§ 2810 - Candidate information publication; on-line database
§ 2810. Candidate information publication; on-line database
(a) For each two-year general election cycle, the secretary of state shall develop and continuously update a publicly accessible campaign database. The database shall contain at least the following information for all candidates for statewide and county office and for the general assembly: for candidates receiving public financing grants, the amount of each grant awarded; the information contained in campaign finance reports filed under this chapter; and all reports of mass media activity expenditures filed under section 2883 of this title. The database shall also include campaign finance reports filed by candidates for federal office. The information in the database, together with any biographical sketches and position statements submitted to the secretary of state by such candidates, shall be made available to the public through the Vermont state home page on-line service, or through printed reports from the secretary in response to a public request within 14 days of the date of the request.
(b) Any candidate for statewide office and any candidate for federal office qualified to be on the ballot in this state may submit to the secretary of state a photograph, biographical sketch and position statement of a length and format specified by the secretary for the purposes of preparing a candidate information publication. Without making changes in the material presented, the secretary shall prepare a candidate information publication for statewide distribution prior to the general election, which includes the candidates' photographs, biographies and position statements, a brief explanation of the process used to obtain candidate submissions, and, with respect to offices for which public financing is available, an indication of which candidates are receiving Vermont campaign finance grants and which candidates are not receiving Vermont campaign finance grants. The secretary shall prepare, publish and distribute the candidate information publication throughout the state no later than one week prior to the general election. The secretary shall also seek voluntary distribution of the candidate information publication in weekly and daily newspapers and other publications in the state. The candidate information publication shall also be available in large type, audiotape and Internet versions. (Added 1997, No. 64, § 9, eff. Nov. 4, 1998.)