Disclosures for candidates/political committees

Financial information about political committees and candidates is available in a searchable format at the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

Documents filed with the Clerk's Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Division are available to the public at the Cook County Clerk's downtown office.

Statements of Organization (D-1 Reports)

Any candidate, individual, group, organization, etc. that receives or spends more than $3,000 on behalf of a candidate or referendum or in opposition to a candidate or referendum and meets the definition of a political committee must file a Statement of Organization report. The report includes the name of the political committee, address, committee officers and candidates/or referendums that the committee supports or opposes.

Political committees file a Statement of Organization with the Cook County Clerk's office if they contribute to local candidates in Cook County (i.e. candidates running for county, municipal, township, school board offices, etc.) and to the Illinois State Board of Elections if they contribute to state candidates (i.e. candidates running for statewide, state senate, state representative offices and judges).

Statements of Organization are filed within ten business days of creating a political committee (five business days if the political committee is created within 30 days before an election).

Political committees may mail, deliver or fax Statements of Organization to the Clerk's office.

Semi-Annual Campaign Disclosure Reports (D-2 Reports)

Political committees that receive or spend more than $3,000 on behalf of a candidate or referendum, or in opposition to a candidate or referendum, must also file campaign disclosure reports twice a year.

The Campaign Disclosure Reports provide a summary of a political committee's contributions and expenditures. Political committees must continue to file Campaign Disclosure Reports - regardless of how much money is received or spent - until they are dissolved.

Beginning July 2003, any political committee receiving or spending $10,000 or more must file its Semi-Annual Campaign Disclosure Reports electronically with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Political committees must continue to files these documents - regardless of how much money is received or spent - until they are dissolved.

As of July 2003, only political committees that do not file electronically with the Illinois State Board of Elections must file paper copies with their local Clerk's office.

Electronically filed data is available online at the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

Pre-election reports (selected sections of the D-2 Report)

Political committees must list all campaign contributions, in-kind services, transfers and loans covering the period from the filing deadline of the last Semi-Annual Campaign Disclosure Report up until 30 days prior to an election. Only sections #1 through #7 of the form need to be completed.

A-1 Statements

Political committees are required to file A-1 Statements if they receive $500 or more (including loans and in-kind services) within 30 days of an election. Information required on A-1 Statements includes names, addresses, amounts and dates of contributions. These documents must be filed within two business days of receipt. Political committees that do not file electronically may mail, deliver or fax these documents to the Clerk's office.