FEC cites committee in Maryland for failure to file 12-Day Pre-Convention financial report
On April 28, 2016, the Federal Election Commission cited a campaign committee for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Convention Report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act), for Maryland''s Green Party Convention that is being held on May 1, 2016.
As of April 27, 2016, the required disclosure report had not been received from:
- Flowers for Senate (MD)
The pre-convention report was due on April 19, 2016, and should have included financial activity for the period April 1, 2016, through April 11, 2016. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by April 16, 2016.
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 Maryland''s Green Party Convention of their potential filing requirements on March 25, 2016. Those committees that did not file by the due date were sent notification on April 20, 2016 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.
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