Campaign finance requirements for New Hampshire ballot measures
 in New Hampshire |
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Groups and individuals involved in ballot measure campaigns in New Hampshire must adhere to the state's campaign finance laws. These laws regulate the amounts and sources of money given or received for political purposes; in addition, campaign finance laws stipulate disclosure requirements for political contributions and expenditures.
Proponents of more stringent regulations and disclosure requirements, such as the Brennan Center for Justice, claim that current laws do not go far enough to mitigate corruption and the influence of undisclosed special interests. Others, such as the Institute for Free Speech, argue that strict disclosure requirements and contribution limits impinge upon the rights to privacy and free expression.[1][2]
| Under New Hampshire law, any group that supports or opposes a referendum is considered to be a political committee. Contributions to political committees in New Hampshire are limited to $5,000. |
The laws and regulations that apply to ballot measure campaigns may differ from those that apply to candidates for political office. To learn more about campaign finance requirements for candidates, see this article.
New Hampshire ballot measures
- See also: Ballot measure
A ballot measure is any question or issue that appears on an election ballot to be approved or rejected by voters. In 26 states, plus Washington, D.C., citizens may use the initiative and referendum process, which permits citizens to petition to place measures on the ballot and usually involves a signature collection process of some kind. Even in states without initiative and referendum processes, however, ballot measures exist. In all states, citizens may be asked to approve legislatively referred constitutional amendments, state statutes, bond issues or tax proposals.
In New Hampshire, ballot measures come in two forms: legislatively referred constitutional amendments and automatic ballot referrals.
Organizational requirements
Under New Hampshire law, any group that supports or opposes a referendum is considered to be a political committee. A political committee must file a statement of organization with the New Hampshire Secretary of State within 14 days of forming, or within 24 hours of making an expenditure or receiving more than $500 in contributions, whichever comes first. The committee must designate a treasurer or a person authorized to receive legal documents in the name of the committee and keep records for the committee.[3][4]
Contribution limits
Contributions to committees in New Hampshire are limited to $5,000. No member of the New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission can make contributions to campaigns that support or oppose a ballot measure. Corporations and labor unions are permitted to donate to political committees.[5][6]
Reporting requirements
New Hampshire requires frequent finance reports from committees who have received or expended more than $500. The table below provides more information on when reports are due and what periods they must cover. A finance report must be filed every six months as long as the committee has any outstanding debts, obligations or surplus funds.[7][8]
For all contributions exceeding $25, a committee must report the name and address of the contributor. For all contributions exceeding $100 in the aggregate in an election, the committee must also report the contributor's employer and occupation. For all expenditures exceeding $25, the committee must report the name and address of the recipient.[7]
Year-specific reporting dates
2021–2022
The table below lists relevant campaign finance report filing deadlines in New Hampshire in 2021 and 2022.
| Campaign finance reporting deadlines in New Hampshire, 2021–2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reporting period | Filing deadline | |
| Committee registration – May 31, 2021 | June 2, 2021 | |
| Committee registration – November 29, 2021 | December 1, 2021 | |
| Committee registration – June 20, 2022 | June 22, 2022 | |
| Committee registration – August 22, 2022 | August 24, 2022 | |
| Committee registration – September 5, 2022 | September 7, 2022 | |
| Committee registration – September 13, 2022 | September 21, 2022 | |
| September 13, 2022 – October 17, 2022 | October 19, 2022 | |
| September 13, 2022 – October 31, 2022 | November 2, 2022 | |
| September 13, 2022 – November 8, 2022 | November 16, 2022 | |
| Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2022 receipts and expenditures," accessed July 13, 2021 | ||
2016
The table below lists relevant campaign finance report filing deadlines in New Hampshire in 2016.
| Campaign finance reporting deadlines in New Hampshire, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Report | Reporting period | Filing deadline |
| June 22, 2016 | Registration - June 20, 2016 | June 22, 2016 |
| August 24, 2016 | Registration - August 22, 2016 | August 24, 2016 |
| September 7, 2016 | Registration - September 5 | September 7, 2016 |
| September 21, 2016 | Registration - September 13, 2016 | September 21, 2016 |
| October 19, 2016 | September 13, 2016 - October 17, 2016 | October 19, 2016 |
| November 2, 2016 | September 13, 2016 - October 31, 2016 | November 2, 2016 |
| November 16, 2016 | September 13, 2016 - November 8, 2016 | November 16, 2016 |
| May 8, 2017 | November 8, 2016 – dissolution of committee | May 8, 2017 |
| Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2016 receipts and expenditures," accessed December 10, 2015 | ||
State agencies
In New Hampshire, there are two primary agencies involved in campaign finance regulation: the New Hampshire Secretary of State, Elections Division, and the New Hampshire Attorney General. The former is responsible for campaign finance reporting, and the latter for enforcement of campaign finance law.
New Hampshire Secretary of State, Elections Division
- State House, Room 204
- 107 North Main Street
- Concord, N.H. 03301
- Telephone: (603) 271-3242
- Fax: (603) 271-6316
- Email: elections@sos.state.nh.us
New Hampshire Attorney General, Criminal Justice Bureau
- Office of the Attorney General
- 33 Capitol Street
- Concord, NH 03301
- Telephone: (603) 271-3658
- Email: investinfo@doj.nh.gov
Campaign finance legislation
The following is a list of recent campaign finance bills that have been introduced in or passed by the New Hampshire state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.
Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.
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Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms New Hampshire campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Campaign finance requirements in New Hampshire
- Campaign finance agencies in New Hampshire
- List of New Hampshire ballot measures
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Institute for Free Speech, "Money in Politics," accessed September 4, 2017
- ↑ Brennan Center for Justice, "Money in Politics," accessed September 4, 2017
- ↑ New Hampshire General Court, "Section 664:2," accessed December 10, 2015
- ↑ New Hampshire General Court, "Section 664:3," accessed December 10, 2015
- ↑ New Hampshire Department of Justice, "Political Contributions," accessed December 10, 2015
- ↑ New Hampshire General Court, "Section 664:4," accessed December 10, 2015
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 New Hampshire General Court, "Section 664:6," accessed December 10, 2015
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2016 receipts and expenditures," accessed December 10, 2015
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