Arizona Regulations § R2-20-105 Certification for Funding

A. After a candidate is certified as a participating candidate, pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-947 , in accordance with the procedure set forth in R2-20-104 , that candidate may collect qualifying contributions only during the qualifying period.

B. A participating candidate must submit to the Secretary of State, a list of names of persons who made qualifying contributions, an application for funding prescribed by the Secretary of State, the minimum number of original reporting slips, and an amount equal to the sum of the qualifying contributions collected pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-950 no later than one week after the end of the qualifying period. Any and all expenses associated with obtaining the qualifying contributions, including credit card processing fees must be paid for from the candidate&'s early contributions or personal monies. A candidate may develop his or her own three-part reporting slip for qualifying contributions, or one that is photocopied or computer reproduced, if the form substantially complies with the form prescribed by the Commission. The candidate must comply with the Act and ensure that the original qualifying slip is tendered to the Secretary of State, a copy remains with the candidate, and that a copy is given to the contributor.

C. A candidate may accept electronic $5 qualifying contributions for the elected office sought by the candidate. The Secretary of State's secured internet portal must be used to collect electronic $5 qualifying. A $5 contribution must accompany every $5 qualifying contribution form and must be submitted via the Secretary of State's portal using a private electronic payment service, specified by the Secretary of State's Office, bank account, credit or debit card. A non-refundable transaction fee may be assessed on electronic $5 qualifying contribution transactions. The transaction fee is not a contribution to the candidate's campaign and is paid by the contributor. If excess funds are accumulated by the candidate's campaign based on the transaction fee then all excess funds must be given to the Commission and must be entered into the candidate's campaign finance report in a manner that indicates the transaction fees have been accumulated and transferred.

D. A solicitor who seeks signatures and qualifying contributions on behalf of a participating candidate shall provide his or her residential address, typed or printed name and signature on each reporting slip. The solicitor shall also sign a sworn statement on the contribution slip avowing that the contributor signed the slip, that the contributor contributed the $5, that based on information and belief, the contributor&'s name and address are correctly stated and that each contributor is a qualified elector of this state. If a contribution is received unsolicited, the candidate or contributor may sign the qualifying contribution form as the solicitor and is accountable for all of the responsibilities of a solicitor. Nothing in this rule shall prohibit the use of direct mail or the internet to obtain qualifying contributions as long as an original signature is provided on the qualifying contribution form. The candidate may sign the qualifying contribution form as the solicitor and is accountable for all of the responsibilities of a solicitor. For qualifying contributions received in accordance with subsection (C) of this Section, the residential address and signature of the solicitor is not required.

E. The Secretary of State has the authority to approve or deny a candidate for Clean Elections funding, pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-950 (C) based upon the verification of the qualifying contribution forms by the appropriate county recorder. The county recorder shall disqualify any qualifying contribution forms that are:

F. The Secretary of State will notify the candidate and the Commission regarding the approval or denial of Clean Elections funds. A candidate who is denied Clean Elections funding after all of the slips are verified is eligible to submit supplemental qualifying contribution forms for one additional opportunity to be approved for funding pursuant to subsection (G) of this rule.

G. The amount equal to the sum of the qualifying contributions collected and tendered to the Secretary of State pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-950 (B) will be deposited into the fund, and the amount tendered will not be returned to a candidate if a candidate is denied Clean Elections funding.

H. In accordance with the procedure set forth at A.R.S. § 16-950 (C) , if the Secretary of State determines that the result of the five percent random sample is less than 110 percent of the slips needed to qualify for funding, then the Secretary of State shall send all of the slips for verification. If the county recorder has verified all of the candidate&'s signature slips and there is an insufficient number of valid qualifying contribution slips to qualify the candidate for funding, the candidate may make only one supplemental filing of additional qualifying contribution slips and qualifying contributions to the Secretary of State if all of the following apply:

I. The Secretary of State shall forward facsimiles of all of the supplemental qualifying contribution slips to the appropriate county recorders for the county of the contributors&' addresses as shown on the contribution slips. The county recorder shall verify all of the supplemental slips within 10 business days after receipt of the facsimiles and shall provide a report to the Secretary of State identifying as disqualified any slips that are unsigned by the contributor or undated or that the recorder is unable to verify as matching the signature of a person who is registered to vote, on the date specified on the slip, inside the electoral district of the office the candidate is seeking. On receipt of the report of the county recorder on all supplemental slips, the Secretary of State shall calculate the candidate&'s total number of valid qualifying contribution slips and shall approve or deny the candidate for funds.