For first-time candidates and volunteer treasurers
The rules, in plain English
Who has to register, what a "Paid for by" line must say, what to ask donors, how much they can give and when reports are due. Every rule links to the official source, with the date we checked it.
Not legal advice. These guides explain the rules; they do not replace your filing office or a lawyer.
Searches page titles on this site.
A campaign meets the rules in this order
- Stage 1 Before you launch Register on time, set up your records and get your website right.
- Stage 2 When you raise money Who can give, how much, and what you have to ask them.
- Stage 3 When you spend it Every ad, sign, email and text your campaign pays for.
- Stage 4 When you report What to file, when it is due, and what to keep.
Guides, grouped by when you need them
The federal guides cover campaigns for U.S. House, Senate and President. State and local races follow state law, so start with your state agency.
Before you launch
Register on time, set up your records and get your website right.
- Becoming a candidate Federal The $5,000 trigger, the 15-day and 10-day filing clocks, and what "testing the waters" allows.
- Recordkeeping Federal What to record for gifts over $50 and $200, receipts for spending over $200, the 10-day hand-off, and the three-year rule.
- Website and digital checklist Checklist A printable one-page list for your campaign website, donation form, email list and texts.
- State campaign-finance agencies All states Running for state or local office? Start with your state agency. All 50 states and DC.
- Ohio campaign finance basics Ohio Treasurers, limits, reports and disclaimers for Ohio races, from the Secretary of State.
When you raise money
Who can give, how much, and what you have to ask them.
- Donor information Federal Name, mailing address, occupation and employer; the statement your forms must carry; the 30-day follow-up.
- Contribution limits Federal How much each kind of donor can give your campaign this cycle, plus the cash and anonymous cash caps.
- Prohibited sources Federal Corporations, unions, federal contractors, foreign nationals and straw donors, and the red flags to check.
- In-kind and volunteers Federal When donated goods and services count as contributions, and the $1,000 exemptions for house parties, travel and vendor discounts.
When you spend it
Every ad, sign, email and text your campaign pays for.
When you report
What to file, when it is due, and what to keep.
How every page is built
Each rule on this site sits next to a link to the regulation or agency page it came from, and the date we last read that page. If a number is on this site, we read it on the official source first. Limits and deadlines change, so check the date.
Get notified when the rules change
Contribution limits reset every two years and filing calendars change each cycle. Leave your email and we will tell you when these pages change.
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