The Division of Campaign Disclosure is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the Campaign Financing Act. The Act sets forth the filing and reporting obligations of candidates running for Illinois state and local offices and political committees which support or oppose those candidates as well as issues appearing on the ballot.

Disclosure staff reviews all reports filed with the Agency and attempts to keep all governed by the Act in compliance with the law and rules. The Division serves as the location for viewing of disclosure documents by the press and general public. And although SBE has no jurisdiction over candidates for federal office, the Division also serves as the state depository for federal reports filed with the Federal Election Commission by Illinois candidates for U.S. House and Senate and political action committees contributing to Illinois candidates, as well as presidential candidates.

The Campaign Financing Division of the Illinois Board of Elections oversees the campaign disclosure filings of state, state and local, and local political committees. These committees represent candidates, state, county, city, township, and ward political parties; and political action committees representing special interest groups throughout the state. Campaign disclosure documents filed with the Board reflect both the source of funding and purpose of expenditures made by the political committees. These documents are public record and are available to the general public for viewing or purchase during office hours. Copies may also be obtained from the Board by mail request. 

Campaign disclosure reports of local political committees are also maintained at the local county clerk's office, and can be viewed or purchased there during normal business hours. No provisions are made at the county level for mail requests.

State political committee documents are maintained on microfiche at the State Board, and information can be either hand-copied or duplicated at a cost of $.25 per page. Microfiche may also be purchased for $.50 per fiche.

With the development of the agency's computer capabilities, the reports of political committees of officeholders and candidates for statewide office, state representative, and state senate can be cross-referenced with their contributors. The file contains contributor name and address, contribution date and amount, type of contribution, committee state ID, local ID and reference name. Additional files contain committee names and addresses as well as candidate information. Data is available in six-month increments corresponding to the semi annual reporting periods beginning with July of 1994. This information is available on diskette and may be used by a requestor, assuming the compatibility of computer systems. Cost for this service varies depending on the amount of data accessed. Agency staff can provide specific pricing information when a request is made.

Staff members are available to provide instruction and/or clarification regarding the requirements of the Illinois Campaign Financing Act. The division maintains an array of publications which are helpful in understanding Illinois' disclosure law.

The public inspection area in the Springfield office at 1020 South Spring Street is open from 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. The Chicago office located at 100 West Randolph Street, Suite 14-100 in the James R. Thompson Center is open from 8:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Staff is prepared to assist and answer any questions you may have.