07/18/13: Opaque and antiquated disclosure laws

This op-ed appeared in The Virginian-Pilot on the date shown.

THE SCANDAL surrounding Gov. Bob McDonnell has taught us at least one thing. I doubt many Virginians remain unaware of the state’s campaign finance disclosure laws.

There are no limits on either gifts or contributions as long as the items are disclosed. Of course, there is no mechanism for making sure that everything is disclosed, other than the ethics of the individual — and the prying eyes of the public.

The law requires candidates and others to file regular campaign finance reports, and Monday was another filing deadline.

In raw form, the data is available on the State Board of Elections website (cfreports.sbe.virginia.gov). Value-added information is provided on the Virginia Public Access Project website (www.vpap.org).

Interest in financial reporting is always heightened in an election year, and this fall Virginia voters will take to the polls to cast their ballots in three statewide contests as well as in all 100 House of Delegates races.

The cities of Hampton Roads will see other races on their ballots as well — the constitutional offices of commissioner of the revenue, commonwealth’s attorney, sheriff and treasurer.

Unfortunately, our ability to review financial reports for candidates in those races is severely limited.

Citing resource limitations, VPAP tracks only two constitutional office contests in the entire state. The only other data available is on the State Board of Elections site but only for those candidates who choose to file the reports electronically. All of the other reports are filed, as required, on paper at local elections offices. If you want to see them, you have to make a trip to the office in each city.

Given how easy the State Board of Elections has made electronic filing and given that the software to file reports is free, I don’t understand why any candidate would not take advantage of this, if for no other reason than to demonstrate a commitment to transparency. It is notable that most challengers embrace the technology; those most likely to file on paper are incumbents.

For a long time, the Byrd Machine in Virginia held on to power via its network of constitutional offices.

Even though that political machine no longer exists, the lack of reporting provides an opportunity for another one today. Without an extraordinary amount of effort, we have no way of knowing who is financing these candidates.

Of the five contests in Hampton Roads where there is an incumbent being challenged, four of them are not filing electronically. Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe is alone, while his counterparts in Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk, along with the Chesapeake commonwealth’s attorney, file their reports on paper.

Electronic filing should not be an option. Not in this day and age. It should be mandatory. As voters, we deserve to see all of the data surrounding those who want our vote.

The next filing deadline, covering the period July 1 through Aug. 31, is Sept. 16.

Here’s hoping that those who value transparency — and the votes of those of us who do — will see fit to file their reports so that we can all see them.