, runoff or special election or a referendum and extending through midnight of such election or referendum day, each candidate or political campaign committee must, by telegram, fax, hand delivery or overnight mail delivery, file a report with the TREF or the county election commission.
(Tenn. Code §2-10-211, Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-10-105)
Penalties
- The TREF has the authority to impose civil penalties against a candidate for failing to file a statement on time and ignoring subsequent warnings about the required report.
- The TREF may impose Class one civil penalties of $25 a day up to a maximum of $750 for the late filings of any campaign financial disclosure reports.
- The TREF has the authority to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 or 15% of the amount in controversy, whichever is greater, for a Class two offense involving both state and local elections. A Class two offense is the failure to file a report within 35 days of service of notice of a delinquent report or any other violation of the Campaign Financial Disclosure Act.
(Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-10-110)
Texas
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees, including specific and general-purpose committees.
- Officeholders.
- Persons.
Political committee means two or more persons acting in concert with a principal purpose of accepting political contributions or making political expenditures.
General-purpose committee means a political committee that has among its principal purposes that meets any one of the following descriptions:
- A political committee that supports or opposes two or more candidates who are unidentified or who are seeking offices that are unknown.
- A political committee that supports or opposes one or more unidentified measures. or
- A political committee that assists two or more officeholders who are unidentified.
Specific-purpose committee means a political committee that does have among its principal purposes the:
- Supporting or opposing one or more candidates, all of whom are identified and are seeking offices that are known; or measures, all of which are identified.
- Assisting one or more officeholders, all of whom are identified. or
- Supporting or opposing only one candidate who is unidentified or who is seeking an office that is unknown.
(Tex. Elec. Code § 251.001)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Political committees must register accepting political contributions totaling more than $500 or making or authorizing political expenditures totaling more than $500.
- A general-purpose committee and a specific-purpose committee may not accept political contributions exceeding $920 and may not make or authorize political expenditures exceeding $920 without filing a campaign treasurer appointment with the Ethics Commission.
- Candidates must file a campaign treasurer appointment when becoming a candidate even if they do not intend to accept campaign contributions or make campaign expenditures. A candidate may not knowingly accept a campaign contribution or make or authorize a campaign expenditure at a time when a campaign treasurer appointment for the candidate is not in effect.
(1 Tex. Admin. Code §§ 20.301 , 20.401, 20.201)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates do not have a reporting threshold; in other words, everything must be reported.
- Political committees must report once the committee accepts political contributions more than $500 or makes or authorizes political expenditures more than $500 with the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC).
- Officeholders must report once the officeholder has accepted political contributions more than $500 or makes political expenditures more than $500 with the TEC.
- A person who makes one or more direct campaign expenditures (independent expenditures) more than $140 in an election must file a report with the TEC.
(Tex. Elec. Code § 254.095, 1 TAC § 22.6)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates and officeholders must file the following reports:
- Semiannual reports due in January and July.
- An annual report of unexpended contributions due in January.
- A 30-day pre-election report.
- An eight-day pre-election report.
- Runoff reports supporting candidates in primary runoff elections.
General purpose political committees must file the following reports:
- Semiannual reports in January and July.
- A 30-day pre-election report.
- An eight-day pre-election report.
- Daily pre-election reports of contributions.
- Daily pre-election reports of direct expenditures.
- Runoff reports in primary runoff elections.
- During the special pre-election reporting period, a committee must report within 24 hours if it receives contributions from a person aggregating more than $5,000 during the reporting period; or makes more than $1,000 in direct campaign expenditures supporting or opposing a single candidate; or makes more than $15,000 in direct campaign expenditures supporting or opposing a group of candidates.
Specific-purpose political committees must file:
- Semiannual reports in January and July.
- A 30-day pre-election report.
- An eight-day pre-election report
- Daily pre-election reports of contributions.
- Runoff reports in primary runoff elections.
- During the special pre-election reporting period, a committee must report within 24 hours a contribution from a single source that totals more than $1,000 during the reporting report.
A person who makes one or more direct campaign expenditures in the aggregate over $100 in an election must file a report with the TEC by the next deadline applicable to a general purpose political committee.
(Tex. Elec. Code § 254.063, Tex. Elec. Code § 254.064)
Filing Method
All persons filing campaign finance reports with the TEC are required to file those reports electronically unless an exemption has been granted.
(Tex. Elec. Code §254.036)
Penalties
- Late report filing carries a $500 civil penalty. If the two annual reports and the second pre-election report are late, the penalty is $500 for the first day the report is late and $100 for each additional day.
- If the penalty is not paid before the 10th day after the date on which the warning is received, the person is liable for a civil penalty in an amount determined by the Ethics Commission, but not to exceed $10,000.
- A person who knowingly fails to file a report is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
- A candidate or officeholder who fails to report the required information is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
- A person who violates the disclaimer requirements is liable to the state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $4,000.
(Tex. Elec. Code § 254.042, Tex. Elec. Code § 254.041)
Utah
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Officeholders.
- Political parties
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Political issue committees (PIC).
- Persons.
Political issues committee means an entity, or any group of individuals or entities within or outside the state, and its major purpose is to:
- Solicit or receive donations from any other person, group or entity to assist in placing a ballot proposition on the ballot, assist in keeping a ballot proposition off the ballot or to advocate that a voter refrain from voting or vote for or vote against any ballot proposition.
- Make expenditures to expressly advocate for any person to sign or refuse to sign a ballot proposition or petition.
- Make expenditures to assist in qualifying or placing a ballot proposition on the ballot or to assist in keeping a ballot proposition off the ballot.
Person means individuals, business organizations, personal campaign committees, party committees, political action committees, political issues committees and labor organizations.
(Utah Code Ann. § 20A-11-101)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- State office candidates must file a written statement that: (i) informs the lieutenant governor that the state office candidate’s personal campaign committee has been selected; and (ii) provides the name and address of each member and the secretary of the committee. This must be done before the committee can receive any contributions or make any expenditures on behalf of a state office candidate.
- PACs must file an initial statement of organization with the lieutenant governor's office seven days after the day on which the PAC either receives contributions or distributes expenditures totaling at least $750.
- PICs must file a statement of organization with the lieutenant governor’s office by Jan. 10. If organized after Jan. 10, the PIC must file an initial statement of organization no later than seven days after the day on which the PIC either receives contributions or distributes expenditures totaling at least $750.
(Utah Code Ann. § 20A-11-202, Utah Code Ann. § 20A-11-601, Utah Code Ann. § 20A-11-801)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and officeholders do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- County political parties are required to file disclosure reports once the political party receives contributions or spends $750 in a calendar year with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor (OLG).
- PACs are required to file disclosure reports once the PAC receives or spends $750 in contributions during a calendar year with the OLG.
- PICs are required to file disclosure reports once the PIC receives or spends $750 in contributions during a calendar year with the OLG.
- Persons who have made a total of at least $1,000 in independent expenditures during an election cycle must file an independent expenditure report within 31 days.
(Utah Code Ann. § 20A-11-1704)
Reporting Timelines
State and legislative candidates and officeholders must report in even-numbered years:
- All contributions within 31 days of receiving the contribution.
- All contributions within three business days of receiving the contribution within 30 days of the state convention, primary election or general election if the candidate or officeholder has an opponent.
- Seven days before the state convention date.
- Seven days before the primary.
- On Sept. 30.
- A week before the general election.
- On Jan. 10 of the following year for a year-end report.
Political parties must file an annual report in January in odd-year reports. In even-numbered years they must report:
- Seven days before state convention date.
- Seven days before the primary.
- On Sept. 30.
- A week before the general election.
- On Jan. 10 of the following year for a year-end report.
PACs and PICs must report in even-numbered years:
- All contributions within 31 days of receiving the contribution.
- Seven days before state convention date.
- Seven days before the primary.
- On Sept. 30.
- A week before the general election.
- On Jan. 10 of the following year for a year-end report.
PACs and PICs must report in odd-numbered years:
- On Sept. 30.
- Seven days before the general election.
- On Jan. 10.
Any person who is not a reporting entity and pays for an electioneering communication must file a report with the OLG within 24 hours of making the payment or entering into a contract to make the payment.
Any person who has made a total of at least $1,000 in independent expenditures during an election cycle must file an independent expenditure report within 31 days.
(Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-11-201, 20A-11-203, 20A-11-204, 20A-11-1704)
Filing Method
Campaign financial disclosure reports must be filed electronically.
(Utah Code §20A-11-103)
Penalties
- Persons or entities that fail to adhere to campaign finance and disclosure laws may face fines, criminal penalties and disqualification from the election.
- For any candidate that fails to report, the lieutenant governor will impose a fine in an amount equal to:
- 10% of the amount of the contribution if the state office candidate reports the contribution within 60 days after the day on which the time period ends. or
- 20% of the amount of the contribution if the state office candidate fails to report the contribution within 60 days after the day on which the time period ends.
- The OLG will fine a filing entity $100 for failing to file a financial statement by the filing deadline.
- If a legislative office candidate fails to file an interim report, the OLG may send an electronic notice to the legislative office candidate and the political party. The lieutenant governor will disqualify a legislative office candidate if the legislative office candidate fails to file an interim report within 24 hours after the deadline for filing the report.
- If any legislative office candidate or officeholder has failed to file a report, the OLG will, within five days of discovery of a violation or receipt of a written complaint, notify the legislative office candidate of the violation. If a legislative office candidate or officeholder fails to file or amend a summary report within seven days after receiving notice, each legislative office candidate or officeholder is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. The OLG will report all violations to the attorney general. In addition to the criminal penalty, the OLG will impose a civil fine of $100 against a legislative office candidate or officeholder.
- If an individual fail to report or to include required information, the OLG will impose a $100 fine.
- Any person who is not an individual who failures to report or include required information, the lieutenant governor will impose a $1000 fine.
(Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-11-201, 20A-11-305, 20A-11-1005, 20A-11-403, 20A-11-1706)
Vermont
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Political parties.
- Persons.
Political committee or political action committee means any formal or informal committee of two or more individuals or a corporation, labor organization, public interest group or other entity, not including a political party, that accepts contributions of $1,000 or more and makes expenditures of $1,000 or more in any two-year general election cycle for the purpose of supporting or opposing one or more candidates, influencing an election, or advocating a position on a public question in any election, and includes an independent expenditure-only political committee and a legislative leadership political committee.
Person means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, labor organization or any other organization or group of persons that is not a political committee or political party.
(17 V.S.A. § 2901)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Each candidate who has made expenditures or accepted contributions of $500 or more in an election cycle must register with the secretary of state within 10 days of reaching the $500 threshold or on the date that the next report is required of the candidate, whichever occurs first.
- Each political committee must register with the secretary of state within 10 days of making expenditures or accepting contributions of $1,000 or more.
- Each political party that has accepted contributions or made expenditures of $1,000 or more in any two-year general election cycle must register with the secretary of state within 10 days of reaching the $1,000 threshold.
(17 V.S.A. § 2921, 17 V.S.A. § 2922, 17 V.S.A. § 2923)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates who spend or raise $500 more during the two-year general election cycle must report with the secretary of state.
- Political committees that spend or raise $1000 or more in any two-year general election cycle must file reports with the secretary of state.
- Political parties that spend or raise $1,000 or more in any election cycle must file reports with the secretary of state.
- Persons who make an expenditure for $500 or more for any one mass media activity must file reports with the secretary of state.
- Political committees that spend $1,000 or more in an election cycle for the purpose of advocating a position on a public question must file reports with the secretary of state.
- Any independent expenditure-only political committee that makes an expenditure for any one mass media activity totaling $5,000 or more must file reports with the secretary of state.
Reporting Timelines
- Statewide candidates, candidates for the General Assembly, county candidates, political committees and political party reports must be filed on:
- July 15 in an off-election year.
During election years, reports must be filed on:
- March 15.
- July 15.
- Aug. 15.
- Sept. 1.
- Oct. 1.
- Oct. 15.
- The Friday before the election.
- Two weeks after the election.
- Dec. 15.
- A candidate who accepts a monetary contribution in an amount over $2,000 within 10 days of a primary or general election must report the contribution to the secretary of state within 24 hours of receiving the contribution.
- Local candidates who have raised or spent $500 or more must file campaign finance reports with the secretary of state 30 days before, 10 days before, four days before and two weeks after the local election. A final report is due within 40 days of the election.
- PACs and parties that have raised or spent more than $1,000 to influence a local election or support candidates in a local election must file reports with the secretary of state on the same dates mentioned above.
- Independent expenditure only political committee must file:
- July 15 in an off-election year.
During election years, reports must be filed on:
- March 15.
- July 15.
- Aug. 15.
- Sept. 1.
- Oct. 1.
- Oct. 15.
- The Friday before the election.
- Two weeks after the election.
- Dec. 15.
Any political committee which spends $1,000 or more for the purpose of advocating a position on a public question must file reports of its expenditures on the same dates mentioned above.
(17 V.S.A. § 2964, 17 V.S.A. § 2965, 17 V.S.A. § 2967)
Filing Method
Any person required to file a report with the secretary of state must file the report electronically.
(17 V.S.A. § 2961)
Penalties
- A person who knowingly and intentionally violates the laws related to filing campaign finance reports will be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
- Violators of the state’s campaign finance laws will be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation.
- The attorney general and the state’s attorneys are given specific civil investigation authority if they have reason to believe any person has violated any provision of the campaign finance law.
- In addition to the other penalties provided, a state’s attorney or the attorney general may institute any appropriate action, injunction or other proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct or abate any violation.
(17 V.S.A. § 2903, 17 V.S.A. § 2904)
Virginia
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means and includes any political action committee, political party committee, referendum committee or inaugural committee.
Person means any individual or corporation, partnership, business, labor organization, membership organization, association, cooperative or other like entity.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must file a statement of organization within 10 days of meeting any one of the following conditions:
- Acceptance of a contribution.
- Expenditure of any funds.
- The payment of a filing fee for any party nomination method.
- The filing of a candidate statement of qualification.
- The appintment of a campaign treasurer, designation of a campaign committee or designation of a campaign depository.
- In the case of a candidate for a town office in a town with a population of less than 25,000, acceptance of a contribution or expenditure of funds that brings the total amount of contributions accepted or funds expended to more than $25,000 in one election cycle.
- Political committees that anticipate receiving contributions or making expenditures over $200 in a calendar year must file with the Virginia Board of Elections (SBE) a statement of organization within 10 days after its organization, or if later, within 10 days after the date on which it has information that causes the committee to anticipate it will receive contributions or make expenditures over $200.
- Out-of-state political committees must submit a statement of organization on or before the date on which the committee makes contributions of $10,000 or more in the aggregate in a calendar year to candidate campaign committees or political committees registered with the SBE.
- Any referendum committee must file a statement of organization within 10 days after its organization, or if later, within 10 days after the date on which it has information that causes the committee to anticipate it will receive contributions or make expenditures in excess of:
- $10,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a statewide referendum.
- $5,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum being held in two or more counties and cities.
- $1,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum held in a single county or city.
(Va. Code Ann. §§ 24.2-947.1, 24.2-949.2, 24.2-950.2, 24.2-949.10, 24.2-951.1)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Political committees that receive contributions or make expenditures more than $200 in a calendar year must report with the Board of Elections.
- Any person, candidate campaign committee or political committee that makes independent expenditures, in the aggregate during an election cycle, of $1,000 or more for a statewide election or $200 or more for any other election must maintain records and report all independent expenditures made for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate.
- A referendum committee must report to the SBE when the committee anticipates it will receive contributions or make expenditures more than:
- $10,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a statewide referendum.
- $5,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum being held in two or more counties and cities.
- $1,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum held in a single county or city.
(Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-945.2)
Reporting Timelines
Any candidate for any office to be filled at a November general election must file:
- In a nonelection year, not later than July 15 for the period Jan. 1 through June 30.
- Following a nonelection year, not later than Jan. 15 for the period July 1 through Dec. 31.
- In an election year:
- Not later than Apr. 15 for the period Jan. 1 through March 31.
- Not later than the eighth day before the primary date.
- Not later than July 15.
- Not later than Sept. 15.
- Not later than Oct. 15.
- No later than the eighth day before the November election.
- Not later than the 30th day after the November election date.
- Not later than Jan. 15 in the following year.
- Any single contribution of $5,000 or more for a statewide office, $1,000 or more for the general assembly, or $500 or more for any other office, on and after the 11th day preceding an election and before Election Day, should be reported to the BOE within 24 hours.
- If a special election is held on a date other than a regularly scheduled general election, candidates must file:
- A report not later than the eighth day before the special election date.
- A postelection report no later than the 30th day after the election and prior to taking office.
- A postelection report not later than Jan. 15 and July 15 each year until a final report is filed.
Political committees and political parties must file:
- Quarterly reports on Apr. 15, July 15, Oct. 15 and Jan. 15.
- Any single contribution or loan of $10,000 or more received at any time during the calendar year must be reported within three business days of receipt.
Any person or political committee that makes independent expenditures must report all independent expenditures made for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate to the SBE. Independent expenditure reports are due no later than 24 hours after the expenditure has been made or when the expenditure is disseminated, whichever is first.
A referendum committee has the same reporting requirements as any other political committee.
(Va. Code Ann. §§ 24.2-947.6, 24.2-947.824.2-947.7, 24.2-949.6, 24.2-949.7, 24.2-950.6)
Filing Method
- Candidates for General Assembly and local or constitutional offices must file their campaign finance reports electronically with the Board of Elections.
- Political committees that accept contributions or makes expenditures over $10,000 in any calendar year, or that accepted contributions or made expenditures over $10,000 in the previous calendar year, must file its reports electronically.
- Political parties may submit reports in typed, printed or legibly hand printed format or electronically.
- Out-of-state political committees must file electronically with the Board of Elections.
(Va. Code Ann. §§ 24.2-947.5, 24.2-946.1, 24.2-949.8, 24.2-950.4, 24.2-949.11)
Penalties
- Failure to file a statement of organization carries a civil penalty not to exceed $500.
- Failure to file a required report carries a civil penalty not to exceed $500.
- Failure to file a report of any large pre-election contribution is a rebuttable presumption that the violation was willful and is a Class one misdemeanor.
- An incomplete report violation carries a civil penalty not to exceed $500 unless a greater penalty is imposed. The civil penalty will not exceed $500 unless the total of the filer’s reportable contributions or the total of the filer’s reportable expenditures is $10,000 or more.
- Any candidate for statewide office, who fails to file any report in a timely manner or files an incomplete report, and their campaign treasurer, may be assessed a civil penalty.
- Acceptance of contributions of $10,000 or more in the aggregate in any calendar year from an unregistered federal political action committee or out-of-state political committee will result in a civil penalty equal to the amount of the contributions made to a candidate campaign committee or political committee.
- Any sponsor violating the political advertising disclosure requirements will be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000; or in the case of a violation occurring within 14 days prior to or on Election Day, a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500. In the case of a willful violation, the sponsor will be guilty of a Class one misdemeanor.
(Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-953.1, Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-953.2, Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-953.3 Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-953.4, Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-953.5)
Washington
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Incidental committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means any person, except a candidate, having the expectation of receiving contributions or making expenditures in support of, or opposition to, any candidate or ballot proposition.
Incidental committee means any nonprofit organization not otherwise defined as a political committee but that may incidentally make a contribution or an expenditure in excess of the reporting thresholds directly or through a political committee.
Person includes an individual, partnership, joint venture, public or private corporation, association, federal, state or local governmental entity or agency, candidate, committee, political committee, political party, executive committee or any other organization or group of persons, however organized.
(WAC §§ 390-16-001, 390-16-013, Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 42.17A.005)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must register within two weeks of becoming a candidate.
- Political committees must file a statement of organization within two weeks after organization or within two weeks after the date the committee first has the expectation of receiving contributions or making expenditures in any election campaign, whichever is earlier. If a committee organizes within three weeks of an election and will be active in that election, it must register within three business days of organizing.
- Incidental committees must file a statement of organization within two weeks after the date the committee first has the expectation of making any expenditures aggregating at least $25,000 in a calendar year in any election campaign, or to a political committee is required to disclose a payment received.
(WAC § 390-16-012, Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) §§ 42.17A.205, 42.17A.005)
Reporting Thresholds
- A candidate or political committee who raises and spends up to $5,000 is required to file reports with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC).
- An incidental committee that received a payment that would change its top 10 sources of payments or made a contribution to a candidate or political committee of more than $200 must file a report with the PDC.
- Any persons making an independent expenditure, of $100 or more, that supports or opposes a candidate or ballot measure must file a report with the PDC. Any persons making electioneering communications more than $1,000 that supports or opposes a candidate or ballot measure must file a report with the PDC.
(Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 42.17A.225, WAC § 390-16-105, Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 42.17A.235)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates, political committees and incidental committees must file reports at the following intervals:
- The committee either received more than $200 in contributions or made more than $200 in expenditures.
- The candidate does not appear on the primary ballot, it still files monthly reports through the end of August.
- On the 21st day and the seventh day immediately preceding the election.
- On the 10th day of the first full month after the election.
During the week before the primary election and the three weeks before the general election, a candidate must file a special report within 48 hours of receiving $1,000 or more from a single source in the aggregate during the special reporting period.
Continuing political committees must file a report on the 10th day of each month detailing expenditures made and contributions received for the preceding calendar month. This report need only be filed if either the total contributions received or total expenditures made since the last such report exceed $200.
An out-of-state political committee that makes an expenditure supporting or opposing a Washington state candidate or political committee must filed a statement no later than the 10th day of the month following any month in which a contribution or other expenditure is made.
A ballot measure committee has the same reporting requirements as any other political committee.
Any person who makes independent expenditures totaling $100 or more supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot measure must submit a report to the PDC within five days and then:
- On the 21st day and the seventh day preceding the election.
- On the 10th day of the first month after the election.
- On the 10th day of each month in which no other reports are required to be filed. Further reports will only be filed if the reporting person has made an independent expenditure since the date of the last previous report filed.
The sponsor of political advertising must file a report to the PDC within 24 hours of, or on the first working day after, the date the political advertising is first published, mailed or otherwise presented to the public, if the political advertising:
- Is published, mailed or otherwise presented to the public within 21 days of an election; and
- Qualifies as an independent expenditure with a fair market value or actual cost of one $1,000 or more, for political advertising supporting or opposing a candidate or a ballot proposition.
All electioneering communications must be reported within 24 hours, whether sponsored by a candidate, political committee or person.
- The sponsor of an electioneering communication must report within 24 hours of, or on the first working day after, the date the electioneering communication is broadcast, transmitted, mailed, erected, distributed, digitally or otherwise or otherwise published.
- The sponsor of political advertising must file a report within 24 hours of, or on the first working day after, the date the political advertising is first published, mailed or otherwise presented to the public, if the political advertising:
- Is published, mailed or otherwise presented to the public within 21 days of an election; and
- Qualifies as an independent expenditure with a fair market value or actual cost of one $1,000 or more, for political advertising supporting or opposing a candidate; or has a fair market value or actual cost of $1,000 or more, for political advertising supporting or opposing a ballot proposition.
(Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) §§ 42.17A.225, 42.17A.235, 42.17A.265, 42.17A.250, 42.17A.260, WAC § 390-16-105)
Filing Method
All persons required to file reports must file them electronically. The PDC may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for persons who lack the technological ability to file reports electronically.
(Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 42.17A.055)
Penalties
- A civil penalty up to $10,000 may be assessed per violation upon concluding that someone has violated the public disclosure law and violations may be referred to the attorney general.
- A person who fails to file a properly completed statement or report within the time required may be subject to a civil penalty of $10 per day for each day each delinquency continues.
- A person who fails to report a contribution or expenditure may be subject to a civil penalty equivalent to the amount not reported as required.
- A person who, with actual malice, violates the public disclosure law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
- A person who, within a five-year period, with actual malice, violates three or more provisions of the public disclosure law is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
- A person who, with actual malice, procures or offers any false or forged document to be filed, registered or recorded is guilty of a Class C felony.
(Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 42.17A.750, Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 42.17A.750, Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 42.17A.750)
West Virginia
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Pre-candidates.
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means any candidate committee, political action committee or political party committee.
Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, committee, association and any other organization or group of individuals.
(W. Va. Code § 3-8-1a)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Political committees must register before receiving or spending any funds for political purposes.
- Pre-candidacy candidates must file a pre-candidacy form before the candidate starts to raise and spend money for a possible candidacy.
- Candidates for state office must register within 10 days of filing as a candidate.
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and political committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Independent expenditures in an aggregate over $1,000 during a calendar year must file a report.
- A total of $5,000 or more for the direct costs of purchasing, producing or disseminating electioneering communications during any calendar year. or
- A total of $1,000 or more on or after the 15th day but more than 12 hours before the day of any election for the direct costs of purchasing, producing or disseminating electioneering communications during any calendar year must, within 24 hours of each disclosure date, file with the secretary of state.
(W. Va. Code § 3-8-2, § 3-8-2b)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates and political committees must file:
- Quarterly reports on Apr. 1, July 1, Oct. 1, Jan. 1.
- Primary election reports on the 15th day preceding the primary election. Only candidates file this report.
- General election reports on the15th day preceding the general election. Only candidates file this report.
Candidates and political committees are required to continue filing quarterly reports until a zero balance or a final report has been filed.
Pre-candidates must file quarterly reports on Apr. 1, July 1, Oct. 1 and Jan. 1.
Any person or political committee that makes or contracts to make independent expenditures aggregating $5,000 or more for any statewide, legislative or multicounty judicial candidate or $500 or more for any county office candidate, after the 15th day, but more than 12 hours, before the date of an election must file a report within 24 hours.
A person, including a political committee, who makes or contracts to make independent expenditures aggregating $10,000 or more at any time, up to and including the 15th day before the date of an election, must file a report within 48 hours.
Any person who files a report must file an additional report within 48 hours after each time the person makes or contracts to make independent expenditures aggregating an additional $10,000 with respect to the same election.
Every person who has spent a total of $5,000 or more for the purchasing, producing or disseminating electioneering communications during any calendar year; or a total of $1,000 or more on or after the 15th day but more than 12 hours before the day of any election for the purchasing, producing or disseminating electioneering communications during any calendar year must, within 24 hours of each disclosure date, file a report.
(W. Va. Code § 3-8-5)
Filing Method
Reports may be filed electronically or by papers. The following statements or reports must be filed electronically:
- Financial statements filed by or on behalf of candidates for governor, secretary of state, attorney general, auditor, treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, state senate, house of delegates, supreme court of appeals, circuit judge or family court judge.
- Financial statements filed by political committees.
- Electioneering communication reports.
- Independent expenditure reports.
(W.Va. Code, 3-8-5b)
Penalties
- Any person, candidate or treasurer of a political committee who fails to file a sworn, itemized statement on time or who willfully files a grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate statement is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, will e fined not less than $500 or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both.
- Any person who willfully fails to comply with independent expenditure reporting is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, will be fined not less than $500, or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined.
(W. Va. Code § 3-8-7, W. Va. Code § 3-8-2)
Wisconsin
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Political parties.
- Independent expenditure committees.
- Referendum committees.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidates must file a registration statement as soon as practicable after the individual qualifies as a candidate.
- Political parties upon inception and prior to making or accepting any contribution, making any disbursement, or incurring any obligation, must file a registration statement.
- PAC and independent expenditure committees (when the committee’s major purpose is express advocacy) must file a registration statement no later than the 10th business day after either making or accepting contributions, disbursements or incurring obligations to support or oppose a candidate in an aggregate amount more than $2,500. Major purpose is when more than 50% of the committee’s spending is on independent expenditures or contributions.
- Referendum committees that make or accept contributions, make disbursements or incur obligations for the purpose of influencing a particular vote at a referendum in a calendar year in an aggregate amount over $10,000 will file a registration statement no later than the 10th business day after meeting threshold.
(Wis. Stat. §§ 11.0202, 11.0302, 11.0502, 11.0602, 11.0802)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and political parties do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Political action committees and independent expenditure committees that make or accept contributions, disbursements or incur obligations to support or oppose a candidate in an aggregate amount more than $2,500 needs to file a report with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission (WEC).
- Referendum committees that make expenditures or accept contributions more than $10,000 in a calendar year must file a report with the WEC.
Reporting Timelines
General election candidates must file:
- January continuing report.
- July continuing report.
- Fall pre-primary report.
- September report.
- Fall pre-election report.
- Any contributions of $1,000 or more received by a candidate committee from a single contributor within 15 days prior to an election and are not included in the pre-primary or pre-election report, must report the contribution within 72 hours of receipt. The information should also be included in the committee’s next regular report.
PACS when participating in an election must file:
- January continuing report.
- July continuing report.
- September report.
PACS not participating in an election must file:
- January continuing report.
- July continuing report.
Local candidate committees must file:
- January continuing report.
- Spring pre-primary report.
- Spring pre-election report.
- July continuing report.
- Any contributions of $1,000 or more cumulatively received by a candidate committee from a single contributor later than 15 days prior to an election and are not included in the pre-primary or pre-election report, must report within 72 hours of receipt. The information should also be included in the committee’s next regular report.
An independent expenditure committee that makes or accepts contributions, makes disbursements or incurs obligations to support or oppose one or more candidates for office at a spring primary or a candidate at a special primary held to nominate nonpartisan candidates to be voted for at a special election held to fill a vacancy in one or more of the nonpartisan state or local offices voted for at the spring election, or to support or oppose other committees engaging in such activities, must:
- File a preprimary report no earlier than 14 days and no later than eight days preceding the primary. If a candidate for a nonpartisan state office at an election is not required to participate in a spring primary, the independent expenditure committee must file a preprimary report.
- File a pre-election report no earlier than 14 days and no later than eight days preceding the election.
- In each year of an election cycle, file a report on the 15th day of January and July.
An independent expenditure committee that makes or accepts contributions, makes disbursements or incurs obligations to support or oppose one or more candidates for office at a spring election or a candidate at a special election held to fill a vacancy, must:
- File a pre-election report no earlier than 14 days and no later than eight days preceding the election.
- In each year of an election cycle, file a report on the 15th day of January and July.
- File a postelection report no earlier than 23 days and no later than 45 days after each special election.
An independent expenditure committee that makes or accepts contributions, makes disbursements or incurs obligations to support or oppose one or more candidates for office at a partisan primary or a candidate at a special primary held to nominate candidates to be voted for at a special election held to fill a vacancy, must:
- File a preprimary report no earlier than 14 days and no later than eight days preceding the primary.
- File a pre-election report no earlier than 14 days and no later than eight days preceding the election.
- In an odd-numbered year, file a report on the 15th day of January and July.
- In an even-numbered year, file a report on the 15th day of January and July, and on the fourth Tuesday in September.
An independent expenditure committee that makes or accepts contributions, makes disbursements or incurs obligations to support or oppose one or more candidates for office at a general election or a candidate at a special election held to fill a vacancy in one or more of the state or local offices voted for at the general election, must:
- File a pre-election report no earlier than 14 days and no later than eight days preceding the election.
- In an odd-numbered year, file a report on the 15th day of January and July.
- In an even-numbered year, file a report on the 15th day of January and July, and on the 4th Tuesday in September.
- File a post-election report no earlier than 23 days and no later than 45 days after each special election.
Independent expenditure committees that spend more than $2,500 on express advocacy in the 60 days before a primary or election must also file a special report documenting their expenditures within 72 hours of making the disbursement.
Referendum committees accepting contributions and making disbursements to support or oppose a referendum need to file pre-primary and pre-election reports for periods where the referendum appears on the ballot. Committees that have not accepted contributions or made disbursements to support or oppose a referendum on the ballot do not need to file the pre-primary or pre-election reports.
(Wis. Stat. § 11.0103, Wis. Stat. § 11.0204)
Filing Method
- Candidates for state offices file electronically with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission (WEC).
- Candidates for local offices file on paper with their local filing office.
- Committees file electronically with the WEC.
Penalties
- Any person who violates the campaign finance laws may be required to forfeit not more than $500 for each violation.
- Any person who is delinquent in filing a report may be required to forfeit not more than $50 or 1 % of the annual salary of the office for which the candidate is being supported or opposed, whichever is greater, for each day of delinquency.
- Whoever intentionally violates the campaign finance laws is guilty of a Class I felony if the intentional violation does not involve a specific figure or if the intentional violation concerns a figure which exceeds $100 in amount or value.
- Whoever intentionally violates any of the following may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than six months or both:
- Any violation concerns a specific amount or value not exceeding $100.
- Filing false reports.
- Making unlawful obligations or disbursements.
- Violating the disclaimer requirements.
- Other violations of the campaign finance law, not specified, is a Class I felony.
(Wis. Stat. § 11.1400, Wis. Stat. § 11.1401)
Wyoming
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate committees.
- Political action committees.
- Political parties.
- Organizations.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- A political action committee and a candidate’s campaign committee, except those formed under federal law, must file a statement of formation within 10 days after formation.
- Any organization that receives contributions or expends funds totaling in aggregate more than $1,000 for the purpose of causing independent expenditures or electioneering communications to be made should file a statement of formation for the purpose of filing campaign reports.
(Wyo. Stat. § 22-25-101, Wyo. Stat. § 22-25-10)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates, PACs and political parties do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Any organization that receives contributions or expends funds totaling in aggregate more than $1,000 for the purpose of causing independent expenditures or electioneering communications must file a report with the secretary of state.
Reporting Timelines
Candidates running for office must file:
- Pre-primary report (contributions only).
- Primary report.
- Pre-general report (contributions only).
- General report.
Candidates not running for office must file:
- Annual report.
- Pre-primary report (contributions only).
- Pre-general report (contributions only).
Candidate committees supporting candidate running for office must file:
- Pre-primary report (contributions only).
- Primary report.
- Pre-general report (contributions only).
- General report.
Candidate committees supporting candidate not running for office must file:
- Annual report.
- Pre-primary (contributions).
- Pre-general (contributions).
PACs which are supporting or opposing candidates must file:
- Pre-primary report (contributions only).
- Primary report.
- Pre-general report (contributions only).
- General report.
PACs which are supporting or opposing a ballot issue must file:
- Annual report.
- January-September report.
- Pre-general report (contributions only).
- General report.
Organizations which are supporting or opposing a statewide ballot initiative or referendum petition drive must file:
- Annual report.
- January-September report.
- Pre-general report (contributions only).
- General report.
Political Parties file two-year reports.
PACs and candidate’s campaign committees must file an itemized statement of contributions at least seven days but not more than 14 days before any primary, general or special election. Any contribution received after the statement has been filed, through the day of the election, must be filed as an amendment to the statement within 10 days after the election.
(Wyo. Stat. § 22-25-106)
Filing Method
Candidates and candidate committees for governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, state superintendent of public instruction, state legislature, supreme court justice, district and circuit court judges standing for retention, state PACs, organizations and political parties must file disclosure reports electronically.
(Wyo. Stat. § 22-25-107)
Penalties
- Failure to file the report within the time required will subject the person to the following civil penalties:
- Up to $500 per day beginning on the date of the final order and ending when the report is filed for a failure to file a report with the secretary of state.
- $200 for a failure to file a report with the county clerk.
- The candidate will also be notified by mail that they will have 21 days to file the delinquent report or be subject to civil penalties. If a late filer fails to file within the 21-day window, the appropriate filing office or county attorney, will issue a final order imposing a civil penalty.
(Wyo. Stat. § 22-25-108)
District OF Columbia
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Independent expenditure committees .
- Persons.
Political committee means any committee, club, association, organization or other group of individuals that is:
- Organized for the purpose of promoting or opposing:
- The election of a person to public office.
- A political party.
- Any initiative, referendum or recall.
- An inaugural, transition or legal defense committee.
- Controlled by or coordinated with any public official or agent of a public official.
Person means an individual, partnership, committee, corporation, labor organization and any other organization.
(D.C. Code § 1-1161.01)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- All political committees, PACs and independent expenditure committees must register with the Director of Campaign Finance (DCF) and file a statement of organization form within 10 days of organization or designation by a candidate on the statement of candidacy form.
- An individual must file a statement of candidacy or statement of registration as a candidate within five days of receiving or making a campaign contribution or expenditure.
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Political committees, political action committees and independent expenditure committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Any person other than a political committee, political action committee or independent expenditure committee that makes one or more independent expenditures in aggregate of $1,000 or more within a calendar year must file a report with the DCF.
Reporting Timelines
All candidates and political committees must file disclosure reports on the following dates:
- In an election year, on Jan. 31, March 10, June 10, Aug. 10, Oct. 10, Dec. 10 and the eighth day next preceding the date of any election, in any year in which the candidate seeks office and the committee supports a candidate for office.
- In election and non-election years, on Jan. 31 and July 31; if a committee no later than Jan. 31 declares its intention to not support a candidate during an election year, it does not need to report.
PACs and independent expenditure committees must file disclosure reports on the following dates:
- In an election year, reports should be file on Jan. 31, March 10, June 10, Aug. 10, Oct. 10, Dec. 10 and eight days preceding an election.
- In an election year, when a committee has no activity, reports should be filed on Jan. 31 and July 31.
- In a non-election year, reports should be filed on July 31.
Any person making an independent expenditure of $50 or more must be reported. Reports must be filed on the independent expenditure committee schedule.
If the independent expenditure exceeds $1,000 in a 2-week period, a report must be filed within 14 days of the independent expenditure.
(D.C. Code Mun. Regs. tit. 3 §§ 3017.1, 3000, D.C. Code § 1-1163.13)
Filing Method
All reports must be filed electronically with the Office of Campaign Finance.
(D.C. Code Mun. Regs. tit. 3 §3006)
Penalties
- Any person or committee that fails, neglects or omits to file any report or document, or who omits or incorrectly states any of the information may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $4,000 for the first offense and not more than $10,000 for the second and each subsequent offense.
- A person may be assessed a civil penalty by the DCF not to exceed $4,000, or three times the amount of the unlawful contribution, gift or expenditure, whichever amount is greater.
- A person who aids, abets or participates in a campaign finance violation will be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000.
(D.C. Code § 1-1163.35)
Puerto Rico
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Campaign committees.
- Political action committees (PAC).
- Political parties.
- Persons.
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every person, group or organization must register but may have reporting responsibilities.
Every PAC, campaign committee and authorized candidate committee must present its statement of organization with the Office of the Election Comptroller within 10 business days following its designation.
Any candidate who raises or expends over $500 from their own money, must designate a campaign committee within 10 business days.
(16 L.P.R.A. § 626)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates, candidate committees, PACs and political parties do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
- Any person or committee making independent expenditures more than $1,000 must file a report with the Office of the Election Comptroller (OEC).
Reporting Timelines:
Candidates and PACs must file quarterly reports.
Parties and candidates for governor must file contribution and expenditure reports with the OEC on a monthly basis before the 15th day of the month starting on Oct. 1 of the year prior to the general election.
Any contribution or gift over $1,000 received after the Oct. 31 report and before the election must be reported to the OEC within 24 hours after receiving it.
Any person or PAC that contracts, within 20 days or less before the election, to make independent expenditures, in the aggregate, over $1,000 must file a report within 24 hours. This report is separate and independent from any other required reports.
Any person or PAC that contracts, at any time on or before the 20th day before the election, to make independent expenditures, in the aggregate, over $5,000 must file a report within 48 hours. This report is separate and independent from any other required reports.
(16 L.P.R.A. § 627, 627b)
Filing Method
Campaign disclosure reports must be filed electronically. There is an exemption for those persons or committees that lack the capacity to file the reports electronically.
(16 L.P.R.A. § 627j, 16 L.P.R.A. § 627k)
Penalties
- Any person or committee, that “knowingly, obstinately and stubbornly” fails to file reports will be guilty of a misdemeanor and be subject to administrative fines. The criminal action for this misdemeanor is up to five years.
- Any person who deliberately, willingly and knowingly files or signs a false report of contributions received and expenditures made will be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for a term between one and three years. The criminal action for this felony is up to five years.
- Any violation of the Political Campaign Financing Oversight Act that is not classified as an offense will constitute a civil violation and will entail an administrative fine to be imposed by the OEC. Fines will range up to $2,500 for the first violation and up to $5,000 for subsequent violations. In the case of juridical persons and political action committees, the fines will range up to $15,000 for the first violation and up to $30,000 for subsequent violations.
(16 L.P.R.A. §§ 633d, 663e, 633f)
Guam
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidate.
- Committee.
- Political party.
Committee means:
- Any person who accepts a contribution or makes an expenditure for or against any individual candidate or group of candidates, person seeking nomination for election, or election to office, or political party, with the authorization of the candidate, person or political party, or who accepts a contribution or makes an expenditure for or against any question or issue which is to appear on the ballot at the next applicable election.
- Any person who raises or holds money or anything of value and who subsequently contributes the money or thing of value to, or make expenditures on behalf of an individual candidate, group of candidates, person or political party; provided, that the term committee shall not include any person making a contribution or expenditure of his or her own funds or something of value originally acquired for his or her own use.
(3 GCA Section 17101)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the territory.
Each candidate, committee and political party must file an organizational report no later than the earliest of the following applicable days:
- On or before the day of filing for nomination or election.
- By the 10th day after receiving any contributions for the next campaign in an aggregate amount of more than $250 or the making or incurring of any expenditure for the next campaign over$250.
(3 GCA Section 17106)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and committees do not have a reporting threshold; everything must be reported.
Reporting Timelines
- Preliminary primary report is due no later than the 10th day prior to each election or primary.
- Each candidate, whether or not successful in a primary or special primary election, or authorized person in the case of a party, or campaign treasurer in the case of a committee, must file a final primary report not later than the 10th day after the primary or special primary election.
- Each candidate or committee must file a final general report with the Guam Election Commission (GEC) not later than the 20th day after a general or special election.
(3 GCA Section 17116, 3 GCA Section 17118)
Filing Method
- All reports required to be filed with the GEC on forms provided by the Election Commission.
- Candidates, political parties, political action committees and campaign committees may obtain the organizational report forms from GEC. A certified hard copy of organizational reports must be filed, along with an electronic copy.
- All reports must be certified by the candidate and the treasurer (or deputy treasurer).
- All certifications must be notarized.
Penalties
- Any person willfully violating any provision of the Election Campaign Contribution and Expenditures chapter must be punishable in the manner prescribed as follows:
- If a person, that person will be guilty of a misdemeanor and be subject to fines and/or the penalties specified.
- If a corporation, organization or association, it will be punishable by a fine not exceeding $10,000 per offense and the penalties specified.
- Whenever a corporation, organization or association violates this Chapter, the violation must be deemed to be also that of the individual directors, officers or agents of the corporation, organization or association who have knowingly authorized, ordered or participated in any of the acts constituting the violation.
- Any person may sue for injunctive relief to compel compliance with the Chapter.
- Complaints and investigations: against any person will be filed with the GEC. The GEC will give notice of receipt of the complaint together with a copy of the complaint to the person cited and shall afford him or her an opportunity to address or otherwise respond to the complaint.
(3 GCA Section 17122, 3 GCA Section 17121)
Northern MARIANA Islands
Not available
American Samoa
Not available
Virgin Islands
Below we provide information on:
- Who needs to disclose information on election-related transactions.
- Who needs to register with the state.
- Reporting thresholds.
- Reporting timelines.
- Filing methods.
- Penalties.
For information on the definition and what needs to be reported for contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications and ballot measure financing, please see the appropriate tabs.
Who Needs to Disclose
- Candidates.
- Political committees.
- Persons.
Political committee means any committee, club, association or other group of persons that receives contributions or makes expenditures during any calendar year in an aggregate amount more than $1,000.
Person means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization or any other organization or group of persons.
(18 V.I.C. § 902)
Who Needs to Register with the State
Not every organization that has reporting responsibilities must be registered with the state.
- Candidate committees and political committees that anticipate receiving contributions or making expenditures during the calendar year in an aggregate amount exceeding $500 must file with the Office of Supervisor of Elections (OSE) a statement of organization within 10 days after its organization or, if later, within 10 days after receipt of information causing the committee to anticipate it will receive contributions or make expenditures over $500.
(18 V.I.C. § 904)
Reporting Thresholds
- Candidates and political committees must file a report not later than 10 days after each six-month period in which contributions were received or expenditures made in amounts greater than $500.
(18 V.I.C. § 904)
Reporting Timelines
Candidates must file:
- Semiannual reports in January and June.
- Election reports for any primary, general, special or runoff election.
Any candidate, or any person authorized to receive contributions on behalf of a candidate, which receives a contribution of $500 or more after the 30th day preceding an election and before the election, must report such contribution to the OSE within 48 hours after its receipt.
Political committees must file:
- Semiannual reports in January and June.
- Election reports for any primary, general, special or runoff election.
- Not later than 10 days after each six-month period in which contributions were received or expenditures made in amounts greater than $500.
- Not later than 10 days before the election. The report will be for a reporting period commencing the day after the close of the preceding reporting period and must close on the 30th day preceding the election.
- Not later than 30 days after the election. The report will be for a reporting period commencing the day after the close of the preceding reporting period and must close on the 20th day after the election.
Any political committee which receives a contribution of $500 or more after the 30th day preceding an election and before the election, must report the contribution within 48 hours after its receipt.
Every person, independent of an organized committee, who makes or receives contributions or makes expenditures in an aggregate amount of over $500 during a calendar year for the express purpose of advocating the election or defeat of a candidate must file reports during the same reporting periods as f political committees.
(18 V.I.C. § 905, 18 V.I.C. § 906)
Filing Method
- Campaign disclosure forms should be typed; printing in ink is also acceptable as long as the forms are legible.
- Computerized forms are acceptable as long as they are in the same format and style as the forms prescribed by the OSE.
- All reports must be on the forms prescribed by the OSE.
Penalties
- Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the state’s disclosure and campaign contributions laws will be fined not more than $5,000 or three times the amount of any contribution or expenditure involved in such violation, whichever is greater, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
- Any person who believes a violation of the disclosure and campaign contributions laws has occurred may file a complaint with the Supervisor of Elections.
- If the Supervisor of Elections determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed or is about to commit a violation, the Supervisor may endeavor to bring about voluntary compliance by informal methods of conference, conciliation and persuasion. If the OSE is unable to correct or prevent any such violation, the OSE may:
- Institute a civil action for relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order or other appropriate order; and
- Institute a civil penalty which does not exceed the greater of $5,000 or an amount equal to twice the amount of any contributions or expenditures involved in such violation, in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(18 V.I.C. § 910, 911)