Clayton County, Iowa

Campaign Disclosure

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

Committees no longer file with Auditor: Due to changes in state law, all local campaign committees file with the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) as of January 1, 2003.  Candidates for statewide or legislative office also file with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.  Candidates for federal office file with the Federal Election Commission.

Committees do not automatically close once an election ends.  The candidate or officers must close the account with a zero balance and account for all funds raised and spent.

For more information, please contact the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board.

INFORMATION GIVEN TO CANDIDATES

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board administers the campaign laws in Iowa Code chapter 68A.  These laws apply to candidates for local office, political committees (PACs) involved in campaigns for candidates or ballot issues, and party committees.

1.  The Board’s Web site allows you to view and download a variety of campaign finance information at www.iowa.gov/ethics.  Click on Campaigns on the main menu and then select your committee type from the following index.

2.  Contact information:  local candidates and PACs contact Sue Micllef at (515) 281-4104 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  County central committees contact Sandy Reier at (515) 281-4411 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  You may contact me at (515) 281-3489, cell phone at (515) 681-2354, or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

3.  A committee is registered by filing a statement of organization (DR-1).  The form must be filed within 10 days of receiving contributions, making expenditures, or incurring debts in excess of $750 (a debt is incurred when an item is ordered).  If you are not going to cross the $750 threshold, but want to use the shorter “paid for by” attribution (see #7 below) you can file Form DR-SFA.

4.  Know your committee campaign report due dates.  Once you have filed a DR-1, you must start and continue filing reports until you dissolve your committee.  Reports must be filed with the Board on or before each due date as penalties are assessed for late reports.  Reports may be hand-delivered, mailed, faxed, emailed as an attachment, or filed electronically via the Internet (contact the Board for help).  Filed reports are available for viewing on the Board’s Web site.

5.  Remember that if an organization gives your committee in excess of $750, that organization has separate filing requirements and they should immediately contact the Board for assistance.

6.  Do not accept contributions from corporations, insurance companies, or financial institutions (NOTE:  this prohibition does not apply to ballot issue PACs).

7.  Put the words “paid for by” and the name of who paid for the material on all political materials (see Iowa Code section 68A.405 and rule 351—4.38).  A “paid for by” attribution must be placed even if a committee has not yet registered (the “paid for by” must include the name and address of the person paying for the material).  If the material is paid for by a registered committee, only the name of the committee needs to be placed after the words “paid for by.”  Campaign signs and other items are exempt, so read the law and rules carefully.

8.  Review the campaign laws in Chapter 68A and the Board’s rules on campaigning in Chapter 4.

CAMPAIGN SIGNS

Campaign signs that are larger than 32 square feet must carry a disclaimer ("paid for by").  Some cities have ordinances regulating when yard signs may be displayed.  However, courts have determined that such laws are an unconstitutional restriction on free speech, and these ordinances are no longer enforced.  Signs may not be placed in the right of way.  In most residential areas this means between the sidewalk and curb.

Signs on Corporate Property: Campaigns for Candidates

Campaigns may place signs on corporate property under certain conditions.  In all cases, other sign regulations (size and right-of-way) still apply.

Corporate property occupied by corporation:

• Candidate sign placement prohibited.

Corporate property occupied by individual tenants:

• Campaigns may place signs in common areas with written permission from all occupants.
• Signs may not be placed in the corporate office.
• Individual tenants may place signs in the area they are leasing.

Individual property leased to a corporate tenant:

• Campaigns may place signs with written permission from the corporate tenant.

Property owned by a family farm corporation:

• Campaigns may place signs.

Property rented as a campaign headquarters:

• Campaigns may place signs.

Copies of written permission should be available from the campaign committee upon demand.

Signs on Corporate Property: Ballot Issue Campaigns

Ballot issue campaigns may place signs on corporate property.  Other sign regulations (size and right-of-way) still apply.

Sign Enforcement

Our office is not responsible for the enforcement of sign laws.  Complaints about signs should be directed to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

• Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) - Contacts and phone numbers
• Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board: Formal Advisory Opinion on Sign Placement

Last Updated on Thursday, 26 May 2011 11:14