Law Department Menu

Information for Candidates

 

 

The Cincinnati Elections Commission ("CEC") administers campaign-finance requirements that apply to candidates for City of Cincinnati elected office. Click here for a timeline of important filing dates. Please visit the the Hamilton County Board of Elections ("BOE") for information about how to run for office and additional information on the requirements that apply specifically to City of Cincinnati elections.

Campaign-finance reports required by the City of Cincinnati must be filed with the CEC. A filing with the BOE does not satisfy a CEC filing requirement, and a filing with the CEC does not satisfy a BOE filing requirement. The City of Cincinnati's campaign-finance reports must be filed with the CEC no later than 4 p.m. ET on the dates indicated below.

  • For all candidates, the CEC Semiannual Campaign Finance Report is due on July 31, 2026 to report activity through June 30, 2026.
  • For all candidates, the CEC Annual Campaign Finance Report is due on January 29, 2027 to report activity through December 31, 2026.

How to file: CEC campaign-finance reports should be submitted using the CEC's special filing templates. The templates allow reported information to be uploaded to the searchable CEC database.

  1. Download the and complete the appropriate CEC filing template to report all cash contributions, in-kind contributions, and expenditures.
  2. Review the template for completeness and accuracy.
  3. Email the completed template to ElectionCommission@cincinnati-oh.gov. Alternatively, you may request login credentials to upload the completed template directly to the CEC database.

Additional questions or concerns can be directed to: Ian Doig in the City of Cincinnati Law Department by calling (513-352-3624) or emailing (Ian.Doig@cincinnati-oh.gov).

Important Documents

Guiding Authority