Committees fail to file pre-election reports (August 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). 

Georgia pre-primary report 

The Commission cited one campaign committee for failing to file a pre-primary report in connection with the Georgia primary election held on July 20, 2010. 

As of July 16, 2010, the required disclosure report had not been received from Friends of Bobby Reese (GA-9). 

The report was due on July 8, 2010, and should have included financial activity for the period April 1, 2010, through June 30, 2010. If sent by certified or registered mail, the reports should have been postmarked by July 5, 2010. 

The FEC notified committees involved in the Georgia primary election of their potential filing requirements on June 14, 2010. Those committees that did not file on the due date were sent notification on July 9, 2010, that their reports had not been received and that their names would be published if they did not respond within four business days. 

Michigan and Missouri pre-primary reports 

The Commission cited two campaign committees for failing to file the Pre-Primary Report in connection with the Michigan and Missouri primary elections held on August 3, 2010. 

As of July 30, 2010, the required disclosure reports had not been received from: 

• Withers for Congress (MI-5); and 
  
• Arthur Madden for Congress (MO-4). 
  

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

The FEC notified committees involved in the Michigan and Missouri primary elections of their potential filing requirements on June 28, 2010. Those committees that did not file on the due date were sent notification on July 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. 

Some individuals and their committees have no obligation to file reports under federal campaign finance law, even though their names may appear on the ballot. 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 committees 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 nonfilers 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.