The State Ethics Commission requires elected public officials and candidates for public office to submit annual personal financial disclosure reports. Additionally, they must submit campaign contribution reports, though reporting requirements vary based on the amount of contributions and expenses.
Personal Financial Disclosure Statement
Public officials must file a Personal Financial Disclosure Statement (PFDS) annually by July 1 with the local filing officer, election superintendent, or municipal clerk. If there is no municipal clerk, the report should be filed with the chief elected official.
- Content: The PFDS must include personal financial information for the previous calendar year.
- Timing: In election years, candidates must file within 15 days of qualifying.
- No Grace Period: There is no grace period for submitting this report.
- Form Access: The PFDS form is available on the State Ethics Commission website.
The local filing officer is responsible for keeping a copy and electronically uploading the PFDS to the State Ethics Commission website within 30 days of the due date. Upload the reports to the e-file system.
Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report
Candidates and public officials must account for all contributions and expenses related to their campaign. Reporting requirements vary based on the amount of contributions and expenses:
Less than $2,500 in Contributions and/or Expenses
- File the "Affidavit of a Candidate's Intent Not To Exceed $2500 in Contributions and/or Expenses."
- The affidavit will be valid throughout the election cycle (from the day after the previous election until the next general election).
- This affidavit exempts the need to file Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports (CCDR).
$2,500 to $5,000 in Contributions and/or Expenses
- File a CCDR by June 30 and December 31.
- There is a 5-day grace period.
More than $5,000 in Contributions and/or Expenses
File CCDRs according to the specified schedule:
- Election Year Filing Deadlines (there is a 5-day grace period)
- January 31
- April 30
- June 30
- September 30
- October 25
- December 31
- Non-Election Year Deadlines (there is a 5-day grace period)
- Special Primary/Special Election (there is a 5-day grace period)
- 15 days before the primary date
- December 31
- Special Primary Run-Off/Special Election Run-Off (there is a 2-day grace period)
- 6 days before the election date
- December 31
- Run-off Primary/Run-off Election (there is a 2-day grace period)
- 6 days before the election date
- December 31
NOTE: All grace periods include business days and do not include weekends or State of Georgia holidays.
CCDRs must be submitted to the local filing officer, election superintendent, or municipal clerk. If there is no municipal clerk, submit to the chief elected official.
Local filing officers must upload Affidavit of Exemption forms within 10 days of filing and CCDRs within 30 days of the due date to the State Ethics Commission website. More information on reporting requirements can be found online.