Campaign finance agencies in Indiana
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In Indiana, there are two primary agencies involved in campaign finance regulation: the Election Division of the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State and the Indiana Election Commission. The former, in concert with local boards of election, is responsible for administering the state's campaign finance law. The latter is authorized to investigate alleged violations of the law and impose civil penalties against violators.[1]
- See also: Campaign finance requirements in Indiana
Indiana Secretary of State
- See also: Indiana Secretary of State
Authority
The Indiana Secretary of State serves as the state's chief elections official. The Election Division administers election and campaign finance laws. This includes overseeing reporting processes for state-level candidates and political committees.[1]
Organization
The table below lists key Election Division staff as of July 2015.
| Indiana Secretary of State, Election Division—staff as of July 2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Phone number | Email address |
| Connie Lawson | Secretary of State | 317-232-6531 | [email protected] |
| J. Bradley King | Co-Director, Election Division | 317-233-0929 | [email protected] |
| Ryan E. Mann | Acting Co-Director | 317-232-3940 | [email protected] |
| Dale Simmons | Co-Legal Counsel | 317-232-3929 | [email protected] |
| Matthew R. Kochevar | Co-Legal Counsel | 317-232-3942 | [email protected] |
| Michelle Thompson | Campaign Finance | 317-232-3941 | [email protected] |
| Abbey Taylor | Campaign Finance | 317-232-3928 | [email protected] |
| Source: Indiana Election Division, "IED Staff," accessed July 24, 2015 | |||
Electronic reporting system
- See also: Campaign finance requirements in Indiana
As of July 2015, candidates and political committees in Indiana could not file campaign finance disclosure reports online. Campaign finance reports are made available to the public through an online database, which can be accessed here.[2]
Agency budget, 2014-2017
In April 2015, the Indiana State Legislature passed a state budget for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. The fiscal year 2016 budget for the Election Division totaled $6.96 million; for fiscal year 2017, the budget totaled $4.43 million. See the table below for further information.[3][4]
| Indiana Secretary of State, Election Division—agency budgets in fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Year | Budget amount |
| 2017 | $4,428,592 |
| 2016 | $6,958,213 |
| 2015 | $4,147,751 |
| 2014 | $6,749,109 |
| Sources: State of Indiana, "List of Appropriations for the Biennium July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2017," accessed August 4, 2015 State of Indiana, "List of Appropriations for the Biennium July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015," accessed August 4, 2015 | |
Indiana Election Commission
Authority
The Indiana Election Commission is authorized to assess civil penalties against individuals or groups who fail to comply with the law. If an individual or group fails to file a required campaign finance report, the commission can levy a fine of up to $1,000 ($50 per day that the report is late).[1]
State law stipulates that "a person who knowingly files a fraudulent report commits a Level 6 felony, and is subject to a $10,000 fine, two and one-half years imprisonment, or both."[1]
The commission is also authorized to investigate alleged violations of the law. The commission may take evidence and issues subpoenas for this purpose. In the event that the commission determines that a felony or misdemeanor has been committed, the commission must report the violation to a prosecuting attorney, who can in turn prosecute the case as a criminal matter.[1]
Organization
The commission comprises four members, all of whom are appointed by the governor. Each commissioner must belong to one of the state's major political parties, and no more than two commissioners may belong to the same political party. The chairpersons of the major political parties nominate individuals to serve on the commission. Commissioners serve two-year terms.[5]
The governor appoints a commissioner chair and vice chair. The chair of the commission must belong to the same political party as the Indiana Secretary of State. The vice chair must belong to a different political party. The table below lists the commissioners as of August 2015.[5]
| Indiana Election Commission—commissioners as of August 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | First appointed |
| Bryce H. Bennett, Jr | Chair | August 2011 |
| S. Anthony Long | Vice chair | July 1997 |
| Suzannah Wilson Overholt | Member | July 2012 |
| Zachary E. Klutz | Member | February 2014 |
| Source: Indiana Election Division, "Election Commission," accessed August 4, 2015 | ||
Contact information
Indiana Secretary of State, Election Division and Indiana Election Commission
- 302 West Washington Street, Room E-204
- Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
- Telephone: 317-232-3939
- Email: [email protected]
Recent news
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See also
External links
- Indiana Election Division
- Indiana Election Division, "Search The Campaign Finance Database," accessed July 24, 2015
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Indiana Election Division, "2015 Indiana Campaign Finance Manual," accessed August 4, 2015
- ↑ Indiana Election Division, "Search The Campaign Finance Database," accessed July 24, 2015
- ↑ State of Indiana, "List of Appropriations for the Biennium July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2017," accessed August 4, 2015
- ↑ State of Indiana, "List of Appropriations for the Biennium July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015," accessed August 4, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Indiana Code, "Title 3, Article 6, Chapter 4.1," accessed August 4, 2015
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