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KENTUCKY
Registry of Election Finance

Political Issues Committee

​​​​​​​​​​​The Kentucky General Assembly has delegated to the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (“Registry”) the regulation of ballot issue fundraising by defining political issue committees and requiring ballot issue fundraising and spending to conform to the provisions of KRS Chapter 121. Prior to raising or spending funds to advocate or oppose a constitutional amendment or public question which appears on the ballot, persons may be required to register as a political issue committee. A political issue committee is defined as three (3) or more persons joining together to advocate or oppose a constitutional amendment or public question which appears on the ballot if that committee receives or expends money in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000). ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​KRS 121.015(3)(c)​

Kentucky law requires a Political Issue Committee to file a 30-Day Pre-Election Finance Statement, a 15-Day Pre-Election Finance Statement, and a 30-Day Post-Election Finance Statement. Additional reports may be required if your committee reports a post-election surplus.  Reporting dates for Political Issue Committees are based on the actual date of the election and due to the scheduling process of the election date, cannot be accurately listed here.

Political Issues Committee Reporting Dates
YearReportPeriod EndsReport DueDue From
202460-day pre-General Report9/6/20249/10/2024Political Issues Committees with issue on the 2024 General Election ballot
202430-day pre-General report10/6/202410/8/2024Political Issues Committees with issue on the 2024 General Election ballot
202415-day pre-General report10/21/202410/23/2024Political Issues Committees with issue on the 2024 General Election ballot
2024Annual report12/1/202412/3/2024Political Issues Committees with an open campaign account not having had activity related to an election held in the current year or a future year
202430-day post-General report12/5/202412/9/2024Political Issues Committees with issue on the 2024 General Election ballot
202460-day post-General report1/4/20251/7/2025Political Issues Committees with issue on the 2024 General Election ballot with debt and/or surplus remaining on the 30-day post-General Election report
2025Annual report12/1/202512/3/2025Political Issues Committees with an open campaign account not having had activity related to an election held in the current year
Contribution Limits For Political Issues Committee
  • From an individual: Unlimited 
  • From a corporation: Unlimited
  • From an executive committee: Prohibited 
  • From a caucus campaign committee: Prohibited 
  • From a contributing organization Help : Prohibited from campaign account 
  • From a permanent committee (PAC) Help : Prohibited 
  • 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
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Political Issues Committee​​ FAQ​​​​​

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 political issues committee is defined as three (3) or more persons joining together to advocate or oppose a constitutional amendment or public question which appears on the ballot if that committee receives or expends money in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000).  The Kentucky General Assembly has delegated to the jurisdiction of Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (“Registry”) the regulation of ballot issue fundraising by defining political issues committees and requiring ballot issue fundraising and spending to conform to the provisions of KRS Chapter 121. Prior to raising or spending funds to advocate or oppose a constitutional amendment or public question which appears on the ballot, persons may be required to register as a political issues committee. KRS 121.015(3)(d).
An individual or group that wishes to form a political issues committee must file a Political Organization Registration with the Registry before any funds are raised or spent on the committee’s behalf. KRS 121.170.
Political issues committees, upon registration, shall report to the Registry on the 60th day preceding, the 30th day preceding, the 15th day preceding, and the 30th day after a general election, and on the 30th day preceding, the 15th day preceding, and the 30th day after a primary or special election.  KRS 121.180(3)(b).  Political issues committees that register prior to the year of the election for which the public question or constitutional amendment will appear on the ballot shall have additional reports due on a quarterly basis until the year of the election.  KRS 121.180(3)(b).  As specific reporting dates may vary, a political issues committee, upon registration, will be notified of the reporting dates applicable to its circumstances.
There is no contribution limit on what an individual, business, or a corporation may contribute to a political issues committee. This is the only exception to the prohibition on corporations making political contributions.
No, but campaign finance law applies when the issue is on ballot. Campaign finance registration and reporting requirements do not apply to “referendum activities,” where persons spend money or campaign in an attempt to get an issue on the ballot. Once the issue is on the ballot, however, registration and reporting as a political issues committee may apply.
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.)