Does your state lean blue or lean red? Check out our new report, highlighting partisan control of state government from 1992-2013.
Campaign finance requirements for Delaware ballot measures
Contents |
The Commissioner of Elections is responsible for all administrative and reporting functions of the state's campaign finance laws. Also, The Commissioner of Elections has a disclosure database for all campaigns registered in support or opposition of a ballot question.
If someone feels a person or committee violated Delaware campaign finance laws, the first step is to file a complaint with the Commissioner of Elections. Upon receiving the complaint, the Commissioner refers the complaint to the Attorney General for investigating and prosecuting the complaint[1].
General requirements
PAC designation
All groups in support or opposition of a ballot measure are considered to be Political Action Committees[2].
Statement of Organization
All Political Action Committees must file a Statement of Organization with the Commissioner of Elections no later than seven days after receiving contributions or making expenditures[3].
Campaign finance requirements
Cash limit
Any contributor to a Political Action Committee registered in Delaware cannot accept more than $50 in cash contributions from a contributor[4].
Contribution limits
There are no contribution limits to Political Action Committees in support or opposition of a ballot measure. This applies to corporations, labor unions, individuals, and candidate committees.
Party contributions
Delaware bans contributions made from state and local political party committees to Political Action Committees in support or opposition of a ballot measure[5].
Retention requirement
Under Delaware law, there is a three year retention requirement for all campaign finance records[6].
Reporting requirements and reports
The State of Delaware uses a semi-annual campaign finance reporting system. Campaigns are required to file two pre-election reports and a annual report.
30 day pre-election report
The 30 day pre-election report covers all campaign finance activity from when a referendum first qualified on the ballot to thirty days before the election[7]. The report is due by 4:30 PM on the 28th day before the election[8].
8 day pre-election report
The 8 day pre-election report covers all campaign finance activity from the 29th day before the election to the eighth day before the election[9]. The report is due by 4:30 PM on the sixth day before the election[10].
Annual report
The annual report is a cumulative report that covers all campaign finance activity from January 1 to December 31[11]. The report is due 20 days after the end of the reporting period[12].
Campaign advertising restrictions
All advertisements, except on items that have a length of less than 9 square inches, must display as the disclaimer: "Paid for by (name of political committee or other person paying for such literature or advertising)"[13]. All advertising done from an independent expenditure campaign must be disclosed as: "Paid for by (name of person paying for the literature, advertising or other message). Not authorized nor paid for by any candidate or by any committee of any candidate. The cost of presenting this message is not subject to any campaign contribution limits" [14].
Terminating a committee
Any Political Action Committee that has completed its activities and paid off its creditors can dissolve at any time. All surplus funds can be donated to a charity or a fire district[15].
External links
- Delaware Commissioner of Elections
- Delaware campaign finance disclosure database
- Delaware Campaign Finance Portal
References
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8043)
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8002(12))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8005(1))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8012(a))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8012(b))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8005(2))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8030(b)(2))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8030(c)(2))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8030(b)(3))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8030(c)(3))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8030(b)(1))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8030(c)(1))
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8021 Delaware Code)
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8049 Delaware Code)
- ↑ Delaware Legislature "Delaware Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Section Title 15, § 8022 Delaware Code)
 |
State of Delaware Dover (capital) |
|---|---|
| Ballot measures |
List of Delaware ballot measures | Local measures | School bond issues | Ballot measure laws | History of I&R | History of direct democracy | Campaign Finance Requirements | |
| Government |
Delaware State Constitution | House of Representatives | Senate | Legislature Division of Research | |
| State executive officers |
Governor | Lieutenant Governor | Attorney General | Secretary of State | Treasurer | State Auditor | Secretary of Education | Insurance Commissioner | Secretary of Agriculture | Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Secretary of Labor | Delaware Public Service Commission | |
| Elections | |
| Judiciary |
Delaware Supreme Court | Court of Chancery | Superior Court | Family Court | Court of Common Pleas | Justice of the Peace Court | Judicial selection in Delaware | |
| Divisions |
State |
List of Counties |
List of Cities |
List of School Districts | |
