The state’s attorney shall investigate any violation of the provisions of this chapter relating to elections for county and school district office or county, municipal, or school district ballot questions, and prosecute any violation thereof. In lieu of bringing a criminal action, the state’s attorney may elect to file a civil action for any violation of this chapter. In a civil action, in addition to other relief, the court may impose a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars for each violation. Any civil penalty recovered shall be paid to the county general fund if the violation arose out of a county office or ballot question, municipal general fund if the violation arose out of a municipal ballot question, or the school district general fund if the violation arose out of a school district office or ballot question. A civil enforcement action for a violation of the chapter concerning a municipal ballot question may, with the consent of the state’s attorney, be brought by the municipality’s attorney. A civil enforcement action for a violation of the chapter concerning a school district office or ballot question may, with the consent of the state’s attorney, be brought by the school district’s attorney. A civil action brought under this section shall be commenced in the county where filings under the chapter are required, in the county where the person resides, or in the county where the organization, political party, or political committee has its principal office.

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Source: SL 2007, ch 80, § 40; SL 2008, ch 67, § 15; SL 2012, ch 86, § 2.