Malcolm Rivera
Campaign finance reports are an important source of information for understanding the financial side of politics and policy. These reports detail how candidates and committees raise and spend money in elections, and the data helps voters make informed decisions. In the United States, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) provides access to campaign finance data at the federal level, while state-level data is available through various sources, such as the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) and the Maryland State Board of Elections. Additionally, organisations like OpenSecrets offer searchable databases and original journalism on money in politics, providing further insights into campaign finances and their impact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Website | FEC.gov, OpenSecrets.org, NCSBE.gov, elections.maryland.gov |
| Data Type | Federal, State, Local |
| Data Format | Data tables, downloadable bulk data files, searchable databases, custom data sets |
| Data Source | Federal Election Commission, Senate Office of Public Records, State agencies, Internal Revenue Service, Congress, press reports, official announcements |
| Data Coverage | Presidential, Senate, House, gubernatorial, lieutenant gubernatorial, state legislators, judicial officeholders, attorneys general, public utility commissioners, lobbyists |
| Data Fields | Money raised, money spent, cash on hand, debt, contributions, expenditures, donors, industries, special interest groups |
| Additional Features | Search by committee/entity, document type, reported transactions, notifications for new filings, training on filing reports |
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What You'll Learn
Search by committee/entity
When searching for campaign finance reports by committee/entity, you can view campaign finance documents for any committee registered with the State Board. You can search by using keywords for the title of the committee or the name of the candidate. You can also find penalties assessed to state committees at the Campaign Document Search by Entity.
For example, the Texas Ethics Commission provides a list of active PACs with current Campaign Treasurer Appointments on file, which is sorted by PAC name and updated daily. The New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE), on the other hand, offers a Public Reporting system that logs and tracks the disclosure reports of candidates and committees, as well as ballot access documents.
The Florida Division of Elections provides a Campaign Finance Database that includes all contributions and expenditures reported to the Division since 1996 for committees, and since the candidacy announcement for candidates. This database allows you to specify the type of records you want to view, such as contributions, expenditures, other distributions, or fund transfers. You can also limit your queries to specific entities, such as contributions made by a particular contributor or expenditures made to a specific entity.
Additionally, the North Carolina campaign finance database allows you to search for contributions received (receipts) or spent (expenditures) by committees, with the option to use advanced search for filtering transactions by receipt, expenditure, committee, party, office, date ranges, and job titles.
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Search by document type
Searching by document type is a useful way to find campaign finance reports. This method allows you to view campaign finance documents for any committee registered by the type of document. For example, if you are looking for a specific document, such as a Statement of Organization, Report-First Quarter, Non-Compliance Letter, or Penalty Assessment Letter, you can search by document type to find it.
In North Carolina, the NCSBE website provides a search tool that allows you to search by document type. You can also search by committee/entity or reported transactions. Additionally, the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) website offers a similar search function, where you can find campaign finance reports filed by candidates, officeholders, and political committees.
The Public Records Office of the FEC also provides access to campaign finance reports. While most reports are filed electronically, paper-filed reports are scanned and posted on the FEC website. The FEC website includes PAC, party, and presidential filings dating back to 1993. For older campaign finance reports, you can contact the Public Records Office directly.
In Florida, the Division of Elections maintains a campaign finance database that includes reports filed by candidates for multi-county offices (excluding U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative) and organizations with contributions or expenditures exceeding $500 in a calendar year. The database contains detailed financial records of contributions and expenditures, allowing users to search by candidates, committees, or both.
Similarly, in Maryland, campaign finance reports can be found on the website of the State Board of Elections. Political committees may be required to file detailed campaign finance reports or an E-affidavit, depending on the amount of contributions and expenditures. The website also provides resources such as training videos on how to file and use MD CRIS for campaign finance reporting.
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Search by reported transactions
When it comes to campaign finance reports, there are a variety of ways to search for and access the information you need. One method is to "Search by reported transactions". This allows you to delve into the financial details of committees, candidates, and their campaigns.
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is a US government body that provides access to campaign finance data. The FEC website offers a range of tools to search for reported transactions. The data is summarised in tables, making it easier to understand the financial activity of different entities. The FEC's data includes information on congressional candidates, political parties, and political action committees.
To search for reported transactions on the FEC website, you can utilise the following approaches:
- Search by Committee Type: This allows you to filter committees by their type, such as political party committees or authorised campaign committees.
- Search by Committee Name: If you know the specific committee you're interested in, you can search by its official name.
- Search by Candidate: Focus on a particular candidate to review their financial disclosures and transactions.
- Search by Date: Narrow down your search by specifying a date range, which can be particularly useful for comparing financial activities over time.
- Search by Form Type: Different forms are used for reporting campaign finances, such as Forms 3, 3P, and 3X. You can search for transactions based on these form types.
- Advanced Search Options: For more intricate searches, you can use the advanced search feature. This enables you to filter by various transaction attributes, such as receipt, expenditure, committee, party, office, and date ranges.
State-Level Data
In addition to federal data, you can also explore state-level campaign finance information. Websites like OpenSecrets provide access to state-level campaign finance data from various state agencies. This allows you to search for transactions related to state-level candidates, legislators, and even judges in certain states.
North Carolina Specifics
If you're specifically interested in North Carolina's campaign finances, the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) website offers a comprehensive database. You can search for reported transactions within the North Carolina campaign finance database. This includes contributions received (receipts) and money spent (expenditures) by committees. Additionally, the NCSBE website provides access to penalty assessments and other campaign finance documents.
By utilising the search by reported transactions feature on websites like FEC.gov and NCSBE.gov, you can gain valuable insights into the financial activities of committees, candidates, and campaigns, aiding in your understanding of campaign finances.
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Search by state
When searching for campaign finance reports by state, there are several websites that can be used as resources.
OpenSecrets
OpenSecrets is a non-profit organisation that has been operating since 1983. It provides information on politicians and donors, as well as lobbying and campaign finance data. The website allows users to search for politicians and donors by name, and provides information on state-level campaign finance. It also includes data on connections between committee members, industries, and interests that they regulate, as well as financial reports from officials and donors to governors.
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
The FEC website provides a wide range of federal campaign finance reports and other documents available for public review and inspection. The website includes financial disclosure reports filed by presidential candidates, Senate and House candidate data, and information on committees. The FEC website also includes historical data and downloadable databases.
State Government Websites
State government websites, such as the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE), provide access to campaign finance reports for state-level elections. Users can search for campaign finance documents by committee/entity, document type, or reported transactions. The website includes information on contributions received and spent by committees, as well as penalties assessed to state committees.
State Records Offices
State records offices provide access to campaign finance reports, including non-federal and state-level reports that may not be filed with the FEC. These offices participate in the Commission's State Filing Waiver Program, providing electronic access to federal campaign finance reports. The Public Records Office publishes the Combined Federal/State Disclosure and Election Directory, which includes contact information for state offices.
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Search by candidate
When searching for campaign finance reports by candidate, there are several sources to refer to. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) website provides a range of data on campaign finances. You can browse data by candidate name or filter by specific criteria. For instance, you can search for Senate or House candidate data, including money raised, money spent, cash on hand, and debt. Additionally, you can access Statements of Candidacy (Form 2), which offer basic information about individuals running for federal office, such as their names, addresses, and authorized campaign committees.
The FEC website also allows you to view financial disclosure reports filed by presidential candidates. These reports contain detailed financial information disclosed by candidates, summarizing contributions from individuals other than the candidate. The site provides downloadable bulk data files with transaction-level data from statements and reports filed with the Commission, which can be useful for in-depth campaign finance research.
Furthermore, the FEC site enables you to explore current and historical federal campaign finance data, including totals and trends. You can examine how candidates raise and spend money, and export the results to save custom links for future reference.
In addition to the FEC, you can refer to state-specific sources, such as the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) website. The NCSBE site offers search functionality for campaign finance reports across the state. You can search by committee/entity, document type, or reported transactions. For instance, you can search for a specific committee by entering keywords for the committee's title or the candidate's name. Alternatively, you can view campaign finance documents by document type, such as the Statement of Organization or Report-First Quarter.
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Frequently asked questions
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) website, FEC.gov, is a good source for finding campaign finance reports.
On FEC.gov, you can find data tables that summarize financial activity by election cycle and coverage period for congressional candidates, political parties, and political action committees. You can also find information on presidential candidates' finances, including money raised, money spent, cash on hand, and debt.
Yes, there are other websites that provide access to campaign finance reports, such as OpenSecrets.org and NCSBE.gov. OpenSecrets is a research and government transparency group that tracks money in politics, while NCSBE provides access to campaign funding and spending reports specifically for North Carolina.
On FEC.gov, you can find various reports, such as Forms 3, 3P, and 3X, as well as Statements of Candidacy (Form 2), which contain basic information about individuals running for federal office. You can also find Requests for Additional Information (RFAIs), which are sent when clarification or an error is identified in a committee's filing.
Yes, state-level campaign finance data is typically available through state-specific websites, such as the State Board of Elections in Maryland (elections.maryland.gov) or North Carolina (NCSBE.gov). These sites provide access to campaign finance reports, contributions, expenditures, and relevant laws and guidelines.
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