▼

Campaign Filing FAQ's

Show All Answers

1. How do I learn more about the requirements of Campaign Finance?

Visit http://ethics.ga.gov/ to learn more about Campaign Finance.

2. I was a candidate in an election, and I lost. Do I need to file any further reports?

Losing an election does not end your filing responsibilities with the State Ethics Commission.

If your situation meets all of the following criteria, you may file a final report to terminate future filing requirements:

• You do not currently hold an office
• You lost the election
• You have no remaining funds in your campaign account

The final report will cover the period beginning where your last report ended and ending on the day the final report is filed.

If you do not file a final report after the election, you will be required to file reports until you file a final report.

3. After I have filed my DOI (Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions) do I need to file my PFDS (Personal Financial Disclosure Statement) within 15 days?

No. By filing a DOI you have only achieved candidate status for the purposes of reporting campaign contributions and expenditures on the CCDR (Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports). In an election year, your PFDS is required to be filed within 15 days of qualifying. 

4. What are the maximum contribution limits?

Maximum contribution limits can be found here: http://ethics.ga.gov/contribution-limits 

5. How may campaign contributions be expended?

Campaign contributions may only be used to defray ordinary and necessary expenses. Ordinary and necessary is defined at O.C.G.A. § 21-5-3(18)

6. What is and In-kind contribution?

An In-Kind contribution is any item of value other than money received by a candidate or any committee. In-kind contributions are treated the same as if the candidate had received cash from the contributor and are subject to the maximum contribution limits. Additionally, in-kind contributions must be aggregated with other contributions, in-kind or cash, by the same contributor. See Rule 189-06-.07

7. Can campaign contributions be used to pay late fees?

Late filing fees for CCDRs can be paid out of campaign funds. However, late filing fees for PFDS cannot be paid with campaign funds. If using campaign funds to pay for a CCDR late fee, then that late fee payment must be recorded as an expenditure on the applicable CCDR.

8. When is a Final Report & Termination Statement due for a local filer who submitted an affidavit of exemption?

An unsuccessful candidate can file a Final Report & Termination Statement within 10 days after the general, as long as they are not in office, has no campaign debt, and a zero net balance.

9. Is a Two Business Day Report (TBD) due if I submitted an affidavit not exceed $2500.00 in contributions and expenditures?

No. A TBD is only due if you exceed $2,500.

10. Is there a grace period for PFDS (Personal Financial Disclosure Statement)?

There is no grace period to file a PFDS.

11. What is the Affidavit of Exemption?

The Affidavit of Exemption is a written, sworn statement completed by a candidate or public officer if they do not plan to accept more than $2,500 in contributions or expend more than $2,500 in expenditures during an election cycle. Filing the Affidavit exempts the candidate or public officer from Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report (CCDR) filing requirements.  

12. Where is the Affidavit of Exemption filed?

An Affidavit of Exemption is filed with the candidate’s or public officer’s local filing officer. Generally, the local filing officer for municipal candidates and public officers is the city clerk of the municipality in which the candidate is seeking office or in which the public officer holds office and the local filing officer for county candidates and public officers is the elections superintendent for the county in which the candidate is seeking office or in which the public officer holds office.

13. Who may file the Affidavit of Exemption?

Candidates for county or municipal offices or public officers currently holding a county or municipal office who do not intend to accept more than$2,500 in contributions or expend more than $2,500 in expenditures during an election cycle may file the Affidavit of Exemption.

14. When can the Affidavit of Exemption be filed?

The Affidavit of Exemption may be filed at any time during an election cycle. However, best practice is for a candidate or public officer to file an Affidavit at the beginning of each election cycle, immediately after qualifying for office, or immediately after filing a Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions (DOI).  If a candidate files an Affidavit after CCDRs become due, the candidate is responsible for filing all CCDRs due prior to filing the Affidavit.

15. When does the affidavit of Exemption expire?

The Affidavit of Exemption is good for one election cycle. After an election cycle concludes, a public officer will need to file a new Affidavit to be exempt from CCDR filing requirements in the new election cycle.  

16. What if a candidate or public officer who has filed the Affidavit of Exemption expends more than $2,500 or accepts more than $2,500 in contributions during the election cycle?

If a candidate or public officer exceeds the $2,500 limit but does not exceed $5,000 in contributions and expenditures, then they must file a June 30^th CCDR and December 31^st CCDR in the election year. If the candidate or public officer exceeds $5,000 in contributions and expenditures, then they must file all CCDRs due in an election year as prescribed by O.C.G.A. § 21-5-34(c) (2)

17. What if a candidate or public official does not file an Affidavit of Exemption?

If a candidate or public officer does not file an Affidavit of Exemption, then they must file all CCDRs in accordance with the filing schedule found at O.C.G.A. § 21-5-34(c).

18. What is a PFDS (Personal Financial Disclosure Statement)?

A statement filed by certain public officers and all candidates in which they disclose fiduciary positions, business interests, real estate interests, and investment interests that they or their spouse held in the previous calendar year.

19. Who files the PFDS (Personal Financial Disclosure Statement)??

• Constitutional Officers
• Elected state officials
• Executive heads of every state department or  agency
• Members of the General Assembly
• Elected county officials
• Elected members of a local board of education

20. Where is the PFDS (Personal Financial Disclosure Statement) filed?

• State-wide and state level officials, including district attorneys and superior court judges, file with the commission.
• Local officials file with their city clerk or elections superintendent.

21. When is the PFDS (Personal Financial Disclosure Statement) filed?

• Election Year: file within 15 days of qualifying.
• Nonelection Year: file no later than July 1^st of that year.

22. I am an official appointed to an office that was VACANT. Do I need to file the PFDS (Personal Financial Disclosure Statement)?

An individual who is appointed to a vacant elected public office files his or her first PFDS the year after they take office. Ex: John Doe is appointed to a vacant superior court office and is sworn into office on August 1, 2017. John Doe files his first PFDS in 2018.

23. When does an incumbent file a PFDS (Personal Financial Disclosure Statement) in an election year?

In an election year, an incumbent seeking re-election must file a PFDS within 15 days of qualifying. However if the incumbent holds a statewide office, then he/she must file a PFDS within 7 days of qualifying in an election year.

24. What should a filer do if he/she is listed as a delinquent filer and believes that he/she has filed the reports?

Review your records. Identify what you should have filed and what you did file. If you feel the late fee is incorrect contact the Commission by calling 404-463-1980 or emailing latefees@ethics.ga.gov 

25. Is a paid late fee considered an amount that needs to be counted in the $2500 contribution amount?

Only if it has been paid with campaign funds.