The registry of election finance must create and run an electronic filing system, give public access to campaign finance information, and support candidates and committees using the system.
The registry of election finance, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, shall do all of the following: Develop, with the advice, assistance and approval of the division of strategic technology solutions, an Internet-based electronic filing process for use by all candidates for state public office and all political campaign committees that are required to file statements and reports with the registry of election finance; Develop, with the advice, assistance and approval of the division of strategic technology solutions, a system that provides each candidate and campaign committee with secure access to the electronic filing system. The system shall provide safeguards against efforts to tamper or change the data in any way; Provide training to candidates and campaign committees on the use of the electronic filing system; Develop, with the advice, assistance and approval of the division of strategic technology solutions, a system that will forward a copy of any candidate's report that is filed electronically with the registry of election finance to the appropriate local county election commission; and Provide public access to a list of campaign contributions made to candidates and a list of expenditures made by those candidates by posting the lists on the Internet. In addition, the registry shall provide assistance to anyone seeking to access this information on the Internet. Beginning with the 2006 regular August election, campaign contribution lists shall be made available on the Internet after a candidate has filed the information and the registry has reviewed the statements for accuracy and timeliness. If a candidate has not timely filed campaign contribution lists, then the registry shall post on the Internet that the candidate's statement is delinquent. The registry of election finance, once the development of the electronic filing system is completed and tested, shall provide public notice that the system is operational and available for filers to commence use. The registry of election finance shall, with the advice, assistance and approval of the division of strategic technology solutions, implement the electronic filing system for use in the 2006 regular August election and all subsequent state elections. Candidates for state public offices and campaign committees may commence electronic filing for any state election beginning in the year 2006 and after notice has been given pursuant to subsection (b), and may continue to file electronically all reports for any subsequent state elections. Beginning in July 2006, candidates for state public offices and campaign committees, who have contributions or expenditures in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per reporting period, shall file electronically all reports for any subsequent state elections. Failure to timely file reports electronically may be penalized as provided in § 2-10-110. All information entered by any candidate or campaign committee into the electronic filing system shall remain confidential until the information is filed with the registry of election finance.