Campaign Financial Reports
Campaign finance reports are required by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 211A for candidates for county, city, township, school district, and other political subdivision offices. They are also required for committees formed to support or defeat a candidate or ballot question.
Campaign finance filings must be filed with the filing officer. The requirements below are in addition to any local requirements, check with the filing officer.
Certification of Filing
All candidates or committees must file a Certification of Filing within 7 days of a general or special election in which their name is on the ballot. On this form, the candidate or committee treasurer affirms that either 1) all required campaign finance reports have been filed, or 2) the candidate or committee did not raise or spend more than $750 in that calendar year.
Reporting Schedule
Once a candidate or committee raises or spends more than $750, it must file the reports below until it files a Final Report. Candidates or committees may use the sample Campaign Finance Report form for these filings. Any filings must include all information required by Minnesota Statutes 211A.02, subd. 2.
INITIAL REPORT
An Initial Report must be filed within 14 days after a candidate or committee raises or spends more than $750. Additional required reports must be filed once an Initial Report is filed.
YEAR-END REPORT
A Year-End Report is due on January 31 of each year after the Initial Report is filed.
PRE-PRIMARY REPORT
A Pre-Primary Report is due 10 days before the primary or special primary when the candidate's name or ballot question appears on the ballot. This report covers the period from when the previous report left off until 15 days before the primary or special primary.
PRE-GENERAL REPORT
A Pre-General Report is due 10 days before the general election or special election when the candidate's name or ballot question appears on the ballot. This report covers the period from when the previous report left off until 15 days before the general election or special election.
POST-GENERAL REPORT
A Post-General Report is due 30 days after a general or special election when the candidate's name or ballot question appears on the ballot. This report covers the period from 15 days before the general election or special election through 25 days after the general election or special election.
FINAL REPORT
A candidate or committee may file a Final Report once all debts are paid and all assets in excess of $100 in the aggregate are disposed of. Filing a Final Report ends campaign reporting activity, so a new Initial Report must be filed if the candidate or committee raises or spends more than $750 after this point.
