Candidates currently running for a CFB-covered office no longer need to register or file with the New York State Board of Elections
Effective immediately, candidates currently running in 2020 and 2021 for New York City mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president, or City Council will no longer file disclosure statements with the BOE.
All filing requirements set forth by New York State Election Law are still in effect but will be satisfied by registering and filing financial disclosure with the CFB, beginning with the periodic filing due between July 12, 2020 – July 15, 2020.
On November 8, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed into law S 3134. This bill, now codified as New York State Election Law § 14-105, went into effect in January of 2020.
The introduction of Election Law § 14-105 permits the New York State Board of Elections (BOE) to determine that a local campaign finance board’s disclosure and filing requirements conform with NYS Election Law. On April 27, 2020, the BOE Commissioners determined that the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) meets the criteria set forth in Election Law § 14-105.
For additional information, please see Elimination of Duplicate Filing FAQs below or contact CFB staff @ [email protected] for assistance.
Elimination of Duplicate Filing FAQs
These FAQs answer common questions about the elimination of duplicate filing by candidates for the offices of mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president, and City Council member in New York City. In some cases, the answer depends on whether you are a former, current, or future candidate for one of these covered offices, so please take careful note of answers that are specific to certain election cycles.
Registration
I plan on running in an upcoming election for a covered office—who do I register with?
Starting immediately, candidates running for a CFB-covered office will register only with the CFB. Visit our Getting Started page for more information on how to register with the CFB, including certifying into the matching funds program. Note that you must register with the CFB before your committee begins raising or spending money.
I already registered for the 2020 or 2021 elections with both the CFB and BOE— do I need to do anything?
The New York State Board of Elections (BOE) will administratively terminate candidates for covered office who registered with the BOE for elections in 2020 and 2021, unless they already terminated with the CFB but have an ongoing filing requirement under state election law. You should receive a notification from the BOE when this occurs. You may also check on the status of your committee with the BOE here.
I am registered with the BOE for an upcoming election, but I did not register my committee with the CFB— what do I need to do?
You must immediately register with the CFB. Candidates for a covered office are required to register with the CFB prior to filing any disclosure statements. To join the matching funds program, complete and submit a Certification. If you are not sure you want to join, complete and submit a Filer Registration.
Disclosure
I am registered with both the CFB and BOE for an election in 2020 or 2021—where do I submit my committee’s financial disclosure?
Beginning with the July 15, 2020 periodic disclosure report, your committee will file disclosure statements using C-SMART only with the CFB. The BOE is administratively terminating candidates running for CFB-covered offices, and you should receive a notification from the BOE when this occurs. However, even if you have not received a notice, you will no longer file disclosure statements with the BOE.
How long will my 2020 or 2021 committee have to file with the CFB?
Committees remain subject to state election law, which requires candidates to file disclosure until they have satisfied all outstanding liabilities, appropriately disposed of all assets, and terminated their committees. After the election, your committee is required to file periodic disclosure statements every January and July until it satisfies this requirement. Now that duplicate filing has been eliminated, you will file this ongoing disclosure with the CFB instead of the BOE through, at minimum, the post-election audit process.
I was running for an election in 2020 or 2021, but terminated my committee with the CFB and was notified that I no longer needed to file with the CFB – what are my disclosure obligations?
If you were registered for an election in 2020 or 2021 but terminated with and were notified by the CFB that you could cease filing, you will no longer file with the CFB. If you did not terminate the committee you opened with the BOE, please contact the BOE’s Compliance Unit @ 1-800-458-3453 for guidance. You may have an ongoing filing requirement with that agency until your committee has satisfied all outstanding liabilities, appropriately disposed of all assets, and terminated.
I ran for a covered office in a previous election (2019 or earlier) and I am still filing with the BOE— what are my disclosure obligations?
If you are currently still filing disclosure statements with the BOE for a past election, you must continue to do so until your committee has satisfied all outstanding liabilities, appropriately disposed of all assets, and terminated with the BOE. Visit the BOE website for more information on how to terminate your committee.