By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s updated campaign finance reporting system will launch on Oct. 28, according to a news release.
Guardian 2.0, which provides public access to candidate expenditures and contributors, was initially set to launch Oct. 1 but was delayed for “final adjustments” and to ensure data was accurately converted between the old and new software systems.
The change in the software system is a result of a vendor no longer supporting the old system. Guardian has been shut off since Sept. 19.
The site also provides information about lobbyists, which candidates have filed ethics paperwork to run for public office and the formation of political action committees.
Guardian 2.0 will make filing and public access to campaign finance information easier, have a new login, and a more intuitive filing experience, according to the Ethics Commission’s website. The Legislature previously appropriated $1.2 million to the Ethics Commission for system updates.
Lee Anne Bruce Boone, executive director of the Ethics Commission, said launching the system before it’s fully ready would create “far greater problems.”
No filers will be penalized while the system is down, according to the Ethics Commission website. Staff at the Commission are available to work directly with filers.
Third quarter campaign finance reports are due Oct. 31. The reporting period could be extended with late fees waived if necessary, according to the Commission’s website.
“Our responsibility is to deliver a product that performs accurately and securely from day one,” Bruce Boone said in a statement. “Taking the time to ensure the system is stable and the data is reliable reflects our commitment to doing this right – not just doing it fast.”
There could be minor technical issues when Guardian 2.0 launches but a support team will be available, she previously said.
