Submitted
Jim Condos
“Vermont is now at the forefront of the growing movement to bring greater transparency to campaign financing,” Secretary of State Jim Condos said.
Secretary Condos announced last Thursday that candidates, PACs, and parties involved in the 2016 election have successfully completed the first mandatory online disclosure filing in the new web-based campaign finance filing system. Wednesday, July 15, was the first campaign finance filing deadline for the 2016 election cycle, and the first time it became mandatory.
“An online campaign finance filing system that provides searchable information for the general public, in real time, has been long overdue,” Condos continued. “I am pleased to provide Vermonters with this powerful tool to gain more meaningful access to the very important information contained in campaign finance disclosures.”
As of the end of the day on July 15, a total of 269 candidates, PACs, and political party committees have registered in the system, and a total of 208 reports had been filed by Thursday morning (all entities may not have been required to report). Support staff in the elections division have been kept busy helping candidates and their treasurers navigate the new system and file their reports online for the first time.
Information filed in the system is immediately available for search and download by interested Vermonters. Powerful search functions built into the system provide the public with tools to easily sort and compare data across campaigns, as soon as the reports are filed.
Secretary Condos expressed his gratitude to the users of the system, and his excitement at what he calls “a major step forward for financial transparency of political campaigns in Vermont.”
“I want to thank the candidates, PACs, and parties that have taken time to learn the new system and file their required reports,” Condos noted. “After a brief learning curve I am confident that the registered entities will see the many benefits of this new system and will take advantage of its tools that make compliance with the laws easier for everyone.”
The new system may be accessed at https://campaignfinance.sec.state.vt.us/. The next campaign finance deadline is March 15, 2016.
