Commission cites committee for failure to file Hawaii Pre-Primary report (2012)
On August 8, 2012, the Commission cited a campaign committee for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Primary Election Report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act), for the Hawaii primary election held on August 11, 2012.
As of August 7, 2012, the required disclosure report had not been received from:
- Citizens for Carroll (HI)
The report was due on July 30, 2012, and should have included financial activity for the period July 1, 2012, through July 22, 2012. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by July 27, 2012.
Some individuals and their committees have no obligation to file reports under federal campaign finance law, even though their names may appear on state ballots. If an individual raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not considered a "candidate" subject to reporting under the Act.
The Commission notified committees involved in the Hawaii primary election of their potential filing requirements on July 6, 2012. Those committees that did not file on the due date were sent notification on July 31, 2012 that their reports had not been received and that their names would be published if they did not respond within four business days.
Other political committees that support Senate and House candidates in elections, but are not authorized units of a candidate''s campaign, are also required to file quarterly reports, unless they report monthly. Those committee names are not published by the FEC.
Further Commission action against non-filers and late filers is decided on a case-by-case basis. Federal law gives the FEC broad authority to initiate enforcement actions, and the FEC has implemented an Administrative Fine program with provisions for assessing monetary penalties.
Resources:
-
- Myles Martin
- Public Affairs Specialist
- Myles Martin