Frequently Asked Questions

Campaign finance law does not require the treasurer to report detailed and exact accounts of contributions of $100 or less. However, internal records must be maintained to identify the sources of contributions as they occur in order to aggregate each individual or group contribution with subsequent contributions by that particular individual or group. If a receipt is designated as "unitemized" it will not print out on the detail report. However, it will be added to the "unitemized" figure on the summary page.​​

For cash receipts, the campaign has a record of the contribution by the name of the contributor, the date and amount of the cash contribution. The maximum cash contribution that an individual may give to a candidate is $100.00 per election. Anonymous receipts are any receipts that the campaign cannot attribute to a specific contributor. For example, if a bucket was set out at a campaign event and individuals put money in the bucket, these receipts would be considered anonymous receipts as there would be no record of the contributor’s name, date and amount of the contribution. The maximum anonymous contribution is $100.00 per individual, per election. A second limitation also applies to anonymous receipts: the campaign may only keep $2,000 in anonymous contributions and anything over $2,000 must be forwarded to the State Treasury.​

An in-kind contribution is goods, advertising or services furnished to a candidate, slate of candidates or committee without charge or at a rate which is less than the rate normally charged for the goods or services. The campaign is responsible for reporting the in-kind contribution on the election finance statement. An independent expenditure is the expenditure of money or other thing of value to promote a candidate, slate of candidates or committee without the campaign or any authorized person acting on behalf of the campaign having any prior knowledge of the activity. There is no limit on independent expenditures; however, an “Independent Expenditure Report” must be completed and forwarded to the Registry when the aggregate amount of the independent expenditure exceeds $500. The candidates, slate of candidates or committees are not responsible for reporting the independent expenditure on the election finance statement.​

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.​

No. The campaign finance laws, as well as the Kentucky Constitution, make no distinction as to specific types of corporate contributions that are prohibited. Therefore, the corporate prohibition of contributions extends to non-profit corporations, professional service corporations (PSCs) or any other type of corporate classification or designation.

No. Candidates and Candidate campaign committees may not accept contributions from LLCs, LLPs, or partnerships.  Under Kentucky’s campaign finance law, “corporation” means any corporation, company, partnership, joint stock company, or association.  Since corporations are prohibited from making contributions directly to candidates, slates of candidates, or committees, a candidate is not permitted to accept contributions directly from an LLC.

No. A contribution on a “sole proprietorship” business check should be reported as a contribution from the individual who is the owner of the business.

Yes. When accepting a check for more than the individual contribution limit, you must obtain a written verification from the contributors showing how much each person is contributing individually. A husband and wife may both choose to sign the contribution check before giving it to the campaign.

A candidate’s spouse may contribute the same contribution amount as any other contributor, which is $2,100 per person per election.

This question falls under the jurisdiction of the Legislative Ethics Commission. You should contact them directly.  Go to https://klec.ky.gov/ for additional information.

No, but the cost may be reportable by a candidate. The Registry’s jurisdiction under KRS Chapter 121 extends to candidates, committees, and persons expressly advocating the election or defeat of clearly identified candidates in Kentucky state and local races, and to committees advocating for or against issues appearing on a ballot. The Registry has no authority to regulate public opinion polls, so long as those polls do not expressly gauge support for candidates (such as “who would you vote for . . .” or “who would you support . . .” ). However, the poll results may be reportable as an in-kind contribution to a candidate, if later used by a candidate in his or her campaign, and would be subject to contribution limits in this circumstance.

No. While KRS Chapter 121 does not prohibit or otherwise address the solicitation of a contribution from a judge or judicial candidate, Rule 4.4 from the Kentucky Code of Judicial Conduct requires all candidates seeking judicial office who intend to raise campaign funds for that purpose establish a candidate campaign committee.

No. The United States Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United did not affect the prohibition on corporate contributions to candidates found in Section 150 of the Kentucky Constitution. See also KRS 121.025 and KRS 121.150(18). However, corporations may now make unlimited independent expenditures - which are by definition expenditures not coordinated with a candidate or candidate campaign committee. See KREF Advisory Opinions 2010-001, 2010-002, and 2011-002.

This is allowed. It is recommended that you use a credit card which is used solely for the campaign. When you report the disbursement on your election finance statement, list the name of the company where the credit card purchase was made instead of the name of the credit card company itself.

Yes, per KRS 121.180(10), candidates may retain campaign funds to seek election to the same office. Where redistricting legislation results in the renumbering of legislative districts, the Registry has consistently interpreted KRS 121.180(10) to allow a candidate affected by state legislative redistricting to retain campaign funds to run for the same office in his or her newly designated district. See KREF Advisory Opinion 2002-001.

No, KRS 121.175(1) provides that “(n)o candidate shall permit funds in a campaign account to be expended for any purpose other than for allowable campaign expenditures.” Expenditures from a campaign fund must be directly and primarily related to a candidate’s candidacy. See 32 KAR 2:200. In the absence of facts directly related to the elected official’s candidacy, personal defense of a claim regarding his or her alleged ethics violation does not appear to be directly and primarily related to the candidate’s candidacy and therefore is not a permitted expenditure from a campaign account.

As a rule, you should use the day you first spend or receive funds in hopes of nomination or election to office as the starting date of your first financial report.  The ending date should be the last day of the reporting period, after which you have five days to submit your report to the Registry.  The next report you file should start with the day after the last period end date.  For example, if your first report is from 01/01/2018 to 04/22/2018, your next report would be from 04/23/2018 to 05/07/2018.  Your reporting dates should NOT overlap or leave gaps.

Yes. A candidate’s election finance reporting is determined by the amount of funds the campaign selects to spend. If you do not choose a reporting exemption, this indicates your intention to raise and spend more than $5,000. You will be required to file a 60-day pre-election finance statement (general election only), a 30-day pre-election finance statement, a 15-day pre-election finance statement and a 30-day post election finance statement unless you rescind the request for spending option within fifteen (15) days following the filing deadline. If you request a reporting exemption and choose the spending option to “raise and spend $5,000 or less,” you will be exempt from filing election finance statements.

Since all reporting requirements are based on the amount you selected to raise or spend when you first filed for office, you will need to file the required statements regardless of the amount spent. Candidates opting to spend more than $5,000 are required to file election finance statements sixty (60) (general election only), thirty (30), and fifteen (15) days before the election and thirty (30) days after the election. Candidates opting to spend $5,000 or less are not required to file an election finance statement.

Any candidate may change his or her spending option up to 30 days prior to a primary election and up to 60 days prior to a general election. A candidate who exceeds his or her chosen spending option will be fined five hundred dollars ($500).

No. The spending option you chose when you filed for office establishes the number of election finance statements you will need to file for the election. There is a limited exception if the opponent is replaced due to a withdrawal because of death, disability or disqualification.

Yes. The campaign finance laws allow candidates who find they have opposition from a write-in candidate to amend their spending options.

Yes. If you were required to submit your filing papers by the January filing deadline, you are considered by the Registry to be part of the primary election process. The number of reports due is based on the Exemption Request the campaign filed for that election. An unopposed candidate (one whose name does not appear on the primary ballot) may accept contributions and make expenditures just like any other candidate.

Yes, depending on the spending option selected. When a candidate is unopposed in the primary election, his or her name does not appear on the ballot. Campaign finance statutes set forth reporting requirements based on your spending option without regard to the candidate having or not having opposition. An unopposed candidate may accept contributions for the election the same as a candidate with opposition.

Yes. The campaign finance statute requires candidates to maintain the campaign records for a period of six (6) years from the date of the last report filed with the Registry. Regardless of the spending option you chose for your campaign, you can still be audited by the Registry.

All funds given to the campaign are to be reported as contributions, including the candidate’s own money. The candidate may loan funds to the campaign in hopes of receiving contributions to repay all or a portion of the funds; or, the candidate may wish to donate the funds to the campaign as a candidate contribution.

No.  Election finance statements no longer have to be filed with the county clerk.  They only need to be filed with the Registry.

The filing fee may be reimbursed to the candidate from the campaign bank account. The reimbursement should be shown as a disbursement on Schedule 2 of the election finance statements. Some individuals, however, believe they were not a candidate for office until after the fee was paid. Therefore, they do not include the fee as an expense of the campaign. Either of these options is acceptable.

No. The campaign finance laws only require the name of the candidate or the candidate’s committee to be listed in the disclaimer. (Ex.: “Paid for by Joe Candidate” OR “Paid for by Committee to Elect Joe Candidate”).

Yes. Newspaper ads require a disclaimer regardless of the size of the advertisement. The campaign finance statute specifically states that “ALL newspaper or magazine advertising, posters, circulars, billboards, handbills, sample ballots and paid-for television or radio announcements…” are required to have the appropriate disclaimer. However, campaign finance laws state that a disclaimer is not required for “calling cards” smaller than 3 ½ x 5 inches.

All newspaper or magazine advertising, posters, circulars, billboards, handbills, sample ballots which expressly advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, slate of candidates, or group of candidates for nomination or election to any public office shall be identified by the words “paid for by” followed by the name of the candidate, slate of candidates, or campaign committee, whichever is applicable. “Paid for by the candidate” is not in compliance and should not be used.

All newspaper or magazine advertising, posters, circulars, billboards, handbills, sample ballots which expressly advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, slate of candidates, or group of candidates for nomination or election to any public office shall be identified by the words “paid for by” followed by the name and address of the individual or committee which paid for the communication.

Compliance with FCC regulations regarding sponsored programs and broadcasts by candidates for public office shall be considered compliance with Kentucky law.

The Registry has exempted some items from the disclaimer requirement. For example, balloons, emery boards, bumper stickers, matchbook covers, pencils, shirts and caps do not require disclaimers. Any calling card smaller than 3 ½ x 5 inches is also exempted. Please see 32 KAR 2:110 for additional items which may be exempted. Multiple page mailings will be considered in substantial compliance if at least one page of the mailing includes a disclaimer. Envelopes stamped with a return address which includes the name of the candidate or campaign committee indicating that the candidate is seeking election to public office must have the disclaimer unless at least one piece of the envelope’s contents includes a disclaimer.

You may amend your Statement of Spending Intent by logging into the Registry's electronic filing system and making your changes.

Yes. Contact the Internal Revenue Service for instruction. When a candidate sets up a campaign fund or campaign committee, per Internal Revenue Service regulations, it is generally treated as a separate taxable entity (even if it is just a bank account). As such, the Internal Revenue Service will require the account to be established under a separate employer identification number (EIN), even if it does not have employees. A campaign fund established under the social security number of an individual (such as the candidate or treasurer) runs the risk of having the income from the campaign attributed to that individual by the IRS. Regarding a candidate’s responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code, the Registry advises candidates that all questions about the registration, disclosure and annual tax reporting requirements of the IRS should be directed to IRS Customer Service at 1-877-829-5500, and the caller should request assistance from an Exempt Organizations Specialist. You may also find additional information at the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/charities/political/. See also Candidate Guide to Campaign Finance (Revised 08/2011), p. 50. Banking regulations may also require an EIN for a campaign bank account, but these rules also fall outside the jurisdiction of the Registry.

Receipts from the proceeds of sales are considered contributions. The entire purchase price is a contribution to the campaign. Your campaign will need to keep records of the monetary contributions from individuals as well as the contributions from sales to individuals. The individual’s total contribution cannot exceed $2,100 per election. When reporting the contributions from a fundraising event, you will report a summary of the event on Events Schedule 3 to the election finance statement form. You will also report each receipt on Schedule 1A or the Summary Page of the reporting form. You need to have a system in place to identify who made the purchases and/or made additional contributions at this event. Either have the contributors fill out a sign-in card indicating what they have contributed or have a volunteer obtain this information from the contributors at the event. It is important that you know who has contributed. If the contributions are reported as anonymous contributions, any amount over $2,000 must be forwarded to the State Treasury.

No. The use of “raffles” to collect campaign contributions is not directly addressed by Kentucky’s campaign finance law. However, a “raffle” is defined by KRS Chapter 238 as a form of “charitable gaming” under the jurisdiction of the Department of Charitable Gaming. Under current Kentucky law, charitable gaming can only be conducted to benefit common schools or organizations that qualify as charitable organizations under the Internal Revenue Code. Political campaigns and committees are not charitable organizations under the Internal Revenue Code. Instead they are political organizations exempt from taxation under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code. For these reasons, a campaign or committee acts in violation of Kentucky law by holding a “raffle” to collect campaign contributions. A “raffle” is distinguishable from a “door prize” in that a person must pay for the chance to win an item in a “raffle”, as opposed to anyone in attendance at an event having the opportunity to win a “door prize”. You may call the Department of Charitable Gaming at (502) 573-5528 for further information.

No. The funds in your campaign account are to be used to support your nomination and election to the office for which the funds were raised. You cannot use campaign funds for a personal benefit or to privately benefit others.

A PAC is a Political Action Committee, also referred to as a Permanent Committee under Kentucky law. These committees are made up of a group of people sharing a common interest and supporting those interests by advocating the election or defeat of candidates, slates of candidates, or political parties. A PAC may contribute up to $2,100 per election to any candidate.

PACs may contribute up to $2,100 to any candidate or slate of candidates per election. This means that the PAC may contribute $2,100 in a primary and, if the candidate or slate wins the primary, the PAC may contribute $2,100 in the general election. PACs may contribute up to $2,100 per year in the aggregate to non-affiliated PACs. For example, if a PAC contributed $2,100 on January 1 of any year to another PAC, it could not make any more contributions to other PACs until January 1 of the next year. PACs may contribute up to $5,000 per year in the aggregate to a political party executive committee. This includes state and county executive committees. Because state and county executive committees are affiliated, if a contribution of $5,000 is made to a state party committee, the PAC could make no contributions to any of the county executive committees of that party in the same calendar year. PACs may contribute up to $5,000 per year in the aggregate to a caucus campaign committee. There are four caucus campaign committees. Because they are not affiliated, each caucus campaign committee may receive $5,000 per year.

Yes, a Permanent Committee may change its name. To do this, the Permanent Committee must update its Political Organization Registration form with its new name, address, name of the sponsor, the major business, social or political interests, and the name of the depository bank or financial institution. This form must be signed and dated by the chairman and the treasurer. The Permanent Committee’s filer number and all financial information will stay the same.

PACs are considered affiliated based on the organization’s bylaw structure or by declaration on the PAC’s registration form. The Registry may examine the relationship between organizations to determine whether the committees are affiliated for purposes of contribution limitations. When making contributions to candidates, affiliated organizations are considered to be one (1) contributor and they are held jointly to the $2,100 contribution limit. (Example: if a state PAC made a $2,100 contribution to a candidate, the affiliated Federal PAC could not make a contribution to that candidate in that election). There are no contributions limits between affiliated PACs. The committees may transfer unlimited amounts between themselves.

No. PACs may not accept contributions from partnerships, LLCs, or LLPs.  Under Kentucky’s campaign finance law, “corporation” means any corporation, company, partnership, joint stock company, or association.  Since corporations are prohibited from making contributions directly to candidates, slates of candidates, or committees, a PAC is not permitted to accept contributions directly from a partnership.   A partnership may, however, sponsor and administer a state PAC, and pay the state PAC’s administrative expenses from its own funds.

Permanent Committees may contribute up to $2,100 to any candidate or slate of candidates per election. This means the Permanent Committee may contribute $2,100 in a primary and, if the candidate or slate wins the primary, the Permanent Committee may contribute $2,100 in the general election.

When making a contribution to candidates, affiliated organizations are considered to be one (1) contributor and they are held jointly to the $2,100 contribution limit. (Example: if a state PAC made a $2,100 contribution to a candidate, the affiliated Federal PAC could not make a contribution to that candidate in that election.)

An in-kind contribution is goods, advertising or services furnished by a PAC without charge or at a rate which is less than the rate normally charged for the goods or services. The campaign is responsible for reporting in-kind contributions on its election finance statement. An independent expenditure is the expenditure of money or other thing of value to promote a candidate, slate of candidates or committee without the campaign or any authorized person acting on behalf of the campaign having any prior knowledge of the activity. There is no limit on independent expenditures; however, an “Independent Expenditure Report” must be completed and forwarded to the Registry when the aggregate amount of the independent expenditure exceeds $500. The candidates, slate of candidates or committee are not responsible for reporting the independent expenditure on the election finance statement.

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.

A caucus campaign committee is one of the following caucus groups which receive contributions and make expenditures to support or oppose one or more specific candidates or slates of candidates for nomination or election, or a committee: House Democratic caucus campaign committee; House Republican caucus campaign committee; Senate Democratic caucus campaign committee; or Senate Republican caucus campaign committee.

Yes. All committees must file reports whether or not they have had any financial activity.

Caucus campaign committees file semi-annual reports with the Registry.

No. Committees affiliated by the structure of their by-laws, registration or membership are considered one committee for the purposes of applying the maximum contribution limit. Because caucus campaign committees and executive committees are not affiliated, they are not subject to a shared contribution limit; however, a caucus campaign committee cannot transfer funds to another caucus campaign committee or to party executive committees.

The maximum contribution limit to a caucus campaign committee is $5,000 per calendar year (not per election). If a contributor makes a single $5,000 contribution to a particular caucus campaign committee on January 1, 20XX, that contributor cannot make any other contributions to that particular caucus campaign committee until the next calendar year. However, the contributor may contribute $5,000 to other caucus campaign committees.

No. Those organizations are primarily social in nature. However, funds may be expended for advertising with the organization so long as the expenditure furthers a candidacy.

No.  Under Kentucky’s campaign finance law, “corporation” means any corporation, company, partnership, joint stock company, or association.  Since corporations are prohibited from making contributions directly to candidates, slates of candidates, or committees, a partnership may not contribute money directly to a caucus campaign committee.  However, non-corporate partners may contribute a maximum of $5,000 per calendar year individually from funds derived from the partnership. If a partnership check is issued, information from the partnership must be obtained listing the percentage of the contribution attributable to each partner.

No. Limited liability companies (LLCs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are considered “corporations” under Kentucky’s campaign finance law, and corporations are prohibited from making contributions directly to candidates, slates of candidates, or committees.

This question should be referred to the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission. The commission enforces the code of Legislative Ethics and regulates conduct by legislators, lobbyists and the employers of lobbyists.  Go to https://klec.ky.gov/ for additional information.  

Yes, but the check must be signed by both spouses or a statement must be provided indicating the donative intent of the check.

No. Corporate contributions of any kind, monetary or in-kind, to caucus campaign committees are prohibited pursuant to KRS 121.035.

Yes. Caucus campaign committees may contribute to more than one candidate or a slate of candidates and there is no limit on contributions made to candidates or slates of candidates from caucus campaign committees. 

Yes. All committees must file reports whether or not they have had any financial activity.

The maximum contribution limit to an executive committee is $5,000 per calendar year (not per election) in the aggregate. For example, if a contributor makes $5,000 in total contributions to an executive committee on January 1, 20XX, that contributor cannot make any more contributions to that executive committee until the next calendar year.

No. Those organizations are primarily social in nature. However, funds may be expended for advertising with the organization so long as the expenditure furthers a candidacy.

Yes. Contributions not exceeding $5,000 may be made to any local executive committee.   Likewise, contributions not exceeding $5,000 may be given to any state executive committee. 

No. The Registry also needs to be notified. If the officers change, the committee must update its Political Organization Registration in the Registry's electronic filing system.

The Income Tax Check-Off program allows taxpayers to designate on their income tax forms two dollars ($2.00) to be forwarded to the political party of their choice. Fifty cents (.50) is forwarded to the executive committee in the taxpayer’s county of residence and the remainder is forwarded to the designated political party’s state executive committee. Referred to as “ITC funds,” these monies may be used only to support the party’s candidates in the general election and for the administrative costs of maintaining a political party headquarters. See KRS 121.230(1) for additional details. The Registry is required to annually audit the records of ITC receipts and expenditures of executive committees receiving over $1,500 in ITC funds, and may annually audit the ITC records of all other executive committees. The Registry must report the results of each ITC audit conducted to the General Assembly, pursuant to KRS 121.230(5).

While this check can be deposited in the executive committee’s regular checking account, it is recommended that two separate accounts be maintained. Regardless, the general fund and the ITC fund must be reported separately on the committee’s finance statements filed with the Registry. If an executive committee does not wish to retain ITC funds, checks may be endorsed to the state executive committee, or sent back to the Revenue Cabinet. DO NOT SEND THE CHECK TO THE REGISTRY.

No.  Under Kentucky’s campaign finance law, “corporation” means any corporation, company, partnership, joint stock company, or association.  Since corporations are prohibited from making contributions directly to candidates, slates of candidates, or committees, a partnership may not contribute money directly to an executive committee.  However, non-corporate partners may contribute a maximum of $5,000 per calendar year individually from funds derived from the partnership. If a partnership check is issued, information from the partnership must be obtained listing the percentage of the contribution attributable to each partner.

No. Limited liability companies (LLCs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are considered “corporations” under Kentucky’s campaign finance law, and corporations are prohibited from making contributions directly to candidates, slates of candidates, or committees.

No. Corporate contributions of any kind, monetary or in-kind, to executive committees are prohibited pursuant to KRS 121.035, except to the extent that the contribution is designated to a state executive committee's building fund account established under KRS 121.172.

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.)

Pursuant to KRS 121.190(1), all newspaper or magazine advertising, posters, circulars, billboards, handbills, sample ballots, and paid-for television or radio announcements which expressly advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, slate of candidates, or group of candidates for nomination or election to any public office shall be identified by the words "paid for by" followed by the name and address of the individual or committee which paid for the communication; except that if paid for by a candidate, slate of candidates, or campaign committee, it shall be identified only by the words "paid for by" followed by the name of the candidate, slate of candidates, or campaign committee, whichever is applicable. For television and radio broadcasts, compliance with Federal Communications 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

An Independent Expenditure-Only Committee (IEOC) is a committee comprised of one or more persons who receive unlimited contributions for the purpose of making only independent expenditures to support or oppose one or more specific candidates or slates of candidates for nomination or election to any state, county, city, or district office.

An IEOC must file a Political Organization Registration with the Registry to provide the necessary information regarding the organization of the committee. The chairperson and the treasurer of the IEOC, who must be separate persons (see KRS 121.170 (4)), must both sign the form.

An IEOC may accept contributions from corporations and is not subject to contributions limits, but may make only independent expenditures. In addition to registration and periodic reporting using the Registry’s electronic filing system, an IEOC must file a Report of Independent Expenditure form (KREF-013) when the committee’s independent expenditures exceed five hundred dollars ($500) in any one election. (See KRS 121.015(12) for definition of independent expenditure).

There are no contribution limits for contributions made to IEOCs. However, receipts in currency and anonymous contributions should not exceed $100 per person; total anonymous contributions should not exceed $2,000 per election; and unitemized contributions should not exceed $100 per person.

Yes, corporate contributions are allowable to IEOCs.

Yes, contributions from Permanent Committees must be itemized regardless of the amount.

1. Expenditures made directly and primarily in support of the IEC.
2. All vote haulers must be paid individually by check and be completely itemized, including occupation, regardless of the amount disbursed.

1. Charitable contributions (unless the IEC is receiving advertising benefit from the purchase).
2. Membership dues
3. Tickets to an event that is non-political (example: UK or U of L tickets)
4. Expenditures to promote or oppose a candidacy for a leadership position in a governmental, professional or political organization, or other entity.
5. Equipment or appliances used primarily outside the IEC.

Any committee which is organized under KRS Chapter 121 shall register with the Registry, by filing official notice of intention at the time of organization, giving names, address, and positions of the officers of the organization and designating the candidate or candidates, or slate of candidates being supported on forms prescribed by the Registry (KRS 121.170 (1)).

Duties of a Campaign Treasurer 121.160(2) and Reports required of committees and treasurers 121.180 (6)(a)(b)(c)(d) A committee's treasurer shall designate a depository bank in which the primary account shall be maintained and deposit all contributions in that account. Keep detailed and exact accounts of (1) all contributions from permanent committees, (2) all contributions in excess of $100 by date, name, address, occupation and employer of each contributor, if committee is the sponsor of a statewide candidate it must also include the contributors spouse name, occupation and employer, (3) an aggregate amount of cash contributions, the amount contributed by each contributor, and the date of each contribution; and (4) a complete statement of all expenditures authorized, and incurred or made, including independent expenditures as defined in KRS 121.150 (1). See also KRS 121.170(3)

A "Slate of candidates" means: (a) Between the time a certificate or petition of nomination has been filed for a candidate for the office of Governor under KRS 118.365 and the time the candidate designates a running mate for the office of Lieutenant Governor under KRS 118.126, a slate of candidates consists of the candidate for the office of Governor. (b) After that candidate has designated a running mate under KRS 118.126, that same slate of candidates consists of that same candidate for the office of Governor and the candidate's running mate for the office of Lieutenant Governor. Unless the context requires otherwise, any provision of law that applies to a candidate shall also apply to a slate of candidates