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Coordinated Communications Periods for 2012

When an individual or political committee pays for a communication that is coordinated with a candidate or party committee, the communication is considered an in-kind contribution to that candidate or party committee and is subject to the limits, prohibitions and reporting requirements of the federal campaign finance law. FEC regulations establish a three-prong test to determine whether a communication is coordinated. All three prongs of the test—payment, content and conduct—must be met for a communication to be deemed coordinated and thus an in-kind contribution. 11 CFR 109.21.

In response to the DC Court of Appeals decision in Shays v. FEC, the Commission promulgated regulations on Coordinated Communications. Specifically, these regulations redefine the pre-election time frames used in the content prong of the three-prong coordinated communication test. See 11 CFR 109.21(c)(4)(i) and (ii) and the FEC brochure "Coordinated Communications and Independent Expenditures" [HTML] [PDF] for additional information.

The charts below provide a state-by-state breakdown of the 90- and 120-day coordinated communications periods for Congressional primaries, Presidential primaries, Presidential nominating conventions, the Congressional general election and special elections.
NOTE: For communications that refer to both a party and a clearly identified federal candidate please consult the regulations at 11 CFR 109.21(c)(4)(i)-(iv).

 

Coordinated Communications Periods for Congressional Primaries ¹

State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
Alabama Congressional Primary	03/13/12	12/14/11 - 03/13/12
Primary Runoff (NOT HELD)	04/24/12	01/25/12 - 04/24/12
Alaska Congressional Primary	08/28/12	05/30/12 - 08/28/12
American Samoa Congressional Primary	11/06/12	08/08/12 - 11/06/12
*Arizona Congressional Primary	08/28/12	05/30/12 - 08/28/12
Arkansas Congressional Primary	05/22/12	02/22/12 - 05/22/12
Primary Runoff	06/12/12	03/14/12 - 06/12/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*California Congressional Primary	06/05/12	03/07/12 - 06/05/12
Colorado Congressional Primary	06/26/12	03/28/12 - 06/26/12
*Connecticut Congressional Primary	08/14/12 2	05/16/12 - 08/14/12
Connecticut Democratic Party Conventions - Senate	05/12/12 2	02/12/12 - 05/12/12
Connecticut Democratic Party Conventions - House	05/14/12 2	02/14/12 - 05/14/12
Connecticut Republican Party Conventions - House & Senate	05/18/12 2	02/18/12 - 05/18/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*Delaware Congressional Primary	09/11/12	06/13/12 - 09/11/12
District of Columbia Congressional Primary	04/03/12	01/04/12 - 04/03/12
*Florida Congressional Primary	08/14/12	05/16/12 - 08/14/12
Georgia Congressional Primary	07/31/12	05/02/12 - 07/31/12
Primary Runoff	08/21/12	05/23/12 - 08/21/12
General Runoff (NOT HELD)	12/04/12	09/05/12 - 12/04/12
Guam Congressional Primary	09/01/12	06/03/12 - 09/01/12
General Runoff (NOT HELD)	11/20/12	08/22/12 - 11/20/12
*Hawaii Congressional Primary	08/11/12	05/13/12 - 08/11/12
Idaho Congressional Primary	05/15/12	02/15/12 - 05/15/12
Illinois Congressional Primary	03/20/12	12/21/11 - 03/20/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*Indiana Congressional Primary	05/08/12 2	02/08/12 - 05/08/12
*Indiana Congressional Convention -- Libertarian Party	03/24/12 2	12/25/11 - 03/24/12
Iowa Congressional Primary	06/05/12	03/07/12 - 06/05/12
Kansas Congressional Primary	08/07/12 2	05/09/12 - 08/07/12
Kansas Congressional Convention -- Libertarian Party	03/24/12	12/25/11 - 03/24/12
Kentucky Congressional Primary	05/22/12	02/22/12 - 05/22/12
Louisiana Congressional Primary	08/17/12 3	05/19/12 - 08/17/12
General	11/06/12 3	08/08/12 - 11/06/12
General Runoff (LA/03 ONLY)	12/08/12 3	09/09/12 - 12/08/12
*Maine Congressional Primary	06/12/12	03/14/12 - 06/12/12
*Maryland Congressional Primary	04/03/12	01/04/12 - 04/03/12
*Maryland Congressional Convention -- Green Party	05/12/12	02/12/12 - 05/12/12
*Maryland Congressional Convention -- Libertarian Party	03/03/12	12/04/11 - 03/03/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*Massachusetts Congressional Primary	09/06/12	06/08/12 - 09/06/12
*Michigan Congressional Primary	08/07/12 2	05/09/12 - 08/07/12
*Michigan Congressional Convention -- Green Party	06/03/12 2	03/05/12 - 06/03/12
*Michigan Congressional Convention -- Libertarian Party	06/02/12 2	03/04/12 - 06/02/12
*Michigan Congressional Convention -- U.S. Taxpayers Party	06/16/12 2	03/18/12 - 06/16/12
*Minnesota Congressional Primary	08/14/12	05/16/12 - 08/14/12
*Mississippi Congressional Primary	03/13/12	12/14/11 - 03/13/12
Primary Runoff (NOT HELD)	04/03/12	01/04/12 - 04/03/12
*Missouri Congressional Primary	08/07/12	05/09/12 - 08/07/12
*Montana Congressional Primary	06/05/12	03/07/12 - 06/05/12
Nebraska Congressional Primary	05/15/12	02/15/12 - 05/15/12
*Nevada Congressional Primary	06/12/12	03/14/12 - 06/12/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
New Hampshire Congressional Primary	09/11/12	06/13/12 - 09/11/12
New Jersey Congressional Primary	06/05/12	03/07/12 - 06/05/12
*New Mexico Congressional Primary	06/05/12	03/07/12 - 06/05/12
*New York Congressional Primary	06/26/12	03/28/12 - 06/26/12
North Carolina Congressional Primary	05/08/12	02/08/12 - 05/08/12
Primary Runoff	07/17/12	04/18/12 - 07/17/12
*North Dakota Congressional Primary	06/12/12	03/14/12 - 06/12/12
*Ohio Primary	03/06/12	12/07/11 - 03/06/12
Oklahoma Congressional Primary	06/26/12	03/28/12 - 06/26/12
Primary Runoff	08/28/12	05/30/12 - 08/28/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
Oregon Congressional Primary	05/15/12	02/15/12 - 05/15/12
Oregon Constitution Party Convention	05/19/12	02/19/12 - 05/19/12
Oregon Independent Party Primary	07/17/12	04/18/12 - 07/17/12
Oregon Libertarian Party Convention	06/29/12	03/31/12 - 06/29/12
Oregon Pacific Green Party Convention	06/02/12	03/04/12 - 06/02/12
*Pennsylvania Congressional Primary	04/24/12	01/25/12 - 04/24/12
Puerto Rico Congressional Primary	03/18/12	12/19/11 - 03/18/12
*Rhode Island Congressional Primary	09/11/12	06/13/12 - 09/11/12
South Carolina Congressional Primary	06/12/12 2	03/14/12 - 06/12/12
Primary Runoff	06/26/12	03/28/12 - 06/26/12
South Carolina Constitution Party Convention	05/12/12 2	02/12/12 - 05/12/12
South Carolina Green Party Convention	04/28/12 2	01/29/12 - 04/28/12
South Carolina Libertarian Party Convention	04/21/12 2	01/22/12 - 04/21/12
South Carolina Working Families Party Convention	05/05/12 2	02/05/12 - 05/05/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
South Dakota Congressional Primary	06/05/12	03/07/12 - 06/05/12
Primary Runoff	06/26/12	03/28/12 - 06/26/12
*Tennessee Congressional Primary	08/02/12	05/04/12 - 08/02/12
*Texas Congressional Primary	0/29/12 2	02/29/12 - 05/29/12
Primary Runoff	07/31/12	05/02/12 - 07/31/12
*Texas Minor Party Senate Conventions	06/09/12 2	03/11/12 - 06/09/12
Texas House -- Minor Party Convention  [Multi-County Districts # 1, 4-6, 8-15, 17, 19, 21-28, 31-36]	03/24/12 2	12/25/11 - 03/24/12
Texas House -- Minor Party Convention  [Single County Districts # 2, 3, 7, 16, 18, 20, 29, 30]	03/17/12 2	12/18/11 - 03/17/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*Utah Congressional Primary	06/26/12 2	03/28/12 - 06/26/12
Utah Congressional Conventions -- Democratic & Republican Parties	04/21/12 2	01/22/12 - 04/21/12
Utah Congressional Convention -- Constitution Party	04/07/12 2	01/08/12 - 04/07/12
Utah Congressional Convention -- Libertarian Party	04/21/12 2	01/22/12 - 04/21/12
*Vermont Congressional Primary	08/28/12	05/30/12 - 08/28/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
Virgin Islands Congressional Primary	09/08/12	06/10/12 - 09/08/12
Primary Runoff	09/22/12	06/24/12 - 09/22/12
General Runoff (NOT HELD)	11/20/12	08/22/12 - 11/20/12
*Virginia Congressional Primary	06/12/12 2	03/14/12 - 06/12/12
Virginia Democratic Party Convention [Dist. #s 1, 10]	05/12/12 2	02/12/12 - 05/12/12
Virginia Democratic Party Convention [Dist. #s 5, 9]	05/19/12 2	02/19/12 - 05/19/12
Virginia Democratic Party Convention [Dist. # 7]	04/28/12 2	01/29/12 - 04/28/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*Washington Congressional Primary	08/07/12	05/09/12 - 08/07/12
*West Virginia Congressional Primary	05/08/12 2	02/08/12 - 05/08/12
*Wisconsin Congressional Primary	08/14/12	05/16/12 - 08/14/12
*Wyoming Congressional Primary	08/21/12	05/23/12 - 08/21/12

* States holding 2012 Senate elections.

¹ Election dates are subject to change.  This chart will be updated as additional information becomes available.

² In Connecticut and Utah, conventions are held by the political parties prior to the primary. In Virginia, parties may choose to nominate by convention rather than by primary election. (In other states, such as Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia, it is possible that minor parties may schedule conventions to nominate candidates.)

3 In AO 2000-29 [PDF], the Commission determined that the last day to qualify for a position on the general election ballot in Louisiana--in this case 08/17/12-- must be considered the primary election date for Louisiana candidates. See 11 CFR 100.2(c)(4)(i). The election for candidates seeking federal office is the general election scheduled for 11/06/12. Additionally, under state law if no candidate in the 11/06/12 general election receives over 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held on 12/01/12.

 

Coordinated Communications Period for Congressional General Election

Special Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through date of general election)
General Election	11/06/12	08/08/12 - 11/06/12

 

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Coordinated Communications Periods for Presidential Primary Elections ⁴

Alabama-Colorado
Connecticut-Guam
Hawaii-Kentucky
Louisiana-Missouri
Montana-New York
North Carolina-Rhode Island
South Carolina-Virgin Islands
Virginia-Wyoming
 

State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Alabama Presidential Primary	03/13/12	11/14/11 - 11/06/12
Alaska Presidential Caucus (D)	04/16/12	12/18/11 - 11/06/12
Alaska Presidential Caucus (R)	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
American Samoa Presidential Caucus (D)	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
American Samoa Presidential Caucus (R)	03/13/12	11/14/11 - 11/06/12
Arizona Presidential Primary	02/28/12	10/31/11 - 11/06/12
Arkansas Presidential Primary	05/22/12	01/23/12 - 11/06/12
California Presidential Primary	06/05/12	02/06/12 - 11/06/12
Colorado Presidential Caucus (R)	02/07/12	10/10/11 - 11/06/12
Colorado Presidential Caucus (D)	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Connecticut Presidential Primary	04/24/12	12/26/11 - 11/06/12
Delaware Presidential Primary	04/24/12	12/26/11 - 11/06/12
District of Columbia Presidential Primary	04/03/12	12/05/11 - 11/06/12
Florida Presidential Primary	01/31/12	10/03/11 - 11/06/12
Georgia Presidential Primary	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
Guam Presidential Caucus (D)	05/05/12	01/06/12 - 11/06/12
Guam Presidential Caucus (R)	03/10/12	11/11/12 - 11/06/12
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Hawaii Presidential Caucus (D)	03/07/12	11/08/11 - 11/06/12
Hawaii Presidential Caucus (R)	03/13/12	11/14/12 - 11/06/12
Idaho Presidential Caucus (D)	04/14/12	12/16/11 - 11/06/12
Idaho Presidential Caucus (R)	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
Illinois Presidential Primary	03/20/12	11/21/11 - 11/06/12
Indiana Presidential Primary	05/08/12	01/09/12 - 11/06/12
Iowa Presidential Caucus	01/03/12	09/05/11 - 11/06/12
Kansas Presidential Caucus (D)	04/14/12	12/16/11 - 11/06/12
Kansas Presidential Convention (R)	03/10/12	11/11/11 - 11/06/12
Kentucky Presidential Primary	05/22/12	01/23/12 - 11/06/12
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Louisiana Presidential Primary	03/24/12	11/25/11 - 11/06/12
Maine Presidential Caucus (D)	03/11/12	11/12/11 - 11/06/12
Maine Presidential Caucus (R)	02/11/12	10/14/11 - 11/06/12
Maryland Presidential Primary	04/03/12	12/05/11 - 11/06/12
Massachusetts Presidential Primary	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
Michigan Presidential Primary	02/28/12	10/31/11 - 11/06/12
Minnesota Presidential Caucus	02/07/12	10/10/11 - 11/06/12
Mississippi Presidential Primary	03/13/12	11/14/11 - 11/06/12
Missouri Presidential Primary	02/07/12	10/10/11 - 11/06/12
Missouri Presidential Caucus (R)	03/17/12	11/18/11 - 11/06/12
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Montana Presidential Primary	06/05/12	02/06/12 - 11/06/12
Nebraska Presidential Primary	05/15/12	01/16/12 - 11/06/12
Nevada Presidential Caucus (D)	01/21/12	09/23/11 - 11/06/12
Nevada Presidential Caucus	02/04/12	10/07/11 - 11/06/12
New Hampshire Presidential Primary	01/10/12	09/12/11 - 11/06/12
New Jersey Presidential Primary	06/05/12	02/06/12 - 11/06/12
New Mexico Presidential Primary	06/05/12	02/06/12 - 11/06/12
New York Presidential Primary	04/24/12	12/26/11 - 11/06/12
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
North Carolina Presidential Primary	05/08/12	01/09/12 - 11/06/12
North Dakota Presidential Caucus (D)	06/05/12	02/06/12 - 11/06/12
North Dakota Presidential Caucus (R)	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
Northern Mariana Islands Presidential Caucus (D)	TBA	TBA
Northern Mariana Islands Presidential Caucus (R)	03/10/12	11/11/12 - 11/06/12
Ohio Presidential Primary	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
Oklahoma Presidential Primary	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
Oregon Presidential Primary	05/15/12	01/16/12 - 11/06/12
Pennsylvania Presidential Primary	04/24/12	12/26/11 - 11/06/12
Puerto Rico Presidential Caucus (D)	06/03/12	02/04/12 - 11/06/12
Puerto Rico Presidential Primary (R)	03/18/12	11/19/11 - 11/06/12
Rhode Island Presidential Primary	04/24/12	12/26/11 - 11/06/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
South Carolina Presidential Primary (R)	01/21/12	09/23/11 - 11/06/12
South Carolina Presidential Primary (D)	01/28/12	09/30/11 - 11/06/12
South Dakota Presidential Primary	06/05/12	02/06/12 - 11/06/12
Tennessee Presidential Primary	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
Texas Presidential Primary	05/29/12	01/30/12 - 11/06/12
Utah Presidential Caucus (D)	03/13/12	11/14/11 - 11/06/12
Utah Presidential Primary (R)	06/26/12	02/27/12 - 11/06/12
Vermont Presidential Primary	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
Virgin Islands Presidential Caucus (D)	06/03/12	02/04/12 - 11/06/12
Virgin Islands Presidential Caucus (R)	03/10/12	11/11/11 - 11/06/12
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Virginia Presidential Primary	03/06/12	11/07/11 - 11/06/12
Washington Presidential Caucus (R)	03/03/12	11/04/11 - 11/06/12
Washington Presidential Primary	04/15/12	12/17/11 - 11/06/12
West Virginia Presidential Primary	05/08/12	01/09/12 - 11/06/12
Wisconsin Presidential Primary	04/03/12	12/05/11 - 11/06/12
Wyoming Presidential Caucus (D)	04/14/12	12/16/11 - 11/06/12
Wyoming Presidential Convention (R)	03/10/12	11/11/11 - 11/06/12

⁴ Because delegate selection rules vary by state and by party, some Presidential election, caucus and convention dates are not yet available, and the published dates are subject to change.  In some states, for example, one or both major parties intend to hold caucuses but have not finalized their plans.  To account for these and other similar situations, this chart will be updated as additional information becomes available.

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Coordinated Communications Period for National Party Presidential Nominating Conventions

Special Election	Convention Dates	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Democrat	09/03/12 - 09/06/12	05/09/12 - 11/06/12
Republican	08/27/12 - 08/30/12	05/02/12 - 11/06/12

 

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Coordinated Communications Periods for Special Elections

Special Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
Arizona 8th Congressional District Special Primary	04/17/12	01/18/12 - 04/17/12
Arizona 8th Congressional District Special General	06/12/12	03/14/12 - 06/12/12
Kentucky 4th Congressional District Special General	11/06/12	08/08/12 - 11/06/12
Michigan 11th Congressional District Special Primary	09/05/12	06/07/12 - 09/05/12
Michigan 11th Congressional District Special General	11/06/12	08/08/12 - 11/06/12
New Jersey 10th Congressional District Special Primary	06/05/12	03/07/12 - 06/05/12
New Jersey 10th Congressional District Special General	11/06/12	08/08/12 - 11/06/12
Oregon 1st Congressional District Special Primary	11/08/11	08/10/11 - 11/08/11
Oregon 1st Congressional District Special General	01/31/12	11/02/11 - 01/31/12
Washington 1st Congressional District Special Primary	08/07/12	05/09/12 - 08/07/12
Washington 1st Congressional District Special General	11/06/12	08/08/12 - 11/06/12