What Is Campaign Finance?

Campaign finance refers to the regulations and laws governing the raising and spending of money intended to influence elections. These regulations and laws aim to ensure transparency for the voting public, prevent corruption, and maintain a fair electoral process.

Who must file campaign finance reports?

• Pre-candidates for future offices
• All existing candidate committees
• Open candidate committees from previous election cycles
• Political action committees
• Political party executive committees
• Caucus campaign committees
• Inaugural committees

What must be reported?

• Monetary contributions (money)
• In-kind contributions (non-cash contributions of value)
• Loans received
• Expenditures
• Unpaid bills
• Transactions due to a fundraising event
• All other income (returned checks or contributions, interest on bank accounts, etc.)
• Uses of excess funds (money left in a candidate’s campaign account after the election)

When are campaign finance reports filed?

They are filed quarterly each year, plus additional reports are due before the Primary and General elections so voters can see campaign activity leading up to Election Day.

Where may I view the campaign finance reporting schedule?

You may view the campaign finance reporting schedule here: Campaign Finance Deadlines.pdf

Where may I view campaign committees and their campaign finance reports?

You may view campaign committees and their finance reports here: Campaign Finance System ​