FILING FORMS WHEN RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
FILING FORMS WHEN RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
FILING FORMS WHEN RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
(R.I. STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND LOCAL CITY & TOWN ELECTIONS)
Here are the forms, dates and deadlines that all candidates need to begin their run for political office at the state, city and town level. We have tried to compile them all on this one article. Some forms have NOT yet been updated on the Secretary of State website. They will be added as they become available. Please note that the deadlines for filing campaign finance reports and for filing to run for office can be found under the Events Calendar on this website. Please pay close attention to the dates for filing with the Board of Elections. If you miss a posted deadline or improperly file, you and your campaign can incur some serious fines!
If you have any trouble, the RI Board of Elections is very helpful with filling out the forms. They are available through the hyperlinks below. All the forms are available as Adobe documents. The forms you need to file during this time are related to campaign organization and finance reporting:
This link takes you to the RI Board of Elections website: http://www.elections.ri.gov/finance/
Here are the forms you will need:
Campaign Finance Laws:
2012 Campaign Finance Manual:
http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Campaign_Finance/CF_Manual_2012.pdf
2012 Summary Guide to Rhode Island Campaign Contributions & Expenditures Reporting Act:
http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Campaign_Finance/CF%20FLYER%202012.pdf
2012 Reporting Schedule
2012 Primary Campaign General Election Reporting Schedule:
2012 Non-Primary Campaign General Election Reporting Schedule:
(CF-1) Notice of Organization http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Campaign_Finance/CF-1June06.pdf
You will receive an organization key number which will identify you and your campaign finance contributions, donations, expenditures and other expenses.
(CF-2) Summary of Campaign Activity http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Campaign_Finance/cf2.pdf
This is your balance sheet where you report what you took in and what you spent on your campaign.
(CF-3) Schedule of Contributions Received http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Campaign_Finance/cf3.pdf
This is for reporting what contributions you received and in what amounts. A good rule of thumb is to report EVERYTHING. That way your opponent can’t use it against you. They will review everything you submit and try to use it against you. Honesty really is the best policy.
(CF-4) Schedule of Expenditures http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Campaign_Finance/cf4.pdf
This is where you report everything you spent money for your campaign. Signs, palm cards, website design, postage, envelopes, pizza for campaign workers, hats, pins if you spent the money you MUST report it. Always make sure you keep all the receipts. Your opponent will watch this too.
(CF-5) Affidavit for Annual Filing Exemption http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Campaign_Finance/cf5.pdf
You would file this form ONLY if you accept no contributions in excess of $100 in the aggregate from a single source within this calendar year nor make any aggregate expenditure in excess of $1,000 within this calendar year.
(CF-7) Affidavit Dissolving Campaign Account http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Campaign_Finance/cf7.pdf
(CF-8) Schedule of Independent Expenditures http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Campaign_Finance/CF-8_2010.pdf
All the forms for campaign finance may be filed electronically after taking a short course from the RI Board of Elections.
** Here is the 2012 Election Calendar with important filing dates for candidates and campaign finance deadlines! All dates are posted on this website’s Event Calendar**
*** http://sos.ri.gov/documents/elections/ElectionCalendar2012.pdf ***
As new forms appear on the Secretary of State Website, we will update them and add them here!