24-hour reports
When party committees make independent expenditures that aggregate $1,000 or more during the 24-hour reporting period with respect to a given election, they file a 24-hour report using Schedule E of Form 3X. The 24-hour reporting period is for independent expenditures that are made after the 20th day, but more than 24 hours, before the day of an election. The FEC must receive the 24-hour report within 24 hours after the communication is publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated.
Learn more about 24-hour reporting periods for independent expenditures.
Each time subsequent independent expenditures relating to the same election aggregate an additional $1,000 or more, a new 24-hour report must be filed.
The party committee must report independent expenditures a second time on a Schedule E filed with its next regularly scheduled report.
How to file
Paper filers may file by fax (202-219-0174) or email (2022190174@fec.gov).
Electronic filers must file 24-hour reports electronically. Additionally, electronic filers and paper filers may file 24-hour reports using the FEC’s online webform.
Filing a 24-hour report
Party committees file a 24-hour report using Schedule E by checking the 24-hour report box.
To itemize an independent expenditure, the committee discloses:
- Name and address of payee if the payment or disbursement exceeds the $200 aggregate threshold for itemization
- Date of dissemination
- Amount
- The payment date if known (if unknown, leave the field blank)
- Purpose of the expenditure (e.g. radio, television, newspaper ad)
- Candidate supported or opposed, including the candidate’s name, office sought, state of election and Congressional district (if applicable), and election for which the disbursement was made
- Aggregate amount during the calendar year per election, per office sought
Freedom Party State Committee fills out Schedule E as a 24-hour report by checking the “24-hour report” box. It discloses the payee’s name (Big Media Co.) and its address, the amount of the independent expenditure, the date the independent expenditure was publicly distributed, the aggregate for this race and election in this calendar year, and a clear purpose, “Television Advertisement.” The party committee also includes that the independent expenditure was made to support Martha Washington in the 2018 primary election for Virginia’s first congressional district.
Aggregating independent expenditures
Independent expenditures are aggregated toward the 24 and 48-hour reporting thresholds on a per-election basis, within the calendar year, per office sought (race).
The calculation of the aggregate amount of the independent expenditures must include both disbursements for independent expenditures and all contracts obligating funds for disbursements of independent expenditures.
Certification
Schedule E requires a certification, under penalty of perjury, that the expenditure meets the standards for independence.
At the end of the 24-hour report, Jeremy Andrews signs the certification that the expenditure disclosed on the Schedule E was made independently.
Reporting with FECFile
To create a 24-hour report, go to the Reports tab, right click in the white space, and select “New.” Choose “24 hour report (Form 24).”
To add transactions to a 24-hour report, highlight the report on the Reports tab, and then go to the All Transactions tab. Right click on independent expenditure(s) you want to add to the 24-hour report and select "Add to Form24."
