NH gets “F” for campaign finance transparency

A report from the National Institute on Money in State Politics gave New Hampshire an “F” for campaign finance transparency.

Six other states got an F grade, and only two states scored lower than New Hampshire overall.

The report graded states on ten criteria.  New Hampshire lost points because candidates are not required to file reports electronically, and campaign finance reports for all candidates are not in easily searchable digital formats.  The state instead scans reports in hard copy and makes them available as mostly unsearchable images.

New Hampshire also lost points for not always requiring disclosure of a contributor’s occupation and employer.

New Hampshire’s grade is similar to the results of the 2015 state integrity rankings from the Center for Public Integrity.  In that report, New Hampshire lost points for failing to make campaign finance reports available in easily searchable digital format. 

However, requiring candidates to file electronically might be a burden on some who do not have easy access to a computer with an internet connection.  The state might also have to upgrade its campaign finance reporting system, at unknown cost.

The New Hampshire Secretary of State already upgraded its campaign finance reporting website in the fall of 2015 in a way that allows candidates to upload reports in more searchable digital formats, if they so choose.

Do you think the state should require candidates to make campaign finance reports in a searchable electronic format?  Share your thoughts in the comments.