July Filings Due for Candidate Committees, PAC’s & Ballot Committees!

Compliance
Written By Lisa Farnum

Lisa Farnum, MPP is President of L Farnum, Inc., a firm that specializes in PAC compliance, research and project management.  Lisa has been helping clients resolve campaign finance issues and maintain compliance for more than 23 years.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Northwood University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, Dearborn.  Ms. Farnum has over 25 years of experience working with corporations and non-profits.

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Navigating compliance filings can be challenging, but with the right resources and guidance, it becomes manageable. As always, my goal is to provide clear, timely information to help Legislators and their staff stay compliant. With over 24 years of experience in campaign finance filings, I aim to provide you with insights, helpful tips, and pitfalls to avoid.

Candidate Committees

Report close date for Candidate Committees if the candidate is not seeking election in 2025, close of books is July 20, 2025 due on July 25th (unless your committee has a waiver). Report coverage dates can vary depending on the committees last filing. 

Tip:  What you should know when entering dates in your report:

If the committee filed a post-general election report with close of books on November 25, 2024 then the opening report date is November 26th, 2024 and closing date July 20, 2025. If the committee did not participate in the 2024 General Election and filed an annual report, July report dates are January 1st – July 20th, 2025, due on July 25, 2025. 

 

Quarterly PAC Report Filing Dates (Independent, Political, SuperPACs)

  • July 25, 2025: PAC reports due by 5pm

  • Reporting Period: April 21, 2025 – July 20, 2025

Important Update: MiTN System Now Required for State-Level Electronic Filers

Beginning in April 2025, all state-level committees required to file electronically must now submit their reports using the MiTN (Michigan Transparency Network) system. The former MERTS system is no longer active for these filers.

What This Means for You:

  • Migrating Data: If you previously used MERTS, you can import your contacts and other relevant data directly into MiTN.
    → View Import Instructions (PDF)

  • Manual Entry Option: You may also choose to enter contacts and financial data manually into MiTN.

  • New Interface & Filing Process: MiTN introduces a different layout and workflow from MERTS. It’s important to log in, set up your account, and request access to your committee well before the July filing deadline to avoid last-minute issues.

  • Training & Support: The Michigan Bureau of Elections provides helpful resources and user guides on their Campaign Finance Disclosure website (https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/disclosure/cfr) .

Ballot Question Committees (BQCs): 

Important: Filing deadlines for Ballot Question Committees (BQCs) vary depending on each committee’s activities. Be sure to confirm your specific deadlines and consult the Bureau of Elections or legal counsel if you have questions.

Upcoming Deadline-July Quarterly

  • Close of Books: July 20, 2025

  • Filing Deadline: July 25, 2025

Resources

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out via email at Lfarnum@farnuminc.com.

Lisa Farnum

Lisa Farnum, MPP is President of L Farnum, Inc., a firm that specializes in PAC compliance, research and project management.  Lisa has been helping clients resolve campaign finance issues and maintain compliance for more than 23 years.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Northwood University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, Dearborn.  Ms. Farnum has over 25 years of experience working with corporations and non-profits.

Next

April 2025 Filing Dates for Political Action Committees