Page 23 - Leisure Living Spring 2016

What Does Ohio Law Say About Campaign Contributions?
“Law You Can Use” Courtesy of the Ohio State Bar Association
Q: Does Ohio law regulate my campaign contributions?
A: Yes. Ohio law regulates the amount of money you can give in certain races, pri- marily in state legislative and statewide campaigns. The law also requires the candidate to report contributions. The goal is transparency, which applies to both the candidate and the contributor.
Q: What must be disclosed?
A: Candidates and their cam-
paign committees must disclose
the campaign contributions they receive. This usually includes the amount of money received as well as the contributor’s name and address. The value of an “in kind” donation of something other than money must also be disclosed.
Q: Can’t I remain anonymous?
A: No. Neither a candidate, nor the committee supporting the candidate, is allowed to accept anonymous donations. If, for example, a candi- date’s committee receives an anonymous dona- tion and does not know the contributor’s identity, the committee must make a reasonable attempt to determine who the donor is. The committee or candidate must disclose the donor’s identity if it is discovered, and must document the steps taken to identify the unknown contributor.
Q: It’s my money. Can’t I give as much as I want?
A: No. Ohio limits contribution amounts to cam- paigns for statewide offices or legislative seats. Ohio’s Revised Code sets the amounts, but allows the Ohio Secretary of State to adjust those for inflation in odd-numbered years. The Secretary of State currently caps individual donations in these amounts:
• $12,155.52 to a candidate’s campaign in the same election cycle, including primary and
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general elections;
• $18,233.28 to a legislative candidate’s election
fund in the same calendar year;
• $12,155.52 to the county party’s fund for
the election of political candidates (“county party statewide fund”) in the county where you live;
• $0 to any county party’s statewide candidate fund in counties where you do not live;
• $36,466.56 per calendar year to a state party’s fund for the election of political candidates (“state party’s statewide candidate fund”) in a county where you live.*
• $12,155.52 to the same the political action committee in a calendar year.
• $3,600 to a candidate for Supreme Court of Ohio justice or chief justice per election period, if the candidate has a contested pri- mary election. If the candidate does not face a primary election opponent, the maximum is $3,600.
Visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s guide to current contribution limits at www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/ upload/candidates/2013limitchart.pdf.
*State and county political parties operate inde- pendently; each may maintain funds specifically designated for electing candidates to statewide office.
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