Nevada County Municipal Code Ch. 3 Filing of Campaign Statements

A. Electronic Filing; Findings and Purpose. The Board of Supervisors makes the following findings in support of requiring that political committees and candidates that meet certain financial thresholds file their campaign statements electronically:

1. Public access to campaign disclosure information is a vital and integral component of a fully informed electorate. Transparency in campaign financing is critical in order to maintain public trust and support of the political process.

2. State law requires candidates, persons supporting or opposing ballot measures and certain other types of committees to file campaign finance statements with the Nevada County elections official detailing the sources of contributions and purposes of expenditures. The intent of these laws is to assist voters in making informed electoral decisions and to assist in ensuring compliance with campaign contribution laws. Cal. Gov't Code § 84615 authorizes local jurisdictions to require the filing of campaign statements and reports solely in an electronic form, with specified exemptions. The purpose of these laws is to assist voters in making informed electoral decisions and to assist in ensuring compliance with campaign contributions laws.

3. Campaign statements and reports are often very lengthy and dozens of such reports are filed with the Nevada County elections official each reporting period. An electronic system reduces paper waste and time spent processing and storing paper filings, so that efforts can be focused on helping filers comply with filing requirements.

4. The County's electronic filing system shall operate securely and effectively, utilizing multiple safeguards to protect the integrity and security of the data.

5. An electronic system streamlines the process for filers, by storing information previously entered, calculating numbers, and helping to catch errors before filings are submitted.

6. An electronic filing system makes the filing process more efficient for County elections staff by automatically redacting address information for donors and uploading the filings to the internet for virtually real time access to the public.

7. Once the statements are placed online, they are easily accessible for public viewing and allow the public to search reports by field, including, but not limited to, elections, candidate, date, contributor and expenditure. Online electronic filing facilitates review of the statements and maximizes the availability of this information to the public.

8. An electronic system is not unduly burdensome on candidates in that it reduces the need for candidates to print out and physically mail statements to the Nevada County elections office, and it eases the entry of contributors' information in that the electronic filing system will recognize repeat contributors and automatically populate their information.

B. Electronic Filing of Campaign Disclosures.

1. Whenever any candidate or committee is required to file campaign disclosure statements or reports with the Nevada County Elections Official in accordance with the California Political Reform Act, Cal. Gov't Code §§ 84100—91014, such statements or reports shall be filed electronically. Such statements shall include, but not be limited to, the following: Pre-election campaign statements, an amended campaign statement, a supplemental pre-election campaign statement, a report disclosing a contribution received by or made to a candidate, local ballot measure or an independent expenditure made for or against a candidate or local ballot measure, or an independent expenditure made for or against a candidate or local ballot measure of an amount allowable as per the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and California State statute, during an election cycle. The candidate or committee shall file the statement using the electronic filing system available on the Nevada County Elections office website, in accordance with procedures established by the Nevada County elections official. The street or address or building number of any persons or entity representatives listed on the statements or reports, or any bank account number, shall not be displayed online.

2. Elected officials who do not maintain a committee have the option of filing their semi-annual campaign statement electronically.

3. Statements or reports that are filed electronically with the Nevada County elections official pursuant to this Section need not also be filed in a paper format.

C. Exemptions.

1. In any instance in which the original statement, report, or other document is required to be filed with the Secretary of State and a copy of that statement, report or other document is required to be filed with the Nevada County elections official, the filer is exempt from filing the statement electronically as provided by Cal. Gov't Code § 84615. However, the filer has the option of filing an electronic copy with the Nevada County elections official.

2. This requirement does not apply to any candidate who receives contributions totaling less than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00,) and makes expenditures totaling less than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00,) in a calendar year.

(Ord. 2404. (01/12/2016); Ord. 2518. (03/14/2023))