State campaign finance agencies
Campaign finance regulation in the states involves two primary types of activities: administration and enforcement. Administration entails the oversight of the reporting process itself and public disclosure of campaign finance information. Enforcement involves the investigation of alleged violations and the attendant punishments. Disciplinary actions used in the enforcement process can include civil penalties (i.e., fines), as well as criminal penalties (e.g., fines, imprisonment).[1]
Secretaries of state are often responsible for administrative aspects of campaign finance regulation in the states. For example, secretaries of state often receive and process required campaign finance disclosure reports. Attorneys general or district attorneys are usually responsible for enforcing the law via prosecutions of criminal violations.[1]
In some states, single commissions or agencies bear responsibility for both administrative and enforcement functions. For instance, an independent agency may be authorized to process reports, investigate alleged violations, and levy civil penalties against violators. Again, it should be noted that criminal violations of the law are typically prosecuted by attorneys general or other government prosecutors.[1]
To learn more about campaign finance agencies by state, select a state from the map below. If on a mobile device, select a state from the dropdown menu below. A listing of state-level campaign finance agencies is provided in the table below the map.[1]
Learn more about campaign finance agencies in your area.
http://ballotpedia.org/Campaign_finance_agencies_in_STATE
Alabama Ethics Commission
Arizona Attorney General
Arkansas Secretary of State, Elections Division
Political Reform Division
Delaware Attorney General, Criminal Division
Florida Elections Commission
Idaho Attorney General
Kansas Secretary of State, Elections and Legislative Matters
Maryland State Prosecutor
Massachusetts Attorney General
Michigan Attorney General
Mississippi Attorney General
New Hampshire Attorney General, Criminal Justice Bureau
North Dakota Attorney General
Ohio Elections Commission
Pennsylvania Attorney General
South Dakota Attorney General
Vermont Attorney General
Wyoming Attorney General