FEC cites committee for failure to file 12-day pre-primary report
On March 4, 2016, the Federal Election Commission cited a campaign committee for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Primary Election Report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act), for the Mississippi primary election to be held on March 8, 2016.
As of March 3, 2016, the required disclosure report had not been received from:
- Friends of Bennie Thompson (MS-02)
The report was due on February 25, 2016, and should have included financial activity for the period January 1, 2016 through February 17, 2016. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by February 22, 2016.
The Commission notified committees involved in the Mississippi primary elections of their potential filing requirements on February 1, 2016. Those committees that did not file on the due date were sent notification on February 26, 2016 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 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 FEC broad authority to initiate enforcement actions, and the FEC has implemented an Administrative Fine program with provisions for assessing monetary penalties.
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