Users who are comfortable using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets may want to upload transactions to the system. Please use the accepted spreadsheet formats if you choose this option.

Users must use the Excel templates provided by the GAB in order to use the Upload Transactions function or Users must format their spreadsheets exactly as the templates available in the Upload Transactions menu option. Note: There are two templates that you must use.  One template is for the entry of Receipts only.  One template is for the entry of Expenses only.

You can download and save the Receipts template by clicking on the “Receipts” link on the Upload Transactions page, clicking File, scrolling down and clicking “Save As”, and then click “Save” to save the file to your computer.

You can download and save the Expenses template by clicking on the “Expenses” link on the Upload Transactions page, clicking File, scrolling down and clicking “Save As”, and then click “Save” to save the file to your computer.  You must save these data entry templates to your local computer drive to avoid loss of data entry information.

When a legislative candidate applies for a grant from the Wisconsin Election Campaign Fund, the candidate agrees to limit the amount of money he or she will spend for the primary campaign and for the election campaign, as well as for the total campaign.  Statewide candidates agree to a total campaign spending limit only.  Any expenditure for use during the primary or election counts against the total campaign spending limit.

The disbursement limits required by s.11.31(1)(2) Wis. Stats are shown in the table below.  These limits apply to all candidates who accept public grants unless their opponents do not accept a grant and do not file an affidavit of voluntary compliance with spending limits.

Statewide Candidates

Legislative Candidates

Definition of Campaign for the Purpose of Calculating Spending Limits
For purposes of calculating spending limits, the campaign of a candidate for partisan office in the fall election begins on either the day of the candidate's registration or January 1 preceding the fall election, whichever is earlier.

The campaign for a nonpartisan candidate in the spring election begins on either the day of the candidate's registration or July 1 preceding the spring election, whichever is earlier.

In the case of a candidate in a special election, the campaign begins on either the day of the candidate's registration or the date of the order calling the special election, whichever is earlier.

MATERIALS OR SERVICES PURCHASED EARLIER THAN THE BEGINNING DATE OF THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD FOR USE IN THE PRIMARY OR ELECTION MUST BE COUNTED AGAINST THE SPENDING LIMIT.

All candidates that apply for a grant are held to the self contribution and spending limits through the date of the Primary.

When Spending Limits Do NOT Apply
If a candidate who accepts a WECF grant has an election opponent who does not accept a grant and does not file an affidavit of voluntary compliance with spending limits, the candidate is not limited in the amount he or she may spend beginning the day after the Primary.

If there is only one candidate for a legislative office in each political party in the primary, the candidates are not subject to the separate primary and election spending limits. The candidates are bound only by the total spending limit.

Allocation of Spending Limits
A legislative candidate may allocate expenditures between the primary and election spending limits.  For example, a candidate may purchase billboard advertising that will appear before the primary, but will be displayed throughout the election campaign.  The candidate may make a reasonable allocation for part of the expenditure to the primary spending limit and another part to the election spending limit.  Similarly, a candidate may make an allocation where there are a large number of items to be distributed throughout the campaign such as leaflets or matchbooks.  Advertising that runs within a specific period may not be allocated to another period.

Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor of the same political party who accept public grants may agree to combine spending limits and may reallocate the total disbursement level between them.

Expenditures Not Counted Against Spending Limits
Certain items are excludable from the spending limits. These exclusions do not count against the spending limits. A candidate may exclude the following from spending limits:

1. Federal, state and local taxes paid or incurred;
2. payments made on the principal of personal and commercial loans;
3. deposited contributions which are returned to contributors, donated to charity or donated to the common school fund:
4. certain costs for fundraising events: facilities rental, entertainment expenses, cost of items auctioned, food and beverages (including preparation and service when contracted to an outside agency), if utilized for a meal, sale, auction, rally or similar fundraising effort.
THE COSTS OF MAILING, PRINTING AND ADVERTISING RELATED TO THE FUND RAISING EVENT ARE NOT EXCLUDABLE;
5. expenditures made or obligations incurred which apply to a campaign other than that for which the grant was received. (For example, payments of debts incurred in a previous campaign period, or disbursements for a future campaign);
6. any recount expenses paid from the campaign depository;
7. contributions made to other registrants;
8. any reimbursements made to the candidate from the campaign committee for the candidate's travel expenses;
9. all refunds or deposits paid.

Candidates must report their exclusions in Schedule 2 D (Exclusions from Spending Limits) of the campaign finance report (GAB-24).  The exclusion must include the date, amount, the name and address of the person or business to whom or which the expenditure is made, and a designation of primary or election expense.

DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT
The maximum amount of a grant given to a candidate is established by state statute.  This amount is the same as the cumulative committee contribution limit applicable to the candidate.  The specific amount for each office is shown in the 45% LIMIT column in the table below.

When there is not sufficient money in the WECF to provide the maximum size grant for all candidates for the same office, the money is prorated among the eligible candidates.  The exact amount of the grants is determined by dividing the number of eligible candidates into the amount of money available in the WECF account for that office.  When prorating is necessary, the amount of the grant is not known until seven days after the primary. Candidates have up until that date to withdraw applications for grants.

CERTIFICATION AND DISBURSEMENT OF GRANT FUNDS
After the fall primary election, the Government Accountability Board reviews each applicant's status.  If the candidate has won the primary with at least 6% of the vote, has received the threshold amount of individual contributions of $100 or less, and has an opponent in the election, the application for grant funds is approved.  The staff also audits the reported special interest contributions to determine the amount of grant the candidate is eligible to receive. 

The Board staff certifies the candidates who are to receive a grant and the amount to the State Treasurer, as soon as possible after the spring or September primary, but no later than the first Tuesday in March or the fourth Tuesday in September. The state treasurer mails a check made out to the candidate's campaign committee no later than three business days following certification by the Board.

The Board staff informs candidates whose applications are approved of the amount of the grant they are entitled to receive.  Candidates whose applications are not approved are informed of the reason by the Board staff. Receipt of the grant is reported in Schedule 1 B (Contributions from Committees) of the candidate's pre-election campaign finance report.

A candidate whose application is not approved, and who disputes the basis for the denial, may request the Board to review the staff decision.  Candidates must contact the Board within three days of the date of the staff notification to have their appeals considered.

The purpose of this manual is to assist conduits in complying with Wisconsin's campaign finance registration and reporting requriements.  It provides an overview of the record keeping and reporting requirements for Wisconsin conduits.