(a) Participating candidates and certified candidates shall comply with this section in addition to any other reporting required by this chapter.

(b) During the exploratory and qualifying periods, a participating candidate or his or her financial agent shall submit, on the first of each month, a report of all exploratory and qualifying contributions along with their receipts and an accounting of all expenditures and obligations received during the immediately preceding month. The reports shall be on forms or in a format prescribed by the Secretary of State. Such reports shall be filed electronically: Provided, That a committee may apply for an exemption, in case of hardship, pursuant to subsection (c) of section five-b, article eight of this chapter.

(c) No later than two business days after the close of the qualifying period, a participating candidate or his or her financial agent shall report to the Secretary of State on appropriate forms a summary of:

(1) All exploratory contributions received and funds expended or obligated during the exploratory period together with copies of any receipts not previously submitted for exploratory contributions; and

(2) All qualifying contributions received and funds expended or obligated during the qualifying period together with copies of any receipts not previously submitted for qualifying contributions.

(d) A certified candidate or his or her financial agent shall file periodic financial statements in accordance with section five, article eight of this chapter, detailing all funds received, expended or obligated during the specified periods. The reports shall be on forms approved by the Secretary of State.