The Electoral Commission has repeated its criticisms of the Electoral Finance Act, saying parts of it are obscure.
In the Commission's annual report to Parliament, it says it is not confident it will be able to reach informed interpretations of some parts of the Electoral Finance Act within the election period.
The Commission says significant parts of the Act require constant legal advice to assist with interpretation.
The criticisms echo previous concerns from the Commission's chief executive, Helena Catt.
The Commission wants Parliament to give it power to levy political parties that are late in filing their returns of donations, after seven parties missed the deadline this year.