Early Voters to Cast Ballots Without Key Finance Disclosures | The Locally Times
Cole County residents can vote in person on Feb. 24 and 25, but campaign finance reports for the April 7 election are not due until Feb. 26.
A key campaign finance reporting deadline for the April 7, 2026, municipal election is set for this week, providing the public its first formal opportunity to review the financial backing of local candidates and committees. While the state commission’s filing schedule specifies the Feb. 26 due date, the public notice does not identify which specific candidates or committees must file. The notice also omits the penalties for non-compliance and the location where residents can access the reports once filed. ## Early Voters Lack Financial Data The state’s disclosure deadline creates an information gap for early voters. 24. This allows residents to cast ballots for two full days before the Feb. 26 campaign finance filing deadline. Those who vote on Feb. 24 or Feb. ## A Crowded Civic Calendar The finance deadline coincides with other key government dates. On the same day that Cole County’s absentee voting begins, Feb. 24, candidate filing opens for a different election. Thursday, Feb. 26, is also a day of scheduled business for Cole County. The county’s public agenda center shows that bid openings are scheduled for at least nine county departments on that day, including the Cole County Commission, County Clerk, Treasurer, Collector, and Circuit Court. The agendas for these bid openings were posted on Feb. 11, though records do not specify the contents of the bids, as supporting documents were not attached to the public notices. ## Future Deadlines Unspecified Future reporting requirements for the April 7 election have not been specified. 23. However, the commission’s public records do not yet indicate if a similar report will be mandated for the April 7 election or what its due date would be. The Feb. 26 reports will provide the first comprehensive look at the contributions and expenditures for campaigns in the April municipal election. The Locally Times will report on the contents of these documents as they become publicly available.