Mississippi’s top elections official is touting a new online financial reporting system as a way to keep political candidates accountable.
Mississippi was the last state in the nation to allow electronic filing of campaign finance reports, according to the National Institute on Money in state Politics.
But Tuesday, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann unveiled a new online system for political candidates to report their finances. The new system will allow individuals to search through records by candidate, political committee, expenditures or contributions.
Hosemann says he believes the new system will create more transparency for voters.
Previously, The secretary of state's office scanned candidates' paper forms and posted them online. While individual forms could be viewed, it was impossible to search for specific data like how much money a group or person gives to multiple candidates.
Electronic filing system is currently voluntary though. Hosemann says he will push lawmakers to make online filing mandatory by 2020.
