Campaign finance requirements for ballot measures

Campaign finance laws are laws governing who can contribute to candidates or ballot campaign committees, how much they can contribute, and the ways that those contributions must be disclosed and reported. Every state has different laws governing these areas, and different requirements on disclosure.

See Campaign finance websites.

Filing for Committee

Generally, states require that a citizen or group of citizens who want to support or oppose a ballot initiative, file for committee status with the Secretary of State of the respective state that they are in. Different states have different laws determining the threshold amount of money that a group can raise or spend before it is required to notify the relevant state agency of its existence.

Reporting Contributions and Expenditures

In general, there are no restrictions on contributions a ballot initiative committee can receive or what it can spend in support of or in opposition to the ballot initiative it is affiliated with. However, these contributions and expenditures need to be reported to the Secretary of State.

A note about the treasurer

The treasurer has the most responsibility out of anyone in the committee. They will be held personally responsible for any errors in the financing of the committee.

Consulting an attorney

It is important to consult an attorney that is familiar with state campaign finance laws.