Embedded Files
Contributions
Contributions
You must report all contributions received.
$50 or less
$50 or less
May be disclosed as a lump sum, rather than itemized.
Over $50
Over $50
Must provide the contributor's full name and mailing address.
Over $250
Over $250
Must also provide the contributor's occupation & employer, if any, or principal place of business, if self-employed.
Note: When determining a donor’s contribution amount, the filer must aggregate all of the donor’s contributions during the reporting period.
Expenditures
Expenditures
You must disclose each and every expenditure made during the reporting period and provide the date it was made, the full name and address of the person to whom it was made, and the purpose of the expenditure.
If you used a credit or charge card to make expenditures, you must disclose and itemize each purchase made with that card, not merely a lump sum payment to the card.
If a campaign pays a person other than a political committee to get its candidate on a sample ballot or to conduct or organize get-out-the-vote activities, the campaign must disclose not just that person it paid but also each person whom that person pays or employs in order to provide the services promised.
Unpaid debts
Unpaid debts
You must disclose the nature and amount of the debt, the date incurred, and the full name and address of the person to whom the debt is owed.
Electioneering communications
Electioneering communications
An electioneering communication is any publicly distributed* broadcast, cable, radio, print, Internet, or satellite communication that
promotes, attacks, supports, or opposes a candidate, or
within 50 days of a covered election names, refers to, includes, or depicts a candidate in that election.
*A publicly distributed communication does not include a communication made solely to the members of a union, association, or corporation.
When do I have to report expenditures for electioneering communications?
When do I have to report expenditures for electioneering communications?
A PAC must file a report for Cycles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 if it spends any amount on electioneering communications in that reporting cycle. A PAC must file for Cycles 101, 201, 202, 401, 501, or 502 if it spends $5,000 or more on electioneering communications. For each filing, a PAC must disclose all transactions during that reporting period.
An individual or non-PAC entity must file a report for any reporting cycle other than Cycle 7 in which they spend $5,000 or more on electioneering communications that are published within 50 days of a covered election.
Special disclosure rules for organizations
Special disclosure rules for organizations
If an organization (other than a PAC) spends $5,000 or more on electioneering communications within 50 days of a covered election, it must file a full Campaign Finance Report with the Board of Ethics that discloses:
all expenditures for electioneering communications or any other campaign related spending;
any contributions as defined by the State Election Code; and
all donations of $5,000 or more received during the reporting period regardless of whether they are designated for a political purpose unless the organization uses a segregated account for political spending. If the organization uses a segregated account for amounts used for political purposes, it need only disclose contributions deposited into that account.
Example: Nonprofit Sanctuary for Seals receives two checks. One is a $2,000 contribution to support the Sanctuary's electioneering communications in support of a candidate for Controller. The other is a general $3,000 donation to the Sanctuary. Both checks are deposited into the Sanctuary's general account. The Sanctuary must file a Campaign Finance Report to disclose the $2,000 contribution. The Sanctuary need not disclose the $3,000 donation because it falls below the $5,000 threshold for non-political donations.
Special disclosure rules for individuals
Special disclosure rules for individuals
An individual required to file a report regarding electioneering communications is only required to disclose contributions that they received or solicited in order to fund the expenditures disclosed in the report.
24 hour reporting
24 hour reporting
From the close of the pre-election report (Cycle 2 or 5) through the election, a candidate must disclose any contribution or pledge of $500 or more received. Any other filer must disclose any independent expenditure of $500 or more that was made or for which debt was incurred.
All reports are due within 24 hours of receipt or expenditure.
A candidate filing a 24 hour report should only disclose contributions that total $500 or more from a single source. The report should not include expenditures or debts.
A political committee or other person filing a 24 hour report should only disclose independent expenditures that total $500 or more, or debts incurred for such expenditures. The report should not include contributions received by the committee or person.
If I disclose an independent expenditure in a 24-Hour Report do I still need to report it in other cycles?
If I disclose an independent expenditure in a 24-Hour Report do I still need to report it in other cycles?
Yes. A PAC that files a 24 hour report disclosing expenditure must also disclose that independent expenditure in their post-election (Cycle 3 or 6) report..
Example: Two days before the General Election, Friends United for Spectacular Sandwiches (an independent expenditure committee) makes an $800 independent expenditure to buy signs advocating for candidate Dagwood to win a City Council seat. That contribution must be disclosed in both a 24 hour (Cycle 11) Report and the 30-Day Post Election (Cycle 6) Report.
Statements in lieu of reports
Statements in lieu of reports
If you are required to file, but had less than $250 in activity during the reporting period (i.e., accepted contributions, made expenditures, or incurred debt of less than $250), you may file a shorter campaign finance statement rather than a full campaign finance report. The Campaign Finance Filing System will give you the option to select a statement.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse