Filing Information
Campaign Finance Reporting Schedule
The political committee type determines the committee's reporting schedule. Select a committee type below to view the reporting and filing periods for the 2023-2024 Election Cycle:
Late Filing Fines
Campaign finance late fines may be paid with a check or money order payable to the AZ Secretary of State and sent via U.S. postal mail to:
Arizona Secretary of State Elections Division
1700 W Washington St, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
If paying in cash, payment must be exact amount and only made in-person. Please include committee ID information on check or payment receipt
Candidates
A statewide, legislative, or county candidate who has received contributions or made expenditures (in any combination) of at least $1,400 in connection with their candidacy during the 2023-2024 election cycle is required to form a committee within 10 days of reaching that threshold. A.R.S. § 16-905(A), 16-906(A).
For example, receiving a $700 check from a family friend while also spending $700 on campaign supplies will trigger the registration requirement. The use of a candidate's own "personal monies" for electoral purposes also counts towards the $1,400 threshold. However, if a candidate never reaches the $1,400 threshold, registration and reporting are not required.
The registration threshold for statewide, legislative, and county candidates is increased by $100 each odd-numbered year pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-931(A)(1). A candidate's "personal monies" include all sources of income or wealth available to the candidate or candidate's spouse. A.R.S. § 16-901(40).
A city or town candidate who has received contributions or made expenditures (in any combination) of at least $500 in connection with their candidacy during the election cycle is required to form a committee within 10 days of reaching that threshold. A.R.S. § 16-905(B). The registration threshold for city and town candidates is set at $500 and is not adjusted on a biennial basis. A.R.S § 16-905(B).
Political Action Committees
According to A.R.S. § 16-905(C), an entity is required to be registered as a political action committee (PAC) if:
- The entity is organized for the primary purpose of influencing the result of an election; AND
- The entity knowingly receives contributions or makes expenditures (in any combination) in excess of the current threshold financial level. The current threshold for the 2023-2024 election year is $1,400. For example, receiving a $700 individual contribution check while spending $700 on campaign supplies will trigger the registration requirement.
If the entity has the required primary political purpose and its contributions and expenditures (in any combination) exceed the then-current threshold for that election cycle, the entity is required to register itself as a PAC within 10 days. A.R.S § 16-906(A).
"Entity", as defined in A.R.S. § 16-901(22), is a corporation, limited liability company, labor organization, partnership, trust, association, organization, joint venture, cooperative, unincorporated organization or association, or another organized group that consists of more than one individual.
A political action committee must register with the appropriate filing officer before contributing to a state candidate committee (non-federal candidate) seeking state, legislative or local office. A.R.S § 16-901(41). A candidate committee may accept contributions only from an individual, a partnership, a candidate committee, a political action committee or a political party. A.R.S. § 16-913(D). Federal political action committees must register with the appropriate filing officer in Arizona before contributing to a non-federal candidate.
If a corporation, LLC, union or partnership establishes a separate segregated fund for the purpose of influencing the result of an election, the entity must register that fund as a PAC. A.R.S. § 16-916(C) .
A standing committee is a political action committee or political party that is active in more than one jurisdiction's elections (state, county, and/or city elections) in the state of Arizona. Standing committees register and file all campaign finance activity with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office. A.R.S. § 16-901(48). To learn more about standing committee status, review Section 1.4 of the PAC Campaign Finance Guide.
A political action committee with Mega PAC status may contribute twice the amount prescribed in A.R.S. § 16-914(A) to candidate committees during the election cycle if the political action committee provides the recipient candidate committee a copy of the political action committee's certification of Mega PAC status. A.R.S. § 16-914(B).
Click here to view contribution limits for political action committees and Mega PACs for the 2023-2024 election cycle.
To obtain Mega PAC certification, the committee must provide the following in accordance with A.R.S. § 16-908(B):
- Written request for application of Mega PAC status sent to [email protected]; and
- Documentation that the PAC has received at least ten dollars ($10) in contributions from at least five hundred (500) individuals in the four-year period immediately before filing the application. A.R.S § 16-908(B). The information provided for each contributor must include the following:
- Amount of Contribution;
- Contributor's First and Last Name;
- Contributor's Residence Address (Street/City/State/Zip Code);
- Contributor's Occupation;
- Name of Contributor's Primary Employer.
If the applicant PAC demonstrates it has met the above requirements for Mega PAC status, certification shall be granted by the Secretary of State's Office, valid for four (4) years. A.R.S §16-908(C).
Political Parties
Recognized political parties are eligible to register as a political party committee under A.R.S. § 16-905(G). To learn more about political party recognition, please review the New Party Guide and "Information about Political Parties" page.
A standing committee is a political action committee or political party that is active in more than one jurisdiction's elections (county/city elections or state/county elections) in the state of Arizona. Standing committees register and file all campaign finance activity with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office. A.R.S. § 16-901(48). To learn more about standing committee status review the PAC Campaign Finance Guide.
A political party may only contribute to party nominees (candidate committees) using monies contributed by an individual, partnership, candidate committee, political action committee, or a political party. A.R.S. § 16-915(B).
To view contribution limits, click here.
Independent Expenditures
An "independent expenditure" is defined in A.R.S. § 16-901(31) as an expenditure that:
- Expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate; and
- Is not made in cooperation or consultation with (or at the request or suggestion of) the candidate or the candidate's agent.
According to A.R.S. § 16-922(B), an independent expenditure is NOT independent if:
- There is actual coordination with respect to an expenditure between a candidate or candidate's agent and the person making the expenditure or that person's agent; OR
- Both of the following apply:
- The expenditure is based on nonpublic information about a candidate's or candidate committee's plans or needs that the candidate or candidate's agent provides to the person making the expenditure or that person's agent.
- The candidate or candidate's agent provides the nonpublic information with an intent toward having the expenditure made.
Ballot Measure Expenditures
A "ballot measure expenditure" is defined in A.R.S. § 16-901(4) as an expenditure made by a person that expressly advocates the support or opposition of a clearly identified ballot measure.