DESCRIPTION: Candidates for state executive and legislative office are required to file periodic reports disclosing the money they raise and spend. These financial disclosure reports are submitted to the Lieutenant Governor's office at set times throughout the election cycle. The reports help to protect against conflicts of interest and to facilitate open and ethical government. They are governed by UCA 20A-11 (2002). The reports include the following types of information: candidate's name, political party, office, address and signature; and itemized listings of contributions, expenditures and loans. Financial disclosure reports were filed with the State Auditor until 1984. Thereafter filings were transferred to the Lieutenant Governor's office, and then to the Elections Office at the time of its 1995 creation.

Early filings include some non-standard reports--e.g. individuals seeking judicial office and membership on the Utah State Board of Education; and disclosures once required of all media outlets that accepted expenditures from candidates for public office. There are some additional filing aberrations relating to document type. Declarations of candidacy, campaign committee designations and other related forms were sometimes attached to the disclosure reports, that in later years were filed separately.