Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Campaign finance disclosure rules for ballot measure campaigns
This Ballotpedia article is in need of updates. Please email us if you would like to suggest a revision. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.
Groups and individuals involved in a state ballot measure campaign must adhere to that state's campaign finance laws. These laws regulate the amounts and sources of money given or received for political purposes. In addition, campaign finance laws stipulate disclosure requirements for political contributions and expenditures. For instance, state law may require a campaign to disclose the name and address of a donor once his or her contributions to the campaign exceed a certain amount. Similar requirements exist for campaign expenditures.
| Campaign finance laws are a source of ongoing controversy. Proponents of more stringent campaign finance laws claim that the current laws do not go far enough to mitigate corruption and the influence of undisclosed special interests. Opponents claim that strict disclosure requirements and donation limits impinge upon the rights to privacy and free expression. |
The table below summarizes campaign finance disclosure requirements for ballot measure campaigns in each of the 50 states. For more information about a state's requirements, click the state name in the table below. This information comes from research conducted by Ballotpedia staff in December 2015.
| Campaign finance disclosure requirements for ballot measure campaigns | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Committee registration threshold1 | Threshold for name and address disclosure for contributors | Threshold for employer/occupation disclosure for contributors | Threshold for name and address disclosure for expenditures |
| Alabama | $1,000 | $100 | N/A | $100 |
| Alaska | $500 | No minimum | $250 | $100 |
| Arizona | $500 | $25 | $25 | No minimum |
| Arkansas | $500 | $100 | N/A | $100 |
| California | $1,000 | No minimum | $100 | $100 |
| Colorado | $200 | $20 | $100 | $20 |
| Connecticut | $1,000 | $50 | $1,000 | No minimum |
| Delaware | $500 | No minimum | N/A | $100 |
| Florida | $500 | No minimum | $100 | No minimum |
| Georgia | $500 | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| Hawaii | $1,000 | $100 | $100 | No minimum |
| Idaho | $500 | $50 | N/A | $25 |
| Illinois | $5,000 | $150 | $500 | $150 |
| Indiana | $100 | $100 | $1,000 | $100 |
| Iowa | $750 | $25 | N/A | No minimum |
| Kansas | N/A | $50 | N/A | $50 |
| Kentucky | $1,000 | $100 | $100 | $25 |
| Louisiana | $500 | No mimimum | N/A | No minimum |
| Maine | $1,500 | $50 | $50 | No minimum |
| Maryland | No minimum | No minimum | N/A | No minimum |
| Massachusetts | No minimum | $50 | $200 | $50 |
| Michigan | $500 | No minimum | $100 | $50 |
| Minnesota | $5,000 | $500 | $500 | $200 |
| Mississippi | $200 | $200 | $200 | $200 |
| Missouri | No minimum | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| Montana | No minimum | $35 | $35 | No minimum |
| Nebraska | $5,000 | $250 | N/A | $250 |
| Nevada | No minimum | $1,000 | N/A | $1,000 |
| New Hampshire | $500 | $25 | $100 | $25 |
| New Jersey | No minimum | $300 | $300 | no minimum |
| New Mexico | $500 | No minimum | $250 | No minimum |
| New York | No minimum | $99 | N/A | $50 |
| North Carolina | No minimum | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| North Dakota | No minimum | $100 | N/A | $100 |
| Ohio | No minimum | No minimum | $100 | $25 |
| Oklahoma | $500 | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| Oregon | No minimum | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| Pennsylvania | $250 | $250 | $250 | No minimum |
| Rhode Island | $1,000 | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| South Carolina | $2,500 | $100 | N/A | No minimum |
| South Dakota | $500 | $100 | N/A | N/A |
| Tennessee | No minimum | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| Texas | $500 | $50 | N/A | $100 |
| Utah | $750 | $50 | N/A | $50 |
| Vermont | $1,000 | $100 | N/A | No minimum |
| Virginia | $10,000 | $100 | $100 | No minimum |
| Washington | No minimum | $25 | $100 | $50 |
| West Virginia | N/A | N/A | N/A | n/A |
| Wisconsin | $2,500 | $20 | $100 | $20 |
| Wyoming | No minimum | $25 | N/A | No minimum |
| 1States sometimes require a ballot measure campaign to file a registration form once its contributions or expenditures have reached a certain amount. This amount, if applicable, is noted in this column. Source: Research conducted by Ballotpedia staff in December 2015. | ||||
