Ohio’s campaign finance laws permit use of peer-to-peer payment systems

If you are thinking about using Venmo to accept campaign donations, you now have guidance from the Ohio Elections Commission to permissibly do so. 

The Ohio Elections Commission advised that the use of peer-to-peer payment systems such as Venmo are permissible under Ohio’s campaign finance laws. However, to comply with Ohio Revised Code §3517.10(D)(3), the peer-to-peer account needs to be specifically set up for the campaign committee and separate from the personal account of the possible beneficiary of the campaign fund.