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Placer County to accept digitally signed FPPC filings for larger campaigns
Summary
The board approved an ordinance requiring campaigns and committees with $5,000 or more in annual contributions or expenditures to file campaign‑finance statements electronically through a vetted California‑based system to speed public posting; staff said filers remain legally responsible for accuracy.
The Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 19 to allow the county clerk‑recorder to accept digitally signed Fair Political Practices Commission campaign‑finance filings through an online, California‑based vendor (NetFile) for committees that receive or spend $5,000 or more per year.
Clerk‑Recorder Ryan Ronke told the board the change will reduce administrative delays caused by scanning and redaction of wet‑signed paper forms and speed public availability of filings. He said the county conducted due diligence on the vendor and will continue to hold filers legally responsible: ‘‘If the statement gets filed and it’s incorrect, our office does do a cursory check … and we’ll notify you,’’ Ronke said, adding that candidates and treasurers remain liable under California law.
Public commenters asked about authentication and whether digital signatures could be misused; county staff said the system is California‑based, that filers are still responsible under state law, and that the filing threshold was set to avoid burdening smaller local candidates who may continue to file on paper. Supervisors said the measure should help both remote elected officials and smaller campaigns by making filings more accessible to the public and reducing travel burdens for wet signatures. The board approved the ordinance by motion.
