Federal Election Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Texas has scheduled a Special General Election on May 1, 2021, to fill its U.S. House of Representatives seat in the 6th Congressional District of the late Representative Ron Wright. There are two possible elections, but only one may be necessary. Under Texas law, all qualified candidates, regardless of party affiliation, will appear on the ballot. The majority winner of the special election is declared elected. Should no candidate achieve a majority vote, the Governor will then set the date for a Special Runoff Election that will include only the top two vote-getters. Committees participating in the Texas special election are required to file pre- and post-election reports.

Louisiana has scheduled a Special General Election on March 20, 2021, to fill its U.S. House of Representatives seat in the 5th Congressional District following the passing of Representative-elect Luke J. Letlow. Under Louisiana law, a majority winner in a Special General Election is declared elected. Should no candidate achieve a majority vote, a Special Runoff Election will be held on April 24, 2021, between the top two vote-getters. Political committees participating in the Louisiana special elections are required to file pre- and post-election reports. Filing deadlines for these reports are affected by whether one or two elections are held.

As required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, the Federal Election Commission is adjusting for inflation the civil monetary penalties established under the Federal Election Campaign Act, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. The civil monetary penalties being adjusted are those negotiated by the Commission or imposed by a court for certain statutory violations, and those imposed by the Commission for late filing of, or failure to file, certain reports required by the Federal Election Campaign Act. The adjusted civil monetary penalties are calculated according to a statutory formula and the adjusted amounts will apply to penalties assessed after the effective date of these rules.

Georgia has scheduled a Special General Election on September 29, 2020, to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat of the late Representative John Lewis. Under Georgia law, a majority winner in a Special General Election is declared elected. Should no candidate achieve a majority vote, a Special Runoff Election will be held on December 1, 2020, between the top two vote-getters. Political committees participating in the Georgia special elections are required to file pre- and post-election reports. Filing deadlines for these reports are affected by whether one or two elections are held.

On April 8, 2020, the Federal Election Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking asking the Commission to amend its regulations to limit the amount that the authorized committee of a federal candidate may transfer to a national political party committee. The Petition proposes to limit these transfers so that a self-funded candidate cannot transfer funds derived from the candidate's personal funds to a national political party committee if the transferred funds would exceed the annual limit on an individual's contributions to a national party committee. The Commission seeks comment on the Petition.

Georgia has scheduled a Special General Election on November 3, 2020, to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator Johnny Isakson. Under Georgia law, a majority winner in a Special General Election is declared elected. Should no candidate achieve a majority vote, a Special Runoff Election will be held on January 5, 2021, between the top two vote-getters. Political committees participating in the Georgia special elections are required to file pre- and post- election reports. Filing deadlines for these reports are affected by whether one or two elections are held.

New York has scheduled a special election on April 28, 2020, to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat in the 27th Congressional District vacated by Representative Chris Collins. Committees required to file reports in connection with the Special General Election on April 28, 2020 shall file a 12-day Pre-General Report, and a 30-day Post-General Report.

The Commission is withdrawing the notice published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2019, concerning filing dates for the Special Primary and Special General Elections to be held in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District because it was based on outdated information regarding when those special elections will be held. The Commission is now publishing a corrected version of that notice, reflecting updated information regarding when the Special Primary and Special General Elections will be held.

Maryland has scheduled special elections on February 4, 2020, and April 28, 2020, to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat in the 7th Congressional District of the late Representative Elijah Cummings. Committees required to file reports in connection with the Special Primary Election on February 4, 2020, shall file a 12-day Pre-Primary Report. Committees required to file reports in connection with both the Special Primary and Special General Election on April 28, 2020, shall file a 12-day Pre-Primary, a 12-day Pre-General, and a 30-day Post- General Report.