Campaign Spending Commission

An electioneering communication means any advertisement that is broadcast from a cable, satellite, television, or radio broadcast station; published in any periodical or newspaper or by electronic means; or sent by mail at a bulk rate, and that:  (1) Refers to a clearly identifiable candidate; (2) Is made, or scheduled to be made, either within 30 days prior to a primary or initial special election (July 12-August 11, 2018) or within 60 days prior to a general or special election (September 7-November 6, 2018); and (3) Is not susceptible to any reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate.

Persons, which include an individual, a partnership, a candidate committee or noncandidate committee, a party, an association, a corporation, a business entity, an organization, or a labor union and its auxiliary committees, who make electioneering communications in an aggregate amount of more than $2,000 during any calendar year, are statutorily required to file a Statement of Information for Electioneering Communications (Writable/Printable PDF version or eSign version) within 24 hours of each disclosure date with the Commission.

“Disclosure date” means, for every calendar year, the first date by which a person has made expenditures during that same year of more than $2,000 in the aggregate for electioneering communications, and the date of any subsequent expenditures by that
person for electioneering communications.

For purposes of this requirement, a person shall be treated as having made an expenditure if the person has executed a contract to make the expenditure.

The Late Contributions Report is for reporting contributions from any person that aggregates more than $500 that are received by a candidate or candidate committee within the period of October 23 through November 2, 2018.  The report must be electronically filed on the Candidate Filing System (“CFS”) no later than 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time on Monday, November 5, 2018.

The Late Contributions Report is only required if late contributions are received by the candidate or candidate committee. Late contributions on this report will also be reported on the Final Election Period Report; however, the contribution data is only entered once in the CFS on the “Schedule A – Contributions” screen.  The report can be previewed and printed in the CFS by clicking “Preview/Print Report” and then “Special Report.”  Under the “Election Type” drop-down, select “General” and then under the “Select Report” drop-down, select “Late Contributions Report.”  Click the “Preview” button to preview the report.  If you see late contributions that you entered for the October 23 through November 2, 2018 period then you are required to file the report.  To file the report, click “File Report” and then “Special Report.”  Under the “Election Type” drop-down, select “General” and then under the “Select Report” drop-down, select “Late Contributions Report.”  Click the “File Report” button to file the report.

Candidates and treasurers of candidate committees are also reminded of their acknowledgment and certification on the “Candidate Committee Electronic Filing Form” that the information on all reports electronically filed online are true, complete, and accurate.  See, Hawaii Revised Statutes §§11-321(c)(1), 11- 331(a), and 11-340(a).

Please call the Commission at (808) 586-0285 if you have any questions.

Campaign Spending Commission Office Closed

ALERT FOR CANDIDATES
At the conclusion of the General Election on November 6, 2018, candidate committees still registered with the Campaign Spending Commission (“Commission”) must continue to electronically file reports in the Candidate Filing System until their final disclosure report has no surplus or deficit, and a request to terminate is submitted to and approved by the Commission. The first report due after the General Election is the Supplemental Report covering the reporting period of November 7 through December 31, 2018. This report is due on January 31, 2019.

ALERT FOR NONCANDIDATE COMMITTEES
At the conclusion of the General Election on November 6, 2018, noncandidate committees still registered with the Campaign Spending Commission (“Commission”) must continue to electronically file reports in the Noncandidate Committee Filing System until their final disclosure report has no surplus or deficit, and a request to terminate is submitted to and approved by the Commission. The first report due after the General Election is the Supplemental Report covering the reporting period of November 7 through December 31, 2018. This report is due on January 31, 2019.

Covers activity for the period August 12-November 6, 2018
For Hawaii and Kauai County candidates elected to office in the Primary Election who did not file the Preliminary General Report.

Covers activity for the period October 23-November 6, 2018
For Hawaii and Kauai County candidates elected to office in the General Election who filed the Preliminary General Report.

For public fund expenditures made from January 1-November 6, 2018

Covers activity for the period October 23-November 6, 2018
For candidates that filed the Preliminary General Report.

Covers activity for the period November 7-December 31, 2018 for candidates that ran in the 2018 election and July 1-December 31, 2017 for candidates that did not run in the 2018 election.

View reporting schedules for candidate committees:

Reporting Schedules