Campaign finance agencies in New Hampshire
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In New Hampshire, there are two primary agencies involved in campaign finance regulation: the New Hampshire Secretary of State, Elections Division, and the New Hampshire Attorney General. The former is responsible for campaign finance reporting, and the latter for enforcement of campaign finance law.
New Hampshire Secretary of State, Elections Division
Authority
As the state's primary elections official, the secretary of state is ultimately responsible for administering campaign finance reporting requirements in New Hampshire. New Hampshire law requires candidates, PACs, and 501(c)(4) organizations to register with and report expenditures to the secretary of state.[1][2]
Organization
| New Hampshire Secretary of State, Elections Division—staff as of July 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | ||
| William M. Gardner | Secretary of State | ||
| Robert P. Ambrose | Senior Deputy Secretary of State | ||
| David M. Scanlan | Deputy Secretary of State | ||
| Source: sos.nh.gov, "Elections," accessed July 5, 2016 | |||
Agency budget, 2008-2015
New Hampshire utilizes a biennium budget. In fiscal year 2014, total expenditures for the elections division were $1,110,327. The 2015 adjusted budget allocation for the division was $1,282,097. The table below provides more information about the budget of the office.[3]
| New Hampshire Secretary of State, Elections Division—agency expenditures and budget | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal years | Expenditure | Budget allocation |
| 2014-2015 | $1,110,327 | $1,282,097 |
| 2012-2013 | $727,466 | $1,138,085 |
| 2010-2011 | $853,919 | $1,215,527 |
| 2008-2009 | $3,485,208 | $1,164,021 |
| Source: admin.state.nh.us, "New Hampshire Budget Office," accessed August 5, 2015 | ||
Electronic reporting system
New Hampshire hosts an online campaign finance records system. The system can be accessed here[4]
New Hampshire Attorney General
Authority
Under New Hampshire election law, the attorney general has the authority to enforce campaign finance and election laws. When a complaint is brought forth, the attorney general may conduct an investigation, and, if a violation is found, demand the violator cease the action. The attorney general may prosecute the violator if sufficient cause is found in the investigation.[5]
Organization
As of July 2016, the attorney general for New Hampshire was Joseph Foster. The attorney general serves as the state's chief legal officer and chief law enforcement officer. The Criminal Justice Bureau, a division of the office of the attorney general, is responsible for election law violations.[6]
Agency budget
In fiscal year 2014, total expenditures for the criminal justice bureau equaled $2,568,927. In 2015, the adjusted budget allocation for the bureau was $2,921,035. The table below provides more information about the budget of the bureau.[3]
| New Hampshire Attorney General, Criminal Justice Bureau—agency expenditures and budget | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal years | Expenditure | Budget |
| 2014-2015 | $2,568,927 | $2,921,035 |
| 2012-2013 | $2,445,693 | $2,799,284 |
| 2010-2011 | $2,831,696 | $2,889,309 |
| 2008-2009 | $2,901,914 | $3,366,226 |
| Source: admin.state.nh.us, "New Hampshire Budget Office," accessed August 5, 2015 | ||
Contact information
New Hampshire Secretary of State, Elections Division
- State House, Room 204
- 107 North Main Street
- Concord, N.H. 03301
- Telephone: 603-271-3242
- Fax: 603-271-6316
- Email: [email protected]
New Hampshire Attorney General, Criminal Justice Bureau
- Office of the Attorney General
- 33 Capitol Street
- Concord, NH 03301
- Telephone: 603-271-3658
- Email: [email protected]
Recent news
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See also
- Campaign finance requirements in New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Secretary of State
- New Hampshire Attorney General
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ sos.nh.gov, "Elections Division," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ law.unh.edu, "Heart of Darkness: New Hampshire Campaign Finance Law Since Citizens United," accessed August 5, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 admin.state.nh.us, "New Hampshire Budget Office," accessed August 5, 2015
- ↑ sos.nh.gov, "ON-LINE CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ sos.nh.gov, "New Hampshire Election Law Chapter 664," accessed July 5, 2015
- ↑ doj.nh.gov, "Criminal Justice Bureau," accessed August 5, 2015
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