Campaign Finance - Electronic Filing and Public Disclosure

The Department of State has available several initiatives to increase public disclosure of campaign finance information including:

Michigan Electronic Reporting and Tracking System (MERTS) software for committees filing with the Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections, to enable electronic filing of campaign finance reports.

Web access at home, office or at the Bureau of Elections for searching and retrieval of campaign finance data.

Michigan Electronic Reporting & Tracking System (MERTS)

MERTS is a financial management database software program that allows committees filing with the Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections, to enter and track all of their financial transactions. The purpose of MERTS is to help committees file via the Internet or electronically on disk, and generate hardcopy printouts of their required campaign finance reports.

Facts about MERTS:

Distributed by the Michigan Department of State free of charge.
Easy to use.
Enables accurate and timely public disclosure on the Bureau's web site almost instantaneously.
Enables electronic filing of campaign finance reports.

When MERTS will be available:

All committees now available.

How to obtain MERTS software:

MERTS is available from the Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections, by submitting a completed amended or original statement of organization form.  The statement of organization form may be obtained from the Bureau of Elections by calling (517) 373-2540 or visit our Forms and Publication page for printing.

Internet Access Since April 1998

The public has the capability to search and retrieve campaign finance data online via the Web from their homes, offices and the public PCs located at the Bureau of Elections.  Images of the reports filed with the Bureau are posted on the Web within two days of receipt.

With these screens, users may perform searches and view information about committees including statement of organization data, filings received, and receipt and expenditure data.

To access the Campaign Finance serachable database, click on "Campaign Finance Reporting Searchable Database."

Other Access to Campaign Finance Information

• Image viewing and printing capability for Bureau of Elections public PC users for filings received beginning in 1994.
• ASCII file data available on disk for all filings beginning in 1994 through 1996 for candidate receipts and PAC expenditures.