PRIMARY ELECTION REPORT NOTICE

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

POLITICAL COMMITTEES INVOLVED IN THE PRIMARY (02/02/10)

WHO MUST FILE

The following committees must file the Illinois Pre-Primary Report:

• Principal campaign committees of congressional candidates 4 (including unopposed candidates and candidates whose names do not appear on the ballot) who seek election in the primary election must file the above reports and notices. 5
• PACs and party committees filing on a quarterly basis in 2010 are subject to pre-election reporting if they make previously undisclosed contributions or expenditures (including independent expenditures) in connection with an election by the close of books of the applicable report(s).

Before a committee can stop filing with the FEC, it must file a termination report with the Commission. See 11 CFR 102.3. Committees must continue to file reports until the Commission notifies them in writing that their termination report has been accepted.

SUPPLEMENTAL FILING INFORMATION

• Congressional Committees
• Parties and PACs

FOOTNOTES:

1 These dates indicate the beginning and the end of the reporting period. A reporting period always begins the day after the closing date of the last report filed. If the committee is new and has not previously filed a report, the first report must cover all activity that occurred before the committee registered up through the close of books for the first report due.

2 Notice that the registered/certified & overnight mailing deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday. The report should be postmarked before that date.

3 As an alternative, committees may file a consolidated Year-End/IL Pre-Primary Report covering 10/01/09 - 01/13/10 by January 21, 2010.

Note for PACs & Parties: Since disclosing financial activity from two different calendar years on one report would conflict with the calendar year aggregation requirements for unauthorized committees, PACs and parties filing the consolidated report are to do so on separate forms--the form disclosing 2009 activity labeled as the "Year-End Report;" the other, covering only 2010 activity, as the "Pre-Primary Report."

4 Generally, an individual becomes a candidate for federal office (and thus triggers registration and reporting obligations) when his or her campaign exceeds $5,000 in either contributions or expenditures. If the campaign has not crossed the $5,000 threshold, it is not required to file reports. See 11 CFR 100.3(a).

5 If a candidate has more than one authorized committee, the principal campaign committee must also file a consolidated report on Form 3Z [PDF].

FOR INFORMATION, CALL: (800) 424-9530 or (202) 694-1100