OPINION
Three years ago this month, the New Jersey Legislature enacted sweeping reforms to the State’s campaign finance laws, including, for the first time, requiring disclosure and reporting by independent expenditure committees. The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) is charged by statute with administering and enforcing these laws. Central to that responsibility is serving as New Jersey’s campaign finance watchdog by promoting transparency, ensuring accountability, and strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
Following the enactment of these reforms, then-Governor Phil Murphy appointed four commissioners, equally balanced between the two major political parties, and designated me as Chair of the Commission. In addition to my experience as a former State Bar President and credentialed federal enforcement officer with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Division of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance, my fellow commissioners collectively bring decades of legal, regulatory, and enforcement experience to ELEC’s important work.
Upon assuming our responsibilities, the Commission recognized that the campaign finance landscape had changed significantly. Our immediate priority was to help candidates, committees, political organizations, and campaign finance professionals understand and comply with the new legal requirements. We understand that most participants in the political process seek to comply with the law, and accordingly, we have emphasized education, outreach, and voluntary compliance before resorting to formal enforcement measures. At the same time, the Legislature imposed a new two-year statute of limitations, requiring the Commission to carry out its investigative and enforcement responsibilities within a shorter timeframe.
Our first task under the revised law was to gather and analyze data, assess compliance trends, and identify areas requiring additional guidance. Based on that work, ELEC spent the last two years implementing a comprehensive and deliberate educational initiative designed to familiarize regulated entities with their statutory and regulatory obligations. Through formal guidance, training programs, public communications, and ongoing compliance assistance, the Commission has provided candidates, treasurers, and political organizations with the tools necessary to meet their legal responsibilities.
As part of that effort, ELEC announced in May 2025 that its Compliance Division would launch a robust education initiative utilizing a variety of learning tools to assist candidates and treasurers in navigating New Jersey’s updated campaign finance laws. The initiative included e-learning modules addressing common reporting errors, interactive compliance workshops, and practical guidance materials aimed at promoting understanding and compliance across the regulated community. Our primary goal was to educate and provide detailed guidance for the regulated community.
That same announcement discussed random audits as an important component of ELEC’s compliance and enforcement strategy. In fact, audits have been a part of the Agency’s investigative toolbox for decades and are identified in the statute as such. The Commission provided advance notice of the initiative through both a formal press release, or social media platforms, and the agency’s newsletter, seeking to ensure that campaign finance professionals and political organizations were aware of and understood the forthcoming process. ELEC’s audits are intended to promote transparency, improve compliance, and enhance public confidence in New Jersey’s campaign finance system.
Our audit process is administered uniformly and without regard to political affiliation, office, or organizational status. Following the publication of two reports concerning county political party finances on April 29, 2025 and November 7, 2025, ELEC initiated compliance reviews involving political organizations throughout New Jersey, including both Republican and Democratic entities. This even-handed approach reflects the Commission’s unwavering commitment to neutrality, fairness, and the consistent enforcement of the law.
As reflected in ELEC’s 2025 Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature, the Commission remains committed to working cooperatively with candidates, committees, political parties, campaign finance professionals, and lobbyists. Each of these groups are essential to democratic representation in our constitutional republic. Education, transparency, and voluntary compliance will continue to serve as the foundation of our efforts. At the same time, auditing and oversight remain indispensable tools for fulfilling ELEC’s statutory mandate and safeguarding the integrity of New Jersey’s campaign finance system.
Thomas Prol is the Chair of the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission.