1. Add Corporate Logo Here
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From the Insert Menu
Select “Picture”
Locate your logo file
Click OK
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Click anywhere inside the logo. The boxes that appear outside the logo are known as “resize handles.”
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Campaign Finance
Kym Trujillo
Compliance Specialist Supervisor
Commissioner of Political Practices
Phone:
Follow us on Facebook & Twitter: Access from COPP home page.
@MontanaCOPP
Add Corporate Logo Here
NOTES:
1/13/2019

2. Candidate Filing Statement of Candidate Form C-1 Form C-1A Statewide,
Legislative,
District Judge, and
Public Service Commissioner
Form C-1A
County,
City,
School
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3. Candidate Filing
C-1 and C-1A Statement of candidate forms are due either
5 days from raising or spending money, or
5 days from officially filing with the Secretary of State’s office. (Statewide and Legislative)
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4. Candidate Filing
Statewide, Legislative, Public Service Commission, District Court and Supreme Court Judges
must file the form D-1 Business Disclosure Statement within 5 days of officially filing.
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5. Candidate Filing Filing available three different ways: hard copy,
fillable forms on website can be submitted via
CERS (Required for ALL Statewide and State District Candidates)
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6. Treasurers
A treasurer must be appointed and certified on the Statement of Candidate. (C-1 or C-1A)
Candidates can appoint themselves to be their own treasurers.
If there are changes, an amended hard copy must be submitted within 5 days.
Often candidates appoint themselves as deputy treasurer so they have access to their campaign accounts.
NOTES:
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7. Treasurers Responsibilities:
Depositing, disbursing funds and keeping accurate accounts
Only person authorized to make deposits or draw checks on the campaign account
Accounts must be kept current within 10 days
Accounting records must be preserved for term of office or 4 years, whichever is longer
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8. Campaign Depository
All monetary receipts, including the candidate’s own funds, must be deposited in a campaign account.
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9. Campaign Depository
Depository must be authorized to transact business in Montana
Must offer accounts on which the equivalent of a check can be drawn.
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10. Certification
Your name cannot appear on the ballot until we certify that all required forms have been submitted.
NOTES:
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11. Contribution Limits Contested versus Uncontested races NOTES:
Is there one contested election or two?
Limits apply to each contested election.
Summary available on website
NOTES:
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12. Receipts Contributions less than $35 can be lump-summed
Watch totals – to - date
See page 2, C-5 Report
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13. Receipts $35 or greater must include: Full name of contributor
Complete mailing address
Occupation and Employer!
Amount
Total to date (CERS keeps track of total to date for you)
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14. Receipts
For checks written on a joint account, the signer is the contributor unless the campaign is notified otherwise.
Keep these records!
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15. Receipts – Loans
Loans are a contribution. Contribution limits do apply.
Candidate’s Own Funds can be considered loan or contribution. No limits apply.
NOTES:
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16. Receipts – fundraisers
Fundraising events require:
Description of Event
Date of Event
Approximate number attending
Total amount collected
BUT – an exception to the rule: All donations that are $35 or more must be itemized.
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17. Political Party Committees
Aggregates (combined total) applies to each election cycle
Reporting Requirements:
Name of Committee (example: L & C County Republican Central Committee)
Complete mailing address
Date of contribution
Amount
Total - to - date
NOTES:
1/13/2019

18. Political Action Committees
Aggregate PAC limit applies to the election cycle
Senate = $2850
House = $1750
Individual contribution limit applies
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19. Illegal Contributions
Corporate contributions
Anonymous contributions
Contributions in excess of the limit
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20. Expenditures Expenditure Reporting Requirements
Full name of payee
Complete mailing address
Date
Amount
Credit card not a payee (should be the Entity the purchase was made from).
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21. Expenditures
There is a 150 Character limit for purpose, this includes spaces.
Purpose “ Specifically describe the purpose, quantity, subject matter as appropriate to each expenditure, and must be detailed enough to distinguish among expenditures for similar purposes.”
Example: Two expenditures for direct mail advertisements:
140 environment issue, palm cards, HD 23.
300, Economy, colored flyers, HD 23
Petty Cash Fund
$100 limit for Statewide Candidates
$25 limit for all other candidates
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22. 1/13/2019

23. Social Media Expenditures
Report all paid Social Media advertising - include:
Social media platform - facebook, twitter, linkedIn, etc.
Date range- date range of social media advertisement
Type of post- Event, post, video, etc…
Subject of advertisement- economy, vote for, education, etc..
Example: Boost facebook video, vote for change HD 23, ran from July 1st – July 28, 2018.
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24. 1/13/2019

25. Debts- Schedule C All Debts must be reported when they are accrued
Report services as you agree to them, not when you received the invoice.
Full name of payee
Complete mailing address
Date accrued
Purpose, what items you received or plan to receive
Amount/Estimated amount of debt
Example: Campaigns “R” Us, PO Box 211 Helena, MT 59624, 7/10/18, Printing 50 yard signs, 100 colored palm cards, $1,250
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26. “Paid for by. . .” Attribution
All campaign materials must include a “Paid for by. . .” attribution (disclaimer).
Details required by statute
See the handout (website) for specifics
This is a very frequent type of complaint.
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27. Social Media “Paid for by. . .” Attribution
All paid Social Media posts (Events, posts videos, images, etc.) on any platform (facebook, twitter, linkedIn, etc.) must include a “paid for by….” attribution
Examples: You must include the attribution on or in the post; in the post itself; in the even description; on an image; in the video.
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28. Complaints
Docket on website
Procedures and forms
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29. What’s New
CERS – on-line reporting services (Required for all Statewide and State District Candidates
Website makeover – forms available at your fingertips
Social Media Guidelines– guidance on Montana’s strict ban on gifts to officials
Clean Campaign Act – a new notification requirement for last-minute attacks
Consulting fees – itemization required
1/13/2019

30. Questions?
1/13/2019