Home → Campaign Manager → Alabama State Report FAQs → How Do I E-File My Alabama Report?
29.1. How Do I E-File My Alabama Report?
E-Filing Your Alabama Report
Aristotle currently offers complete and "ready to file" e-files for the Alabama State Report!
How Do I Download the E-File?
Unfortunately, the state does not currently allow third-party vendors to e-file directly into their system from other software products. That said, all you need to do is download the e-file output and then upload it into the state's system! The easiest way to do this is right click on the link for the e-file output, select "Save As", give it a suitable file name while leaving the file extension as it is, and save the file.
How Do I Upload the E-File I Just Downloaded?
Before you can file ANY reports, you will need to register your committee with the Alabama Electronic FCPA Reporting System. The Alabama Electronic FCPA Reporting System can be accessed via their online portal. Access to the online portal is available on their website in the Campaign Finance section, as well as instructions on how to obtain the desktop software. Here's a link directly to it:
https://fcpa.alabamavotes.gov/CampaignFinance/UserLogin.aspx
You will then need to follow these steps:
1) Go to the above link and you'll be taken to the online filing portal page where you will need to log in using your state-provided username and password
2) Click "Administration"
3) Click "Import New File"
4) After the file has successfully Uploaded, you may proceed to filing your report under the "File Reports" tab
General Warnings
We advise clients to never open the efile output before uploading unless it's strictly necessary. Often times various programs like Excel, Notepad, etc, will auto-format files in ways that renders them non-compliant with state requirements. For example, Excel will drop the leading zeros on values in cells, which can be problematic when dealing with NE zip codes.
Some states have invented file extensions for their efiles that need to be preserved, or they use older file extensions than what is generally used and can be overwritten. For example, many states have the file extension .csv for their efiles, which Excel will try to override when saving since it's generally not used. Please ensure to keep the file extension as it is so the state's system will accept the file.