Administrative Fine Program Having Impact on Filings

ADMINISTRATIVE FINE PROGRAM HAVING IMPACT ON FILINGS

WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission’s recently initiated Administrative Fine Program is having an impact on the timely filing of reports by committees. Since the program was implemented with the 2000 July Quarterly reports, the results have shown a general decrease in reports filed late or not filed at all.

The number of reports filed late compared to prior cycles declined in each reporting period, except the monthly report for August. For some periods, the decline in the number of late reports was significant. For example, the percentage of year-end late reports declined from 24% for the year-end 1998 reports, to 11% for the year-end 2000 reports. The largest percentage drop in the number of late filers occurred with recent monthly report filings. The number of September monthly reports filed late dropped 16 percentage points from the 1998 cycle; November reports declined 18 percentage points, and December reports fell 28 percentage points.

The number of nonfilers since July 2000 generally has declined from the 1998 cycle, with the exception of the year-end report and several monthly reports where the number of nonfilers has increased from 1998. The largest percentage decline in nonfilers occurred with the post-general election report, where nonfilers dropped from 252 in 1998, to 128 in 2000, a 49% decrease. Overall, the percentage of reports filed late dropped from 21.7% in 1996, to 15.6% in 2000 for comparable reporting periods.

Reports are considered to be filed late if they are received after the due date, but within 30 days of that due date. Election-sensitive reports will be considered late if they are filed after their due date, but prior to four days before the election. [Election sensitive reports are those filed immediately before an election and include pre-primary, pre-special, pre-general, October Quarterly, and October monthly reports.] Committees filing reports outside of these parameters will be considered non-filers.

The following tables present the number of reports filed, the number of reports filed late, and the number of reports not filed for each major report since the inception of the Administrative Fine Program in July 2000. These figures also are presented for the corresponding reports in the 1996 and 1998 election cycles.

Late and Non-Filed Reports

Quarterly Reports

		July 2000			July 1998			July 1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		4,546			4,417			4,752
Filed Late		836	18%		1,095	25%		1,175	25%
Non Filed		179			204			246

 

		October 2000			October 1998			October 1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		4,648			4,463			4,773
Filed Late		1,035	22%		1,075	24%		1,206	25%
Non Filed		214			238			259

Mid-Year Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		557			800			693
Filed Late		123	22%		230	29%		207	30%
Non Filed		40			68			100

Pre-General Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		3,581			3,146			3,441
Filed Late		478	13%		534	17%		621	18%
Non Filed		126			144			174

Post-General Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		5,119			4,778			4,896
Filed Late		871	17%		1,073	22%		1,089	22%
Non Filed		128			252			327

Year-End Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		5,785			5,855			6,156
Filed Late		657	11%		1,391	24%		1,379	22%
Non Filed		256			163			228

Monthly Reports

July Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		895			823			814
Filed Late		61	7%		65	8%		102	13%
Non Filed		2			2			12

August Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		904			831			825
Filed Late		118	13%		96	12%		88	11%
Non Filed		0			10			4

September Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		900			836			829
Filed Late		88	10%		219	26%		64	8%
Non Filed		3			1			12

October Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		911			833			835
Filed Late		57	6%		87	10%		150	18%
Non Filed		3			3			14

November Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		70			63			76
Filed Late		8	11%		18	29%		17	22%
Non Filed		5			2			1

December Reports

		2000			1998			1996
		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total		# Reports	% of Total
Total Filed		52			40			53
Filed Late		14	27%		22	55%		15	28%
Non Filed		2			0			3