The City requires campaign finance filings related to the local City of Pittsburgh elected offices of Mayor, City Council and Controller to occur in the three months prior to each election. All reports should please be submitted by email to campaignfinance@pittsburghpa.gov. If you prefer to submit your reports by hand-delivery, please contact us to schedule arrangements as our office hours are by appointment. The Ethics Hearing Board has set out the following filing schedule, if you have any questions, again, please contact us.

1. The first campaign finance filing date will be Monday, August 9, 2021 (one week after the County's nomination petition deadline). The reporting period for this filing is to cover the day after the primary election, or May 19, 2021, through July 31, 2021.
2. The second campaign finance filing date will next occur 30 days later, which is September 8, 2021 (due to August having 31 days). The reporting period for this filing will cover the month of August.
3. The third and final filing date will be the same date as the County filing, which is Friday, October 22, 2021. This third filing may be a copy of that which is filed with the County and cover the same reporting period.

Please note the reporting periods for the Total Contribution Report​ are cumulative: The filing due August 9, 2021 requests a listing of all contributions from May 19, 2021 to July 31, 2021; the filing due September 8, 2021 requests all contributions from May 19, 2021 to August 31, 2021; and the filing due October 22, 2021 requests all contributions from May 19, 2021 to September 30, 2021.

If you have any questions, again, please contact us, we're here to help!

FORMS:

1. For candidates – complete and return the correct form based on whether the amount of contributions (including in-kind contributions) received, the amount of money expended and the liabilities incurred each are (a) above $250 or (b) below $250 during the reporting period;
2. For candidate committees and political committees– (if applicable, a candidate is not required to have a committee) complete and return the correct form based on whether the amount of contributions (including in-kind contributions) received, the amount of money expended and the liabilities incurred each are (a) above $250 or (b) below $250 during the reporting period; and
3. For candidates - complete and return this total contributions form to detail the name of each contributor and the total contributions made in the current election cycle.

   1. Note this Total Contributions Report “details the name of each contributor and the total contribution made by each contributor to the candidate committee both in the then current election cycle.” Accordingly, continue to add to the spreadsheet or form for each report.

4. For Independent Expenditures - State Independent Expenditure Report
5. For Everyone -- Unsworn Declarations (no notary requirement due to Covid)
   1. Unsworn Declaration for Campaign Finance Reports (DSEB – 502R)
   2. Unsworn Declaration for Campaign Finance Statements (DSEB – 503S)  
   3. Unsworn Declaration for Independent Expenditure Reports (DSEB-505I)
6. For Candidates with No Committee and No Intention to Receive Contributions or Make Any Expenditures Over $250: Waiver of Expense Account Reporting.

NOTE:

• There are detailed instructions at the end of the County forms. Procedural questions as to how to complete these forms can be directed to the County.
• Reports are due even if there is no activity.
• If you end your campaign or are no longer a candidate, you are still required to submit filings for the reporting period during which you were a candidate. Please inform us that this will be your last report by either checking the box that states “Termination Report” or simply email campaignfinance@pittsburghpa.gov and let us know that you are no longer running.    
• Please note you can leave the field “Filer Identification Number” at the top of the form blank.
• All reports must be legible.
• Failure to comply with campaign finance requirements will be strictly enforced.
• You may leave the "type of report" box blank.

Tips for completing a fillable PDF form on your computer: 

Due to the fact that certain browsers do not save form contents before downloading, it is advised that users download the form first, then fill it out. Then you can safely save and/or print. 

Browsers: 

• Chrome: Does not save form information after download. 
• Internet Explorer 11: Does save form information after download. 
• Firefox: Does save form information after download. 
• MS Edge: Does save form information after download. 
• Other: It is advised to download the form first, then fill it out so that information is not lost. 

To download a PDF form, look for the save icon (it typically resembles a floppy disk) either on the top left or right of the PDF interface. The location and icon will differ depending on browser used. In some cases, browsers will not open the PDF in a new tab and instead the user receives a download notification. 

Open the PDF from your download location and fill it out. When done, go to File > Save As > select the location to save the file > click save. 

• Each candidate and their committee (if any) who are running for the next election. Note, some candidates, such as third party candidates, do not appear on the primary ballot.

• Individuals or committees making Independent Expenditures
  • Every person, other than a Political Committee or Candidate, who makes Independent Expenditures to encourage or defeat an election outcome, or to advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified Candidate or question appearing on the ballot, other than by contribution to a Political Committee or Candidate, in an aggregate amount over one hundred dollars ($100.00) during a calendar year, shall file with the City's Ethics Hearing Board a form prepared by the Ethics Hearing Board, in physical or electronic form, based on the State's Independent Expenditure Report. Reports required by this subsection shall be filed by dates on which reports by Candidates making expenditures are required under this section.
• Committees formed to support or oppose ballot issues
  • All Political Committees shall report to the City's Ethics Hearing Board all expenditures to, or made on behalf of, any question appearing on the ballot, in the same manner required of a Candidate Committee, as described in subsection (1) of this section. Political Committees must also report in the same manner required of a Candidate Committee, as described in subsection (1) of this section, all Independent Expenditures made to encourage or defeat an election outcome, or to advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified Candidate or question appearing on the ballot. This provision is in addition to any other filing and reporting provisions of this Code that apply to such committees, their treasurers and chairpersons.

Find voting resources on the local League of Women Voters website here.

And at the state website here.

You can also sign up for reminders from Votes PA below:

Your voter registration status, address, party, voting districts and polling location can be found below.

In 2021, the even-numbered Council Districts are up for election.

Below is a color-coded map of the nine Council Districts. Click on the map to display in larger size.

To learn if you are located within one of these districts, find your “voting district” listed with your voter registration information. (Found under “precinct” on your state voter registration info).

In 2021, the positions of Mayor and the Members of Council representing the even-numbered City of Pittsburgh Council Districts will appear on the ballot.

All candidates running for office in the City of Pittsburgh are invited to please complete this survey to let voters know more about the candidates and the issues they care about. When the Ethics Hearing Board staff receives verified responses these will be included in the below infographic:

More resources to learn about the different candidates, including debates, can be found through the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh at https://lwvpgh.org/ and at Vote 411 at https://www.vote411.org/.

The City of Pittsburgh campaign finance regulations limits how much you or your organization can contribute during each election cycle based on the amounts set by the Federal Election Commission. Click image for larger size.

Additionally, City of Pittsburgh employees are limited to contributing $100 or $200 to their employer within a four-year consecutive period, as detailed in § 197.04.  

ELECTION CYCLE. Begins on the day after a covered election for the City elected office which the candidate seeks and ends on the day of the next covered election for that same City elected office. For the purposes of the contribution limits set forth in Section 198.03, primary and general elections shall be considered separate elections.

For reporting purposes, the date of a political contribution is the date that the contribution is received by the campaign. Note the following instances are not sufficient to indicate the date of a contribution: the act of pledging a political contribution or depositing a political contribution into the bank account associated with a candidate committee, or expending campaign funds that a political contribution may have been planned for or otherwise earmarked.

Similarly, "stacking" contributions, whereby a candidate accepts a contribution for the primary election and the general election at the same time or during the same election cycle, is prohibited.

A “Public Official” is a defined term and includes those serving in elected and appointed positions in the City of Pittsburgh government.

Elected positions include the Mayor, Members of City Council, and the Controller. All candidates running for City-elected office must file campaign finance reports for the election(s) for which they will appear on the ballot.

The definition for Public Official also includes those appointed by the Mayor, City Council, or a governmental body; as well as and members of Boards, Authorities and Commissions that have the authority to expend public funds or exercise governmental power.

Due to our current Covid-related office closure and temporarily low staffing levels, all reports should be completed and emailed to campaignfinance@pittsburghpa.gov.

Anyone who requires an accommodation for effective communication or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity provided by the City of Pittsburgh should contact the City ADA Coordinator as soon as possible but no later than two business days before the event. Hillary Roman, City of Pittsburgh ADA Coordinator, Hillary.Roman@pittsburghpa.gov; Remote Ph: (412) 301-7041; Office Ph: (412) 255- 2102 int. 457.

For all other questions, please contact the Ethics Office here.

 A contribution includes:  

• Any payment, donation, gift, subscription, assessment, contract, payment for services, dues, loan, forgiveness of a loan, advance or deposit of money or any valuable thing, to a candidate or political committee made for the purpose of influencing any election in this Commonwealth;  
• Paying debts incurred by or for a candidate or committee before or after an election;  
• Purchasing tickets for events such as dinners, luncheons, rallies and all other fundraising events;  
•  Granting discounts or rebates not available to the general public;  
• Granting discounts or rebates by television and radio stations and newspapers not extended on an equal basis to all candidates for the same office;  
• Any payments for the benefit of any candidate;  
• Any payments for the services of any person serving as an agent of a candidate or committee by a third party;  
• Any receipt or use of anything of value received by a political committee from another political committee; and  
• Any return on investments by a political committee. 

Note: Limitations related to contributions do not apply to volunteer labor hours.  

The City Code Ordinances on Campaign Finance Regulations, found in Chapter 198 of the Code is your guiding document. Note some instructions for completing the campaign finance reports are located at the end of the forms, and certain applicable areas are detailed on the State’s resource page. 

Please direct questions to campaignfinance@pittsburghpa.gov. 

The City Code provides a $50 per day late fee for each required filing.