Registration of Committee
Q: Which committees/candidates register with Hennepin County?
A: Candidates (principal campaign committees) who are seeking office for the cities of Bloomington, Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis, Minneapolis School District 1, and Hennepin County OR;
Political Committees and Funds who contribute to candidates listed above or whose major purpose is to influence a county wide or city ballot issue for the cities listed above.
Q: Where do other committees register?
A: Committees that fall under 211A (all remaining cities and school districts in Hennepin County) file their registration and reports with the city or school district they are seeking a seat in.
Q: When is a committee required to register with Hennepin County?
A: A committee/fund must register within 14 days of spending or receiving in excess of $100.00 (even if all the money funding the committee comes from the candidate).
Q: How do I register my committee?
A: Complete and submit a Registration and Statement of Organization form to Hennepin County Elections.
Q: How do I amend a registration?
A: To amend a registration complete a registration form which includes the new information, check the “amendment” box at the top of the form, and submit it to Hennepin County Elections.
Q: Can a registration be submitted electronically?
A: Yes. A registration can be emailed or faxed (612-348-2151) to us in addition to the options of mailing or hand delivering your report.
Reports
Q: What are the due dates for 383B campaign finance reports?
A: Reports are due one week before the primary (pre-primary) , one week before the general (pre-general) , and on January 31st for the previous year ( [annual] i.e. 2017 annual report is due January 31, 2018).
Q: Which committees are required to complete a report?
1. Active Principal Campaign Committees (Candidate committee)
- If the candidate will be on the ballot all three reports are due as long as the committee stays open (This includes Minneapolis candidates).
- If the candidate will not be on the ballot – only the annual report.
2. Active Campaign Committees or Political Funds
- All three reports are due as long as the committee/fund stays open.
Q: When do you have to itemize contributions/ expenditures?
A: You have to itemize contributions and/or expenditures once, in aggregate, the contributions/expenditures from one source are in excess of $100.00.
Q: What is Hennepin County’s retention period?
A: Five years from date of receipt.
Q: What is the committee’s retention period?
A: Four years.
Q: How do I amend a report?
A: To amend a report complete the report with the new information, write “amendment” on page one of the report, and submit.
Q: Can a report be submitted electronically?
A: Yes. A report can be emailed (campaign.finance@hennepin.us) or faxed (612-348-2151) to us as well as mailed or hand delivered.
Contributions
Q: Is a candidate limited to contribution limits?
A: No. There’s no limit to the amount of contributions a candidate can make to their own committee.
Q: Can a committee not show the addresses of itemized contributors on the Hennepin County website?
A: Yes. The treasurer must check the box and initial (at the top of page 3) and also provide us with two contributor lists. One that contains the addresses of the contributors and one which does not.
Complaints of Unfair Campaign Practices
Q: Where does someone file a complaint against a campaign committee?
A: For complaints alleging a violation of 211A or 211 B the complaint is filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings. For complaints alleging a violation of 383B the complaint is filed with the Hennepin County Attorney’s office.