PCC Project Status
Campaign Finance Reporting System
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CFIS Project Overview
 Introduction
Replace the current Political Finance Reporting System
with a more user-friendly Campaign Finance
Reporting System for use by candidates for public
office, political committees, lobbyists, receipting
associated with these functions and to provide better
service to the general public.
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OVERVIEW
New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office has contracted with RealTimeSites to rebuild the Campaign
Finance Information System (CFIS; currently termed PFRS: Political Finance Reporting System).
The current PFRS is not meeting expectations in the following ways:
1. Campaign Finance Administrators, who enter the data, find the current system unwieldy and
difficult to use. The workflow is not structured for a smooth and pleasant user experience, and
the Graphical User Interface (GUI) is out‐of‐date.
2. Because of the difficulty entering the data, many Campaigns have opted to submit financial data
via Excel Spreadsheets. The NMSoS Ethics Administration is required by law to allow this, but
the current system is unable to integrate the Excel spreadsheets into the database for effective
searching and reporting. The Excel spreadsheet data is merely converted to PDF for singlecampaign
viewing. This leaves the public frustrated by the difficulty of accessing the information
and dissatisfied with the level of transparency.
3. The reports generated by the current system are either Campaign‐ or Contributor‐ specific. The
GUI is not user‐friendly or intuitive.
4. The PFRS Administration interface is unwieldy. Secretary of State Administrators are not able to
add new Offices when they appear, so the SoS office incurs extra costs every time a new office
or special election is needed. Furthermore, the current admin interface does not allow SoS
Admins to run high‐level reports (this is done through a separate system). A centralized system
would streamline the process for administrators, saving time and money.
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The rebuilt CFIS will solve all of these issues, providing:
1. A streamlined, attractive, intuitive interface for Campaign Finance
Administrators. This will enhance the user experience, and encourage more
campaigns to use the online system
2. Integration of uploaded spreadsheets into the database. The data submitted
via spreadsheets will now be incorporated in the public reporting and
accessible through a single search module. This will make campaign finances
easier for the public to access, heightening transparency of campaigns across
the state.
3. Advanced search functionality that is user‐friendly, intuitive, and focused on
improving transparency. The report search module will be modeled after the
current Washington State Public Disclosure Commission Database Search –
using sorts and filters, and displaying high‐level information. It will also allow
public users to search by contributors.
4. An enhanced, intuitive interface for SoS Administrators. The new interface
will allow SoS Admins to set up accounts/campaigns, track campaigns, and run
reports.
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Planning Phase Accomplishments
 Gap Analysis
 Defined scope requirement of New Mexico Secretary of
State as per the statutory law.
 Performed Gap analysis of the Washington system to
ascertain if the system would be appropriate for us in
New Mexico.
 Gap Analysis involved:


Consideration of technical aspects of Washington system
Assessment of workflow and graphical user interface
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Planning Phase Accomplishment
 PMP and other Management Plan and Technical
specification document
 Developed functional specifications for the project
 Amended project management plans as required
 IV&V
 IV&V has been awarded to POD
 First deliverables report has been completed
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Workflow charts
Proposed NM CFIS Workflow
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Workflow charts
CFIS/SOS - Admin Flow Chart
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Workflow charts
Candidate/PAC Data Input Flow Chart
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Workflow charts
Lobbyist – Data Entry Flow Chart
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Workflow charts
Public Reports Flow Chart
Initial Public
Reports
Screen
Select a Candidate/PAC
List of
Contributions
by Contributor
List of In-Kind
Contributions
by Contributor
List of
Expenditures
by Vendor
Click “More Details”
PDF Report in
which that
contribution is
listed
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CFIS Project Summary
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Thank you
 Discussion
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