Campaign reports can be filed electronically

Friday, Jan. 25, 2002 | 9:14 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller unveiled a revised system Thursday to allow political candidates to file their campaign contributions and expense reports over the Internet.

The system has been around since the last election, but nobody used it, prompting the secretary of state's office to refine it.

"This will make it easier for the candidates, the press and the public," said Heller, as he demonstrated at his office how to use the system by filing his own expenses.

Candidates may file the reports electronically but still must submit a hard-copy report to Heller's office or the local county clerk's office, depending on the office they sought.

Heller said the system, which calculates totals, would make it easier for the press and the public to access reports.

He said reports on campaign contributions give a good indication of how a candidate would vote.

"Most people in the political process want as little disclosure as possible," he said, noting he would like to see the 2003 Legislature make it mandatory.

Heller said the new system can identify how much a single donor may give to each race.But since the is voluntary, the information would appear only on those who filed at the website (sos.state.nv.us).

At present, Heller's office places the written reports on the website after they are submitted by candidates.

He estimates he will receive more than 200 reports for each of the periods during the 2002 election year. Each candidate is required to file a report by Aug. 27, another by Oct. 29 and a final one by Jan. 15, 2003.

The secretary of state intends to notify all state constitutional officers and other candidates who file with his office of the new opportunity.

He said his staff is working on a way to have the candidate sign the Internet report.

This will help candidates avoid the late-minute rush to get their reports submitted.