Data Explanation for Idaho
Data Acquisition
The Idaho Secretary of State (ISOS) provides access to state campaign finance data through three systems, detailed here. They defined system coverage as:
- 2000 – 2019 – Excel downloads.
- 2020 – 2023 – Single interface allows search and download of contributions, expenditures, reports, and bulk downloads.
- 2023 – Now – Different interfaces for contributions, expenditures, candidates, PACs, loans, and bulk downloads.
Due to the complexity of combining data from multiple sources, Transparency USA processes data only from the newest system, from 2023 to the present. Data from 2023 may be partial since 2023 data was contained in two systems.
Reported Data
When onboarding a new state, Transparency USA validates all imported data against report summaries in the state’s system whenever possible.
Data from 2024 and later was easy to validate. 2023, for the partial data described above, was more difficult.
Candidates/Candidate Committees
These records represent the candidate committees registered to file campaign finance reports with the state.
Transparency USA imports all these records because they are the basis for transactional filing, providing high-level information about candidates and their committees.
Non-Candidate Committees and PACs
These records represent all non-candidate committees registered to file campaign finance reports with the state.
Transparency USA imports all these records because they are the basis for transactional filing, providing high-level information about committees.
Contributions
These records include all monetary, non-monetary, in-kind, and returned contributions. The new system provides loans separately (described below), but the old system includes loans with contributions.
Transparency USA imports all data from these files. We import returned contributions as negative amounts, which helps rectify committees’ total spending with their report summaries.
Expenditures
Expenditures include all monetary, non-monetary, in-kind, and returned expenditures.
Transparency USA imports all data from these files.
Loans
These records include all loans.
Transparency USA imports all of these records and displays them in our loans tab.
Filings & Reports
The Idaho search interfaces contains information about each report filed by a committee, such as filing dates (2024 onward), amendments, and transaction summaries.
While Transparency USA does not display any raw cover information on the website, we do use the transaction summaries to validate how we have imported and categorized transactions.
Electronic Filing Requirements
Transparency USA appreciates that Idaho is working to improve its filing system.
The Sunshine Law requires both Candidates and Political Committees to submit Campaign Finance Reports online to the Idaho Secretary of State.
Party Information
Transparency USA displays the current party affiliation for active candidates and officeholders. The party information displayed may not be accurate:
- For candidates who are not actively running for or serving in state-level office
- When accessing candidate or officeholder data from previous election cycles
Party affiliation for active candidates and officeholders is provided by Ballotpedia.