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KENTUCKY
Registry of Election Finance

Slates

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​“Slate of candidates” means any two (2) persons who have filed a joint notification and declaration pursuant to KRS 118.126​, received contributions or made expenditures, appointed a campaign treasurer, designated a campaign depository, or given their consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures with a view to bringing about their nomination for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.  Unless the context requires otherwise, any provision of law that applies to a candidate shall also apply to a slate of c​​andidates. ​​​​​​​​​​​KRS 121.015(9)​

Slates Primary Election Reporting Dates
YearReportPeriod EndsReport DueDue From
202430-day pre-Primary report4/21/20244/23/2024All candidates who elected to receive/spend over $5,000 for the Primary Election
202415-day pre-Primary report5/6/20245/8/2024All Candidates who elected to receive/spend over $5,000 for the 2024 Primary Election
202430-day post-Primary report6/20/20246/24/2024All Candidates for the 2024 Primary Election
202460-day post-Primary report7/20/20247/23/2024All Candidates with debt and/or surplus funds remaining on the 30-day post-Primary Election report
Slates General Election Reporting Dates
YearReportPeriod EndsReport DueDue From
202460-day pre-General report9/6/20249/10/2024All Candidates who elected to receive/spend over $5,000 for the General Election
202430-day pre-General report10/6/202410/8/2024All Candidates who elected to receive/spend over $5,000 for the General Election
202415-day pre-General report10/21/202410/23/2024All Candidates who elected to receive/spend over $5,000 for the General Election
202430-day post-General report12/5/202412/9/2024All Candidates for the General Election
202460-day post-General report1/4/20251/7/2025All Candidates with debt and/or surplus funds remaining on the 30-day post-General Election report
Slates Quarterly Report Reporting Dates
YearReportPeriod EndsReport DueDue From
20241st Quarter report3/31/20244/2/2024State-wide Candidates who have notified the Registry of their intent to run in a future year election
20242nd Quarter report6/30/20247/2/2024State-wide Candidates who have notified the Registry of their intent to run in a future year election
20243rd Quarter report9/30/202410/2/2024State-wide Candidates who have notified the Registry of their intent to run in a future year election
20244th Quarter report12/31/20241/3/2025State-wide Candidates who have notified the Registry of their intent to run in a future year election
20251st Quarter report3/31/20254/2/2025Candidates who have notified the Registry of their intent to run in a future year but did not have an open campaign account for that office from a prior election
20252nd Quarter report6/30/20257/2/2025Candidates who have notified the Registry of their intent to run in a future year election and to receive/spend over $5,000
20253rd Quarter report9/30/202510/3/2025Candidates who have notified the Registry of their intent to run in a future year election and to receive/spend over $5,000
20254th Quarter report12/31/20251/2/2026Candidates who have notified the Registry of their intent to run in a future year election and to receive/spend over $5,000
Slates Annual Report Reporting Dates
YearReportPeriod EndsReport DueDue From
2024Annual report12/1/202412/3/2024Candidates with debt and/or surplus funds remaining on the last report filed for a previous election other than the 2024 General Election, as well as future year candidates (except state-wides)
2025Annual report12/1/202512/3/2025Candidates with debt and/or surplus funds remaining on the last report filed for a previous election other than the 2025 General Election
Contribution Limits For Slate (Calculated as of January 2023)
  • From an individual: $2,100 per election Help
  • From a corporation: Prohibited
  • From an executive committee: Unlimited 
  • From a caucus campaign committee: Unlimited 
  • From a contributing organization Help : $2,100 per election Help
  • From a permanent committee (PAC) Help : $2,100 per election Help
  • Cash contributions Help : $100.00 per contributor per election
  • Anonymous contributions: $100.00 per contributor per election (Maximum aggregate $2,000 per election)

In-kind and monetary contributions jointly count toward both the “per election” and the “per year” contribution limits.

View all contribution limits

Slates​​ FAQ​​​​​

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Political Advertising is any advertisement advocating the election or defeat of any candidate, political party, or public issue. For example, Political Advertising would NOT include the announcement of a fish fry sponsored by a political organization unless the advertisement stated that the fish fry endorses a candidate.​
A slate is a group of 2 people running together on a single ballot.  The Kentucky constitution requires that candidates running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor run together as a slate.  Candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor are required by KRS 118.127 to list on the notification and declaration form the names of the persons who are to jointly appear on the ballot.  No candidate for either office may appear on the ballot individually.  Voters will cast a single vote for the slate, applicable to both offices.
Per KRS 121.190(1): All advertising advocating the election or defeat of any candidate shall be identified by the words "paid for by" followed by the name and address of the individual or committee which paid for the advertising; except that if paid for by a candidate, or campaign committee, it shall be identified only by the words "paid for by" followed by the name of the candidate or campaign committee. For television and radio broadcasts, compliance with Federal Communication Commission regulations regarding sponsored programs and broadcasts by candidates for public office shall be considered compliance with this section. NEVER USE: “Paid for by Candidate.” This is an inappropriate disclaimer. Examples of Correct Political Advertising Disclaimers: Candidate Joe Smith or someone from the Joe Smith Campaign Committee purchases an advertisement: Paid for by Joe Smith or Paid for by Committee to Elect Joe Smith A group of candidates purchase an advertisement which clearly identifies the office each candidate seeks: Paid for by Joe Smith, Sally Smith, Mary Contrary, James Jones, Billy Jack, Phil Simpson, Polly Carter, and Lilly Adams Each candidate/campaign must write a check directly to the newspaper for his/her portion of the advertising cost. One candidate is NOT allowed to pay the entire advertising cost and later have the other candidates reimburse the candidate. A Franklin County Executive Committee purchases an advertisement: Paid for by Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee 300 Frankfort Avenue Frankfort, KY 40601 Private citizen Jane Smith purchases an advertisement to support a candidate: Paid for by Jane Smith 700 Walnut Street Frankfort, KY 40601 Jane Smith and her two sisters purchase an advertisement to support a candidate: Paid for by Jane Smith; 700 Walnut Street; Frankfort, KY 40601 Mary Smith; 22 Maple Street; Frankfort, KY 40601 Sara Smith; 41 Oak Street; Frankfort, KY 40601
If you are considering forming a slate to run for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, you should contact the Registry or the Office of the Secretary of State before undertaking any activity.  KRS Chapter 121 contains a very broad definition of “slate of candidates,” and you and your running mate may be considered a slate under the law well before any formal announcement of candidacy is made.  KRS 121.015(9) provides that a slate of candidates means not only one who has filed a joint notification and declaration pursuant to KRS 118.127, but also one who has undertaken any of the following activities: received contributions, made expenditures, appointed a campaign treasurer, designated a campaign depository, or given consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures with a view to bringing about the slate’s nomination for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.  Slates should begin keeping records at the point they are considered a “slate of candidates” pursuant to the aforementioned definition.
In order to file for Official Ballot Access the joint notification and declaration is to be filed with the Secretary of State as provided by KRS 118.125.
After filing the joint notification and declaration, a slate of candidates may authorize a campaign committee to act on its behalf.  All provisions of KRS Chapter 121 governing the duties and responsibilities of a slate of candidates and its campaign treasurer will apply to the campaign committee.
The campaign committee may register by filing its official notice of intention at the time of organization and provide the names, addresses, and positions of the officers of the committee.  A form prescribed for this purpose, the Gubernatorial Slate Campaign Committee Registration form (KREF 010/G), requires the registrant(s) to clearly identify the specific purpose, sponsorship, and source from which the committee originates and designate the primary campaign depository for the purpose of depositing all contributions received and disbursing all expenditures made.  The form must be signed by the members of the slate, the committee chairperson, and the campaign treasurer.  The chairperson and treasurer must be separate persons.
Also, the candidates for Governor or Lt. Governor must each sign the waiver on the Gubernatorial Slate Campaign Committee Registration form and the Waiver from Filing Candidate Election Finance Statement form (KREF 011) if they are to be relieved of personal responsibility for filing campaign finance reports.  The waiver remains in effect provided that the slate surrenders possession of any contributions to the campaign treasurer within five (5) business days of receipt without spending any of the proceeds or commingling contributions with personal funds; endorses contributions in the form of checks, money orders, or other written instruments directly, without being cashed or redeemed, to the campaign committee; and does not make any unreimbursed or unreported expenditures for the campaign.  Otherwise, a slate of candidates must file a separate campaign finance report.
If a vacancy occurs in a slate of candidates before the ballots are printed for the primary election because of death, disqualification to hold the office sought, or severe disabling condition which arose after the slate formed a campaign committee, the remaining member of the slate may designate a replacement for the vacant candidate or change the composition of the slate and designate a running mate.  Any changes made to the slate of candidates shall be made on forms prescribed by the State Board of Elections and filed with the Secretary of State not later than the deadline for printing primary election ballots, but only following certification to the remaining candidates by the Secretary of State that a vacancy exists.
If a vacancy occurs in a slate of candidates after the ballots are printed for the primary election,  the form must be filed with the Secretary of State prior to the primary election. Notices informing the voters of the change in the composition of the slate shall be posted at each precinct polling place. 
The provisions of KRS 118.105 shall apply to vacancies occurring in the nomination of a qualifying slate of candidates.
The form can be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State.  The Secretary of State will then notify the Registry of the change in the composition of the slate.
Please see Frequently Asked Questions under Candidate FAQs for additional information.
The Registry assigns a number to a candidate when the candidate informs the Registry of his or her intent to run for office for the first time. This number will not change for the life of the candidate regardless of the office sought or election.
The Registry assigns a number to a candidate for each election. This number will be assigned each time the candidate notifies the Registry of his or her intent to run for office. (The Primary and General are separate elections.)

You are invited to participate in the Registry’s E-mail Reminder program.

A courtesy reminder that a report is due will be sent to the e-mail address provided on the candidate’s KREF Form 001 a few days prior to the report due date.

If you did not provide an e-mail address on the KREF Form 001, it’s not too late.  You may sign up for an E-mail Reminder below.

          

​​Sign-Up for Email Reminder​​​