House Bill 119 requires statewide candidates to file electronically in 2001, political parties and political action committees in 2002 and state legislative candidates in 2003. They would be allowed to file electronically one year earlier than their mandated time. Rep. Ron Amstutz, R-Wooster, the chief sponsor, said advances in software would make the process easier each year, and that elected officials should use the latest technology to inform the public. Amstutz told his House colleagues. Currently, campaign finance reports are filed on paper once in off years and four times in an election year.
Most campaigns have the reports computerized.
The secretary of state's office eventually collects all the reports. Local legislative campaigns report to county boards of election. Under House Bill 119, all campaign finance reports would be placed on the Internet within 5 business days after receipt by the secretary of state's office. Eventually, county boards of elections will be equipped to post the reports on the Internet. The secretary of state would have to make available an Internet link at all public libraries, and the information for competing campaigns would be posted simultaneously to ensure that no one has an advantage in receiving information.