This page provides information to help someone view the campaign finance reports that are posted on the Board’s Web site. If you have additional suggestions for items to be included on this page, please contact us.

CLICK ON A QUESTION BELOW TO SEE THE ANSWER.

CLICK THIS TO SEE GENERAL TIPS TO MAKE VIEWING REPORTS EASIER

Q: How do I look up a campaign report for a state candidate?

Q: How do I look up a campaign report of a state PAC or state party?

Q: How do I look up a report for a county or local committee?

Q: How do I look up a report for a county party (county central committee)?

Q: Is there a way to sort this information?

Q: Why are the reports filed on January 19 included with the reports filed during the previous year?

Q: How can I find out how much total money a campaign raised or spent during a year? Do I have to add up the numbers on all the reports the campaign filed for that year?

Q: I see where some reports say “Due Date Fri. preceding election”. How is that different than a “Due Date Fri. preceding primary” and the “Due Date Fri. preceding general” reports?

Q: I know a candidate was running for office and filed some reports, but I don't see where the candidate filed a “Due Date Fri. preceding primary” or a “Due Date Fri. preceding general” report. Has the candidate failed to file the report?

Q: Why do some reports have “scanned” in their name and some don't? Why do some reports have each schedule listed separately and look different when I click on them?

Q: What do Schedules A-H mean on the filed reports? What if a schedule is not included?

Q: Some PAC names clearly tell which organizations they represent and others don't. How can I find out which organization a PAC belongs to?

Q: I see that links let me know when the report is due, but how do I know what time period is covered by the report?

Q: I don’t see where a particular campaign has filed reports, what is going on?

Q: How can I find out how much a lobbyist gave to a candidate?

Q: How do I look up a campaign report for a state candidate?

A: By report date:

1. Click on the State/Local Reports link;

2. Then click on the State Reports link;

3. Choose the year for which you want to look for a report;

4. Click on the report due date;

5. Click on the type of committee; and

6. Click on the name of the committee.

A: By candidate last name:

1. Click on the State/Local Reports link;

2. Then click on the State Committee Search link;

3. Type in the last name of the candidate;

4. Click on Submit; and

4. Click on the report due date you want to view.

Q: How do I look up a campaign report for a state PAC, or state party?

A: By report date:

1. Click on the State/Local Reports link;

2. Then click on the State Reports link;

3. Choose the year for which you want to look for a report;

4. Click on the report due date;

5. Click on the type of committee; and

6. Click on the name of the committee.

A: By committee name:

1. Click on the State/Local Reports link;

2. Then click on the State Committee Search link;

3. Type in part or all of the name of the committee;

4. Click on Submit; and

4. Click on the report due date you want to view.

Q: How do I look up a report for a county or local committee?

A: Use the following steps:

1. Click on the State/Local Reports link;

2. Then click on County and Local Reports link;

3. Click on the county where the candidate or issue is on the ballot;

4. Click on the type of committee; and

5. Click on the name of the committee.

Q: How do I look up a report for a county party (county central committee)?

A: Use the following steps:

1. Click on the State/Local Reports link;

2. Then click on County Party Reports link;

3. Click on the county you want to view;

4. Click on the year;

5. Click on the report due date;

6. Click on County Party; and

7. Click on the name of the committee.

Q: Is there a way to sort this information?

A: Yes, some information is searchable. Click here to go to the Searchable Database

Q: Why are the reports filed on January 19 included with the reports filed during the previous year?

A: The January 19 report covers campaign transactions that happened during the previous year or part of the previous year. So this report is included with the other reports filed for the previous year. For example, reports filed in January of 2008 are located by clicking on the 2007 link.

Q: How can I find out how much total money a campaign raised or spent during a year? Do I have to add up the numbers on all the reports the campaign filed for that year?

A: The Board is in the process of making contribution and expenditure totals for each state candidate, state PAC, state party, and county central committee available by clicking here YEARLY TOTALS. Currently, 2004 contribution and expenditure totals are available, as well as expenditures for 2001-2003. We are working on making the contribution totals for 2001-2003 available. For other types of committees, you will have to add up the numbers on the reports for the year to see the total amount raised or spent.

Q: I see where some reports say “Due Date Fri. preceding election”. How is that different than a “Due Date Fri. preceding primary” and the “Due Date Fri. preceding general” reports?

A: The “Due Date Fri. preceding election” is for candidates involved in a special election. The “Due Date Fri. preceding primary” and the “Due Date Fri. preceding general” are for those reports that are due the Friday before the Primary and General Elections, respectively.

Q: I know a candidate was running for office and filed some reports, but I don't see where the candidate filed a “Due Date Fri. preceding primary” or a “Due Date Fri. preceding general” report. Has the candidate failed to file the report?

A: Candidates for state office are required to file a report the Friday before the Primary Election and the Friday before the General Election depending upon the office sought and the amount of money the candidate has raised (including loans and the total value of in-kind contributions) from the last reporting period as follows:

Candidate for Governor $10,000
Candidate for Attorney General, Secretary of Agriculture, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Secretary of State: $5,000
Candidate for General Assembly: $1,000

If a candidate has not crossed this amount, the candidate doesn’t have to file the report.

Q: Why do some reports have “scanned” in their name and some don't? Why do some reports have each schedule listed separately and look different when I click on them?

A: Campaigns have the option of filing reports via the Internet using the Board’s electronic filing system or on paper. Reports that are filed on paper are scanned and then uploaded to the Board’s Web site and as part of that process, the word “scanned” is included as part of the name. You will also see that Internet reports and paper reports look different, but disclose the same information.

Q: What do Schedules A-H mean on the filed reports? What if a schedule is not included?

A: DR-2 is the summary page that shows total amounts raised and spent by the committee during the reporting period.

Schedule A lists the contributors to the committee during the reporting period.

Schedule B lists the expenditures by the committee during the reporting period.

Schedule C is no longer in use.

Schedule D lists the debts of the committee.

Schedule E lists the in-kind contributions of the committee. These are goods or services that are provided for less than the fair market value of the good or service.

Schedule F lists the loans to the committee (Part I) and the repayments of loans by the committee (Part II).

Schedule G lists the consultants hired by the candidate, including contract period, expected cost, and expected performance (Part I) and the breakdown of expenditures by the consultant such as for advertisements to radio stations or newspapers (Part II). PRIOR TO JULY 1, 2005, ONLY A CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE USED THIS SCHEDULE. AFTER THAT DATE ANY COMMITTEE HIRING A CONSULTANT FILES A SCHEDULE G.

Schedule H lists the purchases of campaign property in excess of $500 by candidates (Part I) and lists the sales or transfers of campaign property until the residual value of the property is less than $100 (Part II). THIS SCHEDULE IS USED BY A CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE ONLY.

If a schedule is not included as part of the filed report, it can mean any of the following:

1. There was no applicable activity that reporting period that required the schedule being filed.

2. Only a candidate's committee is required to file a Schedule G (consultant activity) or Schedule H (campaign property). So other types of committees will never file these schedules.

3. The committee forgot to include the schedule and needs to get it filed or be subject to Board discipline.

Q: Some PAC names clearly tell which organizations they represent and others don't. How can I find out which organization a PAC belongs to?

A: Some PAC names are clear while others aren't. To see a list of PAC sponsors/parent entities click here PAC SPONSORS/PARENT ENTITIES.

Q: I see that links let me know when the report is due, but how do I know what time period is covered by the report?

A: You can see when a report is due and the time period covered for each type of campaign committee by clicking here REPORT DUE DATES.

Q: I don’t see where a particular campaign has filed reports, what is going on?

A: A report might not have been filed for any number of reasons:

1. A campaign committee doesn’t have to file reports until it crosses $750 in campaign activity. To see a list of current campaign committees click here ADDRESS LISTS.

2. Campaigns have specific reporting due dates. A particular type of campaign committee only files reports on those dates. Click here for a list of the report due dates REPORT DUE DATES.

3. If it is a non-election year for a candidate or a ballot issue committee, they only file reports in January. This can be confusing in situations such as campaigns for the senate because not all senate offices are up in the same year. To see a list of state candidates for a particular campaign cycle, click here CANDIDATES/RESULTS/LIST OF OFFICIALS. Check with your county auditor for a list of local candidates and issues that were on the ballot for a particular year.

4. The committee is late with the report. To see a list of delinquent filers and civil penalty assessment orders for late-filed reports click here DELINQUENCIES AND CIVIL PENALTIES.

Q: How can I find out how much a lobbyist gave to a candidate?

A: Executive branch lobbyists file reports with the Board disclosing their campaign contributions to state candidates. You may review those reports by clicking here LOBBYIST REPORTS. To see a total amount of contributions reported by all lobbyists click here LOBBYISTS TO CANDIDATES.

TIPS TO MAKE VIEWING REPORTS EASIER:

1. Know the dates when the campaign committee you are looking for filed reports. Knowing these due dates will shorten your search and will make your overall experience more enjoyable. The Board’s Web site has links to the report due dates, a list of state candidates for recent elections, and a list of current campaign committees.

2. Remember that the reports filed for January 19 will show up in the links for the previous year.

3. If you are interested in just seeing total amounts of money raised for certain committees, use this link YEARLY TOTALS.

4. If you have problems working your way through the system, contact the Board’s staff by phone or email STAFF CONTACTS.