in Alabama

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Campaign finance for ballot measures
Federal campaign finance laws and regulations
Ballot measures
State campaign finance agencies
State information
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Note: This page is not intended to serve as a manual. Individuals who are interested in establishing a committee to support or oppose a ballot measure should contact theirstate election agencies for more information about specific filing processes and requirements.

Groups and individuals involved inballot measure campaigns in Alabama must adhere to the state's campaign finance laws. These laws regulate the amounts and sources of money given or received for political purposes; in addition, campaign finance laws stipulate disclosure requirements for political contributions and expenditures.

Proponents of more stringent regulations and disclosure requirements, such as theBrennan Center for Justice, claim that current laws do not go far enough to mitigate corruption and the influence of undisclosed special interests. Others, such as theInstitute for Free Speech, argue that strict disclosure requirements and contribution limits impinge upon the rights to privacy and free expression.^[1][2]

The laws and regulations that apply to ballot measure campaigns may differ from those that apply to candidates for political office. To learn more about campaign finance requirements for candidates, seethis article.

Alabama ballot measures

See also:Ballot measure

A ballot measure is any question or issue that appears on an election ballot to be approved or rejected by voters. In 26 states, plus Washington, D.C., citizens may use theinitiative and referendum process, which permits citizens to petition to place measures on the ballot and usually involves asignature collection process of some kind. Even in states without initiative and referendum processes, however, ballot measures exist. In all states, citizens may be asked to approvelegislatively referredconstitutional amendments, state statutes, bond issues or tax proposals.

In Alabama, ballot measures come in only one form:legislatively referred constitutional amendments.

Organizational requirements

In Alabama, any "committee, club, association, political party, or other group of one or more persons, whether in-state or out-of-state, which receives or anticipates receiving contributions and anticipates making expenditures," in support of or in opposition to a ballot measure is considered apolitical action committee.^[3][4]

A political action committee is required by state law to file a statement of organization within 10 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures in an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000. This form must be filed with theAlabama Secretary of State.^[3][5]

See form:Statement of Organization of Political Action Committee

Contribution limits

A political action committee in Alabama cannot receive contributions from or make expenditures to another political action committee, a principal campaign committee or a 527 organization. Apart from that restriction, contribution and expenditure amounts are not limited by state law.^[3][6]

Reporting requirements

A political action committee that is supporting or opposing a ballot measure in an election year must file a series of financial disclosure reports. All reports must be filed with theAlabama Secretary of State.^[3][7]

1. In the 12 months preceding an election, a committee must file monthly reports "if the [committee] receives contributions or makes expenditures with a view toward influencing" the outcome. These reports must be filed on the second business day of the month following the month covered in the report.
2. In the four weeks preceding an election, a committee must file weekly reports every Monday.
3. If, in the eight days leading up an election, a committee receives or spends a total of $5,000 on a single day, the committee must file a report on the transaction on that same day.
4. If a committee receives single contribution of $20,000 or more, the committee must report the transaction within two business days "if [the transaction] is not included in a monthly, weekly, or daily report."

In order to close a committee, the committee's chairperson must file a statement of dissolution form with the secretary of state. This form must be accompanied by a termination report "showing all contributions and expenditures not previously reported and stating how any excess funds will be distributed."^[3]

For all contributions exceeding $100 in the aggregate in a calendar year, a committee must report the name and address of the contributor. For all expenditures exceeding $100 in the aggregate in a calendar year, a committee must report the name and address of the recipient, as well as the purpose of the expenditure.^[7]

Year-specific reporting dates

2021 – 2022

The table below lists relevant campaign finance report filing deadlines in Alabama in 2021 and 2022

2016

The table below lists relevant campaign finance report filing deadlines in Alabama in 2016.^[8]

State agencies

See also:Campaign finance agencies in Alabama

In Alabama, there are two primary agencies involved incampaign finance regulation: theAlabama Secretary of State and the Alabama Ethics Commission. The former oversees reporting requirements for candidates and political committees. The latter is authorized to investigate violations of the state's campaign finance laws. Both agencies can assess fines against candidates and committees who violate the law.^[9]

Alabama Secretary of State, Elections Division

State Capitol Building, Suite E-208

600 Dexter Avenue

Montgomery, Alabama 36103

Telephone: 334-242-7210

Fax: 334-242-2444

Alabama Ethics Commission

100 North Union Street, Suite 104

Montgomery, Alabama 36104

Telephone: 334-242-2997

Fax: 334-242-0248

Email:info@ethics.alabama.gov

Campaign finance legislation

The following is a list of recent campaign finance bills that have been introduced in or passed by theAlabama state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided byBillTrack50 andLegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsAlabama campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also

• Campaign finance requirements in Alabama
• Campaign finance agencies in Alabama
• List of Alabama ballot measures

External links

• Alabama Electronic Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) Reporting System

Additional reading

• Alabama Secretary of State, "PAC Filing Guidelines, Election 2016"

Footnotes

v • e Campaign finance Overview Federal campaign finance laws and regulations •State-by-state comparison of campaign finance requirements •Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act •Political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns •Federal Election Commission •Public financing of campaigns Campaign finance for candidates Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Campaign finance for ballot measures Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Campaign finance agencies Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming

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