FEC cites committees for failure to file 12-Day Pre-Primary Financial Report

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission cited two campaign committees in Louisiana today for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Primary Report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act).

As of July 21, 2020, the required disclosure report had not been received from:

- Campaign to Elect Antoine Pierce (LA)

- Rob Anderson for Louisiana (LA-3)

In Advisory Opinion 2000-29, the Commission determined that the last day to qualify for a position on the general election ballot in Louisiana must be considered the primary election date for Louisiana candidates. In the current cycle, this date is July 24, 2020.

The Louisiana pre-primary report was due on July 12, 2020, and should have included financial activity for the period April 1, 2020, through July 4, 2020. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by July 9, 2020.

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 these primary elections of their potential filing requirements on June 23, 2020. Those committees that did not file by the due date were sent notification on July 13, 2020, 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.