Campaign finance requirements for Illinois judicial elections
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Campaign finance requirements for Illinois judicial elections are promulgated by the Illinois Board of Elections. The Illinois State Board of Elections is responsible for the administration, reporting, and enforcement of campaign finance laws in the State of Illinois[1].
If someone believes a group or an individual violated campaign finance laws in the State of Illinois, the first step is to file a complaint with the State Board of Elections[2]. It is up to the Board to determine if a violation happened through a probable cause hearing[3]. If the Board finds someone guilty with an offense, in most cases a monetary fine is imposed through civil court action[4] Also, the Board has the discretion to refer any case at any time to the Illinois Attorney General[4].
2010-2011 law changes
- Effective July 1st, 2010, any campaign committee approved by a judicial candidate is considered to be a Candidate Committee[5].
- Any person or group that spends $3,000 or more in support or opposition of a judicial candidate through independent expenditures must register with the Illinois State Board of Elections[6].
- There will be contribution limits for the first time. All individual contributions are limited to $5,000, corporations and labor unions are limited to $10,000, $125,000 during a primary election from party organizations, and $50,000 from a political action committee.[7] Party organizations can donate to judicial candidates without limit during the general election cycle.
General requirements
Candidate designation
Any person running for a judgeship in the State of Illinois is considered to be a candidate[8].
State political committee
Any judicial candidate's campaign committee under Illinois law is considered to be a State Political Committee[9] [10].
Statement of organization
A statement of organization is required to be filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections within 10 days of forming the committee[11].
Campaign finance requirements
Contribution limits
Illinois does not limit campaign contributions[12].
Corporate/labor contributions
Illinois allows corporations and labor unions to donate to judicial campaigns. Corporations and labor unions are required to register with the Illinois State Board of Elections[13].
Filing reports
All candidates and state political committees registered towards a judicial candidate must file campaign finance reports[14].
Reporting requirements and reports
Illinois uses a semi-annual and pre-election reporting system for monitoring all financial activity for judicial campaigns.
Semi-annual report
The semi-annual report is considered to be the first campaign finance report for judicial candidates in Illinois. Each candidate's committee is required to file two semi-annual reports a year. The first report covers all activity from June 1 to June 30th, while the other report covers all campaign finance activity from twenty-nine days before the election to December 31st. The reports are due on July 20th and January 20th[15].
Pre-election report
A pre-election report is a report that covers all campaign finance activity from July 1 to thirty days before the general election. The report is due 15 days before the statewide general election. There is no pre-election report for the statewide primary election[16].
Campaign advertising restrictions
Illinois law requires all judicial campaigns to use the following disclaimer with all advertisements soliciting funds and campaign literature as:
“A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.”[17].
Terminating a committee
Committees can terminate at any time under the expectation that the committee will not receive any contributions or make any expenditures. A committee must file a final report with the Illinois State Board of Elections[18].
When a committee dissolves, all contributions in its possession after payment of the committee’s outstanding liabilities and staff salaries, must be refunded to campaign contributors not exceeding the original amount donated. Also, surplus funds can be transferred to other political or charitable organizations consistent with the positions of the committee or the candidates it represented[18].
External links
- Illinois State Board of Elections official website
- Illinois campaign contribution database
- Illinois campaign expenditure database
- Illinois Political committee database
- Illinois Campaign Finance Laws
- 2010 Illinois campaign finance manual
- Campaign Disclosure Project
References
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act"(Referenced Statutes 5/9-15 and 5/9-16)
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act"(Referenced Statute 5/9-20)
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act"(Referenced Statute 5/9-21)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act"(Referenced Statute 5/9-23)
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Important Changes to Illinois Disclosure Law" (Effective July 1st, 2010)(See Page 2)
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Important Changes to Illinois Disclosure Law" (Effective July 1st, 2010)(See Page 4)
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly "Text of Public Act 96-0832"(See Statute 10 ILCS 5/9-8.5(b) new)
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act"(Referenced Statute 5/9-1.3)
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act"(Referenced Statute 5/9-1.8)
- ↑ Called Illinois State Board of Elections on 2.10.2010 at 10:53 AM to confirm the designation
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act"(Referenced Statute 5/9-3)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures "Contribution Limits: An Overview", January 20, 2010
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Guide to Campaign Disclosure"(See Page 4)
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections" Illinois Campaign Financing Act(Referenced Statute 5/9-10)
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act(Referenced Statute 5/9-10(c))
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act(Referenced Statute 5/9-10(b))
- ↑ Illinois State Elections Board "Illinois Campaign Financing Act"(Referenced Statute 5/9.9)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Illinois State Board of Elections "Illinois Campaign Financing Act"(Referenced Statute 5/9 1-5)
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