DOI stands for “Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions” and this is the document that authorizes a candidate or candidate’s committee to commence accepting campaign contributions and making campaign expenditures. Until a DOI is filed, no candidate or candidate’s campaign committee is permitted to accept campaign contributions or make campaign expenditures – this includes personal funds made available by the candidate. So, if you want to start raising and spending campaign funds, you must file a DOI with the Commission.
All DOIs are submitted electronically to the Commission by selecting “Register” at the top right hand of the page located at http://efile.ethics.ga.gov/.
Anyone who is not already a public officer and who plans to run for public office must file a Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions before accepting campaign contributions or making campaign expenditures.
If you are already a public officer and plan to run for re-election to the same office that you are currently occupying, you do not have to file a new DOI. However, if you plan to run for election to a different office, you must file a new DOI for the campaign for that new office. All DOIs are submitted electronically to the Commission by selecting “Register” at the top right-hand of the page located at http://efile.ethics.ga.gov/.
A campaign committee, also known as a “candidate’s campaign committee,” is a separate legal entity which is authorized by a candidate for public office to accept campaign contributions and make campaign expenditures on behalf of the candidate’s campaign for office.
A campaign committee is formed with the Commission by filing a “Registration of Campaign Committee” (RC). To file an RC with the Commission, the campaign committee must have a designated Committee Chairman and Treasurer. The office of Chairman and Treasurer must be always filled and the same person, including the candidate, may serve simultaneously in both capacities. If either office is vacant, the campaign committee must suspend operations until the vacancy is filled.
To register a campaign committee, a candidate will need to select the box labeled “Do you have a campaign committee” during their initial registration. A candidate may amend their registration to register a campaign committee at anytime by logging into their account at http://efile.ethics.ga.gov/