====== Virginia Campaign Finance — Process Guide ====== //Part of: [[virginia|Virginia — Commonwealth Process Guide]] → Elections & Voter Registration// This page maps the campaign finance disclosure process for candidates and political committees in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is governed primarily by **[[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter9.3/|Title 24.2, Chapter 9.3 — Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006]]** (§§ 24.2-945 et seq.) and administered by the **[[https://www.elections.virginia.gov/candidatepac-info/campaign-finance-disclosure-act/|Department of Elections (ELECT)]]** and local general registrars / electoral boards. ===== I. Primary Law References ===== * **Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006** — Code of Virginia [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter9.3/|Title 24.2, Ch. 9.3]] (§§ 24.2-945 through 24.2-953.4) * **Statement of organization of committee** — [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-947.1/|§ 24.2-947.1]] * **Reports of contributions and expenditures (candidates)** — [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-947.3/|§ 24.2-947.3]] and [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-947.4/|§ 24.2-947.4]] * **Large pre-election contribution reports** — [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-947.9/|§ 24.2-947.9]] * **Prohibited contributions (during session / public funds)** — [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-947.5/|§ 24.2-947.5]], [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-945.2/|§ 24.2-945.2]] * **Civil penalties / enforcement** — [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-953/|§ 24.2-953]] et seq. * **Where to file (state vs. local)** — [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-948.1/|§ 24.2-948.1]] ===== II. Who Must File ===== Any candidate for state or local office, and any political committee (political action committee, political party committee, referendum committee, or inaugural committee), is subject to the Act. A candidate who **receives contributions or makes expenditures exceeding $200** in a calendar year, or who accepts a single contribution over $200, must organize a campaign committee and file a Statement of Organization under § 24.2-947.1. Reports are filed electronically with ELECT for state-wide and General Assembly candidates, and with the local general registrar for local offices (§ 24.2-948.1). ===== III. Process Model (BPMN + DMN decision points) ===== The diagram below models the full campaign-finance compliance lifecycle, from forming a committee through periodic disclosure filing and committee close-out. Decision points (rendered as exclusive gateways) encode the **DMN-style choices** drawn from the Code of Virginia: the $200 committee-formation threshold, the applicable filing schedule, the large pre-election contribution trigger, and the prohibited-contribution screen. Each gateway label cites its governing section. Flow_1 Flow_1Flow_2 Flow_2Flow_NoCommitteeFlow_FormCommittee Flow_NoCommittee Flow_FormCommitteeFlow_3 Flow_3Flow_StateFlow_Local Flow_StateFlow_4a Flow_LocalFlow_4b Flow_4aFlow_4bFlow_5 Flow_5Flow_RejectFlow_Accept Flow_RejectFlow_RejectBack Flow_AcceptFlow_RejectBackFlow_6 Flow_6Flow_LargeYesFlow_LargeNo Flow_LargeYesFlow_LargeBack Flow_LargeNoFlow_LargeBackFlow_7 Flow_7Flow_PreElectFlow_PeriodicFlow_Annual Flow_PreElectFlow_8a Flow_PeriodicFlow_8b Flow_AnnualFlow_8c Flow_8aFlow_8bFlow_8cFlow_9 Flow_9Flow_10 Flow_10Flow_ContinueFlow_Close Flow_CloseFlow_11 Flow_11 total <= 200 total > 200 office == "state" office == "local" prohibited == true prohibited == false amount > 5000 and days_to_election <= 12 not(amount > 5000 and days_to_election <= 12) period == "pre_election" period == "periodic" period == "annual" active == true active == false ===== IV. DMN Decision Tables (gateway logic) ===== The exclusive gateways in the model above correspond to the following DMN-style decision tables. Each row maps an input condition to an outcome and the governing Code of Virginia section. ==== Decision 1 — Committee Formation Threshold ==== ^ Input: calendar-year total ^ Outcome ^ Authority ^ | ≤ $200 | No committee or reporting required | § 24.2-945.1 (definition of "candidate"/"contribution") | | > $200 | Must file Statement of Organization | § 24.2-947.1 | ==== Decision 2 — Filing Jurisdiction ==== ^ Input: office sought ^ Outcome ^ Authority ^ | Statewide / General Assembly | File electronically with ELECT | § 24.2-948.1 | | Local office | File with local general registrar | § 24.2-948.1 | ==== Decision 3 — Prohibited Contribution Screen ==== ^ Input ^ Outcome ^ Authority ^ | Contribution from prohibited source / public funds | Refuse or refund | § 24.2-945.2 | | Contribution during regular session (certain officeholders) | Refuse or refund | § 24.2-947.5 | | Otherwise permitted | Record and itemize | § 24.2-947.3 | ==== Decision 4 — Large Pre-Election Contribution ==== ^ Input ^ Outcome ^ Authority ^ | Single contribution > $5,000 within 12 days of election | File special report within 24 hours | § 24.2-947.9 | | Otherwise | Report in normal cycle | § 24.2-947.3 | ==== Decision 5 — Filing Schedule ==== ^ Input: timing ^ Report due ^ Authority ^ | 8 days before primary/general | Pre-election report | § 24.2-947.3 | | Election year (quarterly / post-election) | Periodic report | § 24.2-947.3 | | Non-election year | Annual report by Jan 15 | § 24.2-947.4 | ==== Decision 6 — Committee Status ==== ^ Input ^ Outcome ^ Authority ^ | Committee still active | Continue periodic filing | § 24.2-947.3 | | Committee inactive / campaign ended | File final report and dissolve | § 24.2-948.4 | ===== V. Enforcement ===== Late or incomplete filings are subject to civil penalties assessed by ELECT or the local electoral board (§ 24.2-953 et seq.). Knowing and willful violations may carry additional penalties. The full schedule of deadlines and penalty amounts is published by ELECT. ===== VI. Related Pages ===== * [[virginia|Virginia — Commonwealth Process Guide]] * [[https://www.elections.virginia.gov/candidatepac-info/campaign-finance-disclosure-act/|ELECT — Campaign Finance Disclosure Act]] * [[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter9.3/|Code of Virginia — Title 24.2, Chapter 9.3]] //Disclaimer: This page is a process reference, not legal advice. Always verify deadlines and thresholds against the current Code of Virginia and ELECT guidance.//