voter registration, voting, and
access to election-related data.
* Bobbie S. Mack, Chairman * David J. McManus, Jr., Vice Chairman * Rachel T. McGuckian * Patrick H. Murray * Charles E. Thomann
State Administrator of Elections: * Linda H. Lamone
What information must be reported and when?
Campaign committees must report all money received, all money spent, and all unpaid loans and debt. Specifically the information must include:
- The name and address of each contributor, the amount contributed, and the aggregate amount of all contributions by that contributor. In addition, contributors must be classified as either an individual, business entity, federal committee, political club, candidate account, central committee or PAC.
- The name and address of each individual who receives money from the campaign committee and the amount of money received. In addition, each expenditure must be classified by one of 13 different purposes such as salaries, rent, field expenses, post or printing.
- The name and address of each person to whom the committee owes money. If the money owed was from a loan, the amount of interest charged and paid must also be reported along with the terms of the loan.
Reports are filed in conjunction with an election. Accordingly whenever there is a primary election, a campaign committee must file two pre-primary reports. When there is a general election, the committee must file a pre-general report and a post general report. For example, in 2004 the following reports were filed:
| Reports | Due Date | Date Description |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | 1/21/2004 | 3rd Wednesday in January of each year |
| Pre Primary 1 | 2/3/2004 | 4th Tuesday Preceding the Primary Election |
| Pre Primary 2 | 2/20/2004 | 2nd Friday Preceding the Election |
| Pre General | 10/22/2004 | 2nd Preceding the Election |
| Post General | 11/23/2004 | 3rd Tuesday following the General Election |
This year, campaign finance reports will be filed according to this Reporting Schedule.
A committee can file an Affidavit stating that they are not planning on participating in the current election If such an affidavit is filed on or before the first pre-primary report deadline, then the committee only owes the post general report.
In addition, non-continuing committees only file the entire series of reports in the year that they designate as their year of activity. After that they are expected to close their account. However, if they have outstanding obligations, they must continue to report until all of the outstanding obligations are satisfied. In such cases, they are required to file a report six months and then one year after the General Election in which they were active and then annually after that until they close their campaign account.
For more information on this subject, please see Chapter 10 of the Summary Guide.