About campaign finance data
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) collects and disseminates data submitted by campaign committees, candidates, political party committees, political action committees and other filers. [1] The FEC's information includes financial data, organizational information about political committees and other filers and election-related background on candidates.
Most reports and statements submitted to the FEC are filed electronically, but some are received via paper filings and scanned for inclusion in FEC databases. Summary data is included in FEC databases and images [2] of reports are posted to FEC.gov within 48 hours of receipt.
Prior to September 2018, Senate filers submitted paper reports and statements to the Secretary of the Senate. Now Senate filers submit reports and statements to the FEC under the same rules as other electronic filers.
Images of reports and statements
The FEC has the following images of reports and statements.
PAC, party and presidential filings
- 1993-present: electronic copy
- 1972-1992: microfilm
House committee filings [3]
- May 1996-present: electronic copy
- 1972-April 1996: microfilm
Senate filings
- May 2000-present: electronic copy
- 1972-April 2000: microfilm
Form availability
The FEC's data capture procedures have varied over the years and by filer type. This table describes the FEC form-level data:
| Form | Form Name | Earliest year available [4] |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Statement of organization | 1972 |
| F1M | Notification of multicandidate status | 2002 [5] |
| F2 | Statement of candidacy | 1974 |
| F3 | Report of receipts and disbursements for an authorized committee: House and Senate | 1974 |
| F3L | Report of contributions bundled by lobbyists/registrants and lobbyist/registrant PACs | 2009 |
| F3P | Report of receipts and disbursements for an authorized committee: presidential | 1978 [6] |
| F3X | Report of receipts and disbursements for other than an authorized committee | 1974 |
| F24 | 24-Hour or 48-Hour report of independent expenditures | 2002 |
| SL | Aggregation page: Levin funds | 2003 |
| F4 | Report of receipts and disbursements for a committee or organization supporting a nominating convention | 2001 |
| F5 | Report of independent expenditures made and contributions received (to be used by persons (other than political committees)) | 1975 |
| F6 | 48-Hour notice of contributions received | 1980 |
| F7 | Report of communication costs by corporations and membership organizations | 1975 |
| F8 | Debt settlement plan | 1981 |
| F9 | 24-Hour notice of disbursements for electioneering communications | 2004 |
| F13 | Report of donations accepted for inaugural committee | 2005 |
| F99 | Miscellaneous text | 1980 |
| RFAI | Request for additional information | 1976 |
This table describes retired forms:
| Form | Form Name | Earliest year available | Last year available |
|---|---|---|---|
| SI | Aggregation page: nonfederal accounts of national party committees | 1991 | 2003 |
| F10 | 24-Hour notice of expenditure of personal funds | 2003 | 2009 |
| F11 | 24-Hour notice of opposition personal funds amount | 2003 | 2008 |
| F12 | 24-Hour notice of suspension of increased limits | 2004 | 2006 |
Endnotes
1 Every person, group of persons or organization, other than a political committee, that makes certain communications may be required to file certain disclosure forms with the FEC, as well as comply with disclaimer requirements for specific types of communications. Host committees, convention committees and inaugural committees must also register and file specific disclosure forms with the FEC regarding their activities.
2 We do not create .pdfs of reports of 200,000 pages or more.
3 House candidates began filing directly with the FEC on April 15, 1996. Prior to April 1996, they filed with the Clerk of the House.
4 The FEC began operations in 1975. Forms filed prior to 1975 were filed with the Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, or the Government Accountability Office for presidential filings. The names of the forms were different.
5 Form 1M was introduced in January 1994. Prior to Form 1M, committees checked a box on Form 3X. Between 1994 and 2002, Form 1M was entered into the FEC's database as a Form 1 with amendment indicator equal to "M."
6 1976 presidential filings were reported on Form 3.