A candidate, as defined in Title 21?A, section 1, subsection 5, for the Legislature who is not required to file a report under section 1016?G shall file a report containing the same information required of Legislators under section 1016?G no later than 5 p.m. on August 15th preceding the general election unless the candidate withdraws from the election in accordance with Title 21?A, section 374?A by that date. A candidate shall file statements electronically as is required of Legislators under section 1016?G, subsection 5. If the candidate fails to file the statement by the August 15th, the commission may assess penalties in accordance with section 1016?G, subsection 3. [PL 2023, c. 324, §1 (AMD).]