Committees fail to file pre-election reports (June 2010)

The Commission cited several campaign committees for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Election Reports required by the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act). 

North Carolina pre-primary report 

The Commission cited two campaign committees for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Primary Election Report required by the Act for the North Carolina primary election held on May 4, 2010. 

As of April 30, 2010, the required disclosure report had not been received from: 

• George Hutchins for U.S. Congress (NC-4); and 
  
• Dr. Dan 4 Congress (NC-11). 
  

The reports were due on April 22, 2010, and should have included financial activity for the period April 1, 2010, through April 14, 2010. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by April 19, 2010. 

The Commission notified committees involved in the May 4 North Carolina primary election of their potential filing requirements on March 29, 2010. Those committees that did not file on the due date were notified on April 23, 2010, that their reports had not been received and that their names would be published if they did not respond within four business days. 

Ohio pre-primary report 

The Commission cited a campaign committee for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Primary Election Report required by the Act for the Ohio primary election held on May 4, 2010. 

As of April 30, 2010, the required disclosure report had not been received from: 

• Citizens for MacNealy (OH-3). 
  

The report was due on April 22, 2010, and should have included financial activity for the period April 1, 2010, through April 14, 2010. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by April 19, 2010. 

The Commission notified committees involved in the May 4 Ohio primary election of their potential filing requirements on March 29, 2010. Those committees that did not file on the due date were notified on April 23, 2010, that their reports had not been received and that their names would be published if they did not respond within four business days. 

Utah Pre-Convention report 

The Commission cited a campaign committee for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Convention report required by the Act for Utah’s Convention held on May 8, 2010. 

As of May 5, 2010, the required disclosure report had not been received from: 

• Committee to Elect Christopher Stout. 
  

The report was due on April 26, 2010, and should have included financial activity for the period April 1, 2010, through April 18, 2010. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by April 23, 2010. 

The Commission notified committees involved in the Utah Convention of their potential filing requirements on April 2, 2010. Those committees that did not file on the due date were sent notification on April 27, 2010, that their reports had not been received and that their names would be published if they did not respond within four business days. 

Oregon Pre-Primary report 

The Commission cited a campaign committee for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Primary Election Report required by the Act for Oregon’s primary election held on May 18, 2010. 

As of May 14, 2010, the required disclosure report had not been received from: 

• Germond for Congress (OR-4). 
  

The report was due on May 6, 2010, and should have included financial activity for the period April 1, 2010, through April 28, 2010. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by May 3, 2010. 

The FEC notified committees involved in the Oregon primary election of their potential filing requirements on April 12, 2010. Those committees that did not file on the due date were sent notification on May 7, 2010, that their reports had not been received and that their names would be published if they did not respond within four business days. 

Additional information 

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. 

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 Commission broad authority to initiate enforcement actions, and the Commission has implemented an Administrative Fine program with provisions for assessing monetary penalties.