Definition of Federal Election Activity, 23068-23072 [05-8864]

Agencies

• Federal Election Commission

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 4, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23068-23072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8864]


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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

11 CFR Part 100

[Notice 2005-13]


Definition of Federal Election Activity

AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Election Commission seeks comments on proposed 
changes to its rules defining ``Federal election activity'' under the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (``FECA''). The 
proposed changes would retain the existing definition of ``voter 
registration activity'' and modify the existing definitions of ``get-
out-the-vote activity'' and ``voter identification'' consistent with 
the ruling of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 
Shays v. FEC. The Commission has made no final decision on the issues 
presented in this rulemaking. Further information is provided in the 
supplementary information that follows.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 3, 2005. If the 
Commission receives sufficient requests to testify, it may hold a 
hearing on these proposed rules. Anyone wishing to testify at the 
hearing must file written comments by the due date and must include a 
request to testify in the written comments.

ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing, addressed to Ms. Mai T. 
Dinh, Assistant General Counsel, and submitted in either electronic, 
facsimile or hard copy form. Commenters are strongly encouraged to 
submit comments electronically to ensure timely receipt and 
consideration. Electronic comments must be sent to either 
FEAdef@fec.gov or submitted through the Federal eRegulations Portal at 
https://www.regulations.gov. If the electronic comments include an 
attachment, the attachment must be in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) or Microsoft 
Word (.doc) format. Faxed comments should be sent to (202) 219-3923, 
with hard copy follow-up. Hard copy comments and hard copy follow-up of 
faxed comments should be sent to the Federal Election Commission, 999 E 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20463. All comments must include the full 
name and postal service address of the commenter or they will not be 
considered. The Commission will post comments on its Web site after the 
comment period ends. If the Commission decides a hearing is necessary, 
the hearing will be held in the Commission's ninth floor meeting room, 
999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mai T. Dinh, Assistant General 
Counsel, Mr. J. Duane Pugh Jr., Senior Attorney, or Ms. Margaret G. 
Perl, Attorney, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694-1650 
or (800) 424-9530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 
(``BCRA''), Public Law No. 107-155, 116 Stat. 81 (2002), amended FECA 
by adding a new term, ``Federal election activity'' (``FEA''), that 
describes certain activities that State, district, and local party 
committees must pay for with either Federal funds \1\ or a combination 
of Federal and Levin funds.\2\ 2 U.S.C. 431(20) and 441i(b)(1); see 
also 2 U.S.C. 441i(d)(1) (prohibiting national, State, district or 
local party committees from soliciting or directing non-Federal funds 
to 501(c) tax-exempt organizations which engage in FEA); 2 U.S.C. 
441i(e)(4) (limiting Federal candidate and officeholder solicitations 
for funds on behalf of 501(c) tax-exempt organizations whose principal 
purpose is to conduct certain types of FEA). The Commission further 
defined FEA in 11 CFR 100.24. In Shays v. FEC, 337 F. Supp.2d 28, 101, 
106-07 (D.D.C. 2004), appeal docketed, No. 04-5352 (D.C. Cir. Sept. 28, 
2004) (``Shays''), the district court held that certain parts of the 
definitions of ``voter registration activity'' and ``get-out-the-vote 
activity'' (``GOTV'') in 11 CFR 100.24(a)(2) and (3), respectively, had 
not been promulgated with adequate notice and opportunity for comment. 
In addition, the district court held that certain aspects of the 
definitions of ``get-out-the-vote activity'' and ``voter 
identification'' in 11 CFR 100.24(a)(3) and (4), respectively, were 
inconsistent with Congressional intent. Shays at 104, 107 n.83, and 
108.\3\ The district court remanded the case for further action 
consistent with the court's decision. The Commission has initiated this 
rulemaking to comply with the district court order.
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    \1\ ``Federal funds'' are funds subject to the limitations, 
prohibitions, and reporting requirements of the Act. See 11 CFR 
300.2(g).
    \2\ ``Levin funds'' are funds that are raised by State, district 
or local party committees pursuant to the restrictions in 11 CFR 
300.31 and disbursed subject to the restrictions in 11 CFR 300.32. 
See 11 CFR 300.2(i).
    \3\ The district court described the first step of the Chevron 
analysis, which courts use to review an agency's regulations: ``a 
court firsts asks `whether Congress has directly spoken to the 
precise question at issue. If the intent of Congress is clear, that 
is the end of the matter; for the court, as well as the agency, must 
give effect to the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress.' '' 
See Shays at 51 (quoting Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. 
Council, 467 U.S. 837, 842-43 (1984)).
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1. 11 CFR 100.24(a)(2)--Definition of ``Voter Registration Activity''

    BCRA does not define ``voter registration activity'' other than to 
specify that it is only FEA when it is conducted 120 days or fewer 
before a regularly scheduled Federal election. See 2 U.S.C. 
431(20)(A)(i). Current section 100.24(a)(2) defines voter registration 
activity to mean ``contacting individuals by telephone, in person, or 
by other individualized means to assist them in registering to vote.'' 
(Emphasis added). The definition also includes a non-exhaustive list of 
examples of costs that are included, such as printing and distributing 
registration and voting information, providing individuals with voter 
registration forms, and assisting individuals in the completion and 
filing of such forms.
    In Shays, the plaintiffs argued that the requirement that voter 
registration activity ``assist'' in the registration of voters 
impermissibly narrowed the definition because it excludes from its 
reach encouragement that does not constitute actual assistance. See 
Shays at 98. The district court found that the Commission's 
interpretation of section 431(20)(A) does not conflict with the 
expressed intent of Congress. Shays at 99-100. ``[T]he Court note[d] 
that it is possible to read the term `voter registration activity' to 
encompass those activities that actually register persons to vote, as 
opposed to those that only encourage persons to do so without more. 
[citation omitted]. Moreover, the Court [did not] find based on the 
record presented that the `common usage' of the term `voter 
registration activity' necessarily includes the latter type of 
activities.'' Id. at 99.\4\
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    \4\ The Court also noted an apparent discrepancy between 11 CFR 
100.133 and 11 CFR 106.5(a)(2)(iv) with regard to the definition of 
voter registration and get-out-the-vote activity. See Shays at 99 
n.71, 103 n.77. However, any such comparison is no longer relevant 
since the latter regulation sunsetted on December 31, 2002.
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    The court also held that the question of whether the regulation 
satisfies step two of the Chevron test--whether the Commission's 
interpretation of the statute is a permissible one--was not ripe for 
review. While the court found that the regulation is not an 
impermissible construction of BCRA,

[[Page 23069]]

the court concluded that it lacked sufficient guidance on the scope of 
the regulation to determine whether it ``unduly compromises the Act's 
purposes.'' Shays at 100 (citing Orloski v. FEC, 795 F.2d 156, 164 
(D.C. Cir. 1986)). In this regard, the court noted that ``[w]hile it is 
clear that mere encouragement does not fall within the scope of the 
regulation, it is possible that encouragement coupled with a direction 
of how one might register could constitute `assist[ance]' under the 
provision.'' Shays at 100.
    The district court also determined that the promulgation of this 
regulation did not satisfy the APA's notice requirement because the 
notice of proposed rulemaking did not indicate that the Commission 
would seek to limit the term ``voter registration activity'' to those 
activities that assist the registration of voters. See Shays at 100-01. 
The Commission has, therefore, initiated this rulemaking to cure what 
the court concluded was a notice problem and to consider the comments 
it receives on the current rule.
    The Commission is concerned that a definition of ``voter 
registration activity'' that includes merely ``encouraging'' people to 
register to vote may sweep too broadly. The current regulations seek to 
balance the need to cover the core voter registration activity targeted 
by the statute with the public policy interest of encouraging the civic 
act of voting. Also, the Commission's experience indicates that 
exhortations to register and vote are so frequent in political party 
communications (and often spontaneous) that attaching any campaign 
finance significance to every ``don't forget to vote'' uttered by 
speakers at political party events or written in a political party 
flyer may be unduly burdensome to the political party committees and 
could overwhelm the administrative and enforcement capacity of the 
Commission. As the Commission noted when it promulgated the regulation, 
``[a] more expansive definition would run the risk that thousands of 
political committees and grassroots organizations that merely 
encouraged voting as a civic duty, who have never been subject to 
Federal regulation for such conduct, would be swept into the extensive 
reporting and filing requirements mandated under Federal law.'' See 
Explanation and Justification for Regulations on Prohibited and 
Excessive Contributions; Non-Federal Funds or Soft Money, 67 FR 49064, 
49067 (July 29, 2002) (``Soft Money E&J''). Consequently, the proposed 
regulation, which is identical to the current rule, would rely on the 
individual contact and ``assist'' requirements to narrow the scope of 
``voter registration activity'' to a standard that is enforceable, and 
yet is otherwise as broad as possible.
    Although the Commission is not proposing any changes to current 11 
CFR 100.24(a)(2), it seeks comment on whether it should address the 
concerns raised by the district court by amending the regulation, 
expanding the explanation and justification for the final rules, or 
providing guidance through a case-by-case application of the rules in 
advisory opinions and the enforcement process. Substantively, the 
Commission seeks comment on the following questions. Should the 
Commission define ``assist'' to include encouragement coupled with a 
direction as to how one might register? Does the ``assist'' limitation 
or the ``individualized means'' requirement exclude any activities that 
should be included in the definition of ``voter registration 
activity?'' Are there other specific activities that the Commission 
should include or exclude from the definition of ``voter registration 
activity?''

2. Proposed 11 CFR 100.24(a)(3)--Definition of ``Get-Out-the-Vote 
Activity''

    In BCRA, Congress also included GOTV within the definition of FEA 
without further defining the term. See 2 U.S.C. 431(20)(A)(ii). Current 
section 100.24(a)(3) defines GOTV as ``contacting registered voters by 
telephone, in person, or by other individualized means to assist them 
in engaging in the act of voting.'' See 11 CFR 100.24(a)(3) (emphasis 
added). For the reasons stated above, the current definition of GOTV 
does not encompass merely encouraging voters to go to the polls. 
Section 100.24(a)(3) includes an exception to the definition of GOTV 
for communications by ``an association or similar group of candidates 
for State or local office or of individuals holding State or local 
office'' where those communications refer only to State or local 
candidates. See 11 CFR 100.24(a)(3). In addition, the current rule 
provides a non-exhaustive list of examples of GOTV activity such as 
providing information to individual voters regarding the date, time and 
location of polling places within 72 hours of an election, and offering 
to transport, or actually transporting, voters to the polls. See 11 CFR 
100.24(a)(3)(i)-(ii).
    The district court found that the term ``get-out-the-vote 
activity'' in section 431(20)(A)(ii) was not defined by Congress and 
can be read in different ways, and concluded that excluding mere 
encouragement of people to vote in section 100.24(a)(3) reflected a 
permissible reading under Chevron step one. See Shays at 101-05. The 
court also upheld the 72-hour provision, noting that current section 
100.24(a)(3) makes clear that the list of examples is non-exhaustive. 
However, the court expressed uncertainty regarding ``what, if any, 
activity conducted outside the 72-hour window [in 11 CFR 
100.24(a)(3)(i)] would be considered GOTV activity,'' and therefore, as 
with the ``assist'' requirement in section 100.24(a)(2), could not 
reach a decision as to Chevron step two. See Shays at 103 (emphasis in 
original). With respect to the exception for State and local candidate 
and officeholder associations in the current GOTV definition, the court 
found that it ``runs contrary to Congress's clearly expressed intent'' 
as enacted in BCRA and fails step one of Chevron. See Shays at 104.
    To conform to the district court's opinion, proposed section 
100.24(a)(3) would remove the exception for communications by 
associations or similar groups of candidates for State or local office, 
or of State or local officeholders, that refer only to State or local 
candidates. This exception was included in the 2002 rules because the 
Commission was concerned that the underlying provision would require 
Federal registration and reporting for a broad swath of State and local 
election activity, ``sweep[ing] within Federal regulation candidates 
for city council, or the local school board, who join together to 
identify potential voters for their own candidacies. * * *'' See Soft 
Money E&J, 67 FR at 49070. The Commission seeks public comment on 
whether there are other alternatives to address the Commission's 
concerns while still satisfying Congressional intent as determined by 
the Shays court.
    Further, what impact would there be from removing the exception for 
groups of non-Federal candidates? Would such groups of non-Federal 
candidates have to pay for the full amount of FEA with Federal funds? 
Compare 2 U.S.C. 441i(b)(1) with (b)(2); see also 11 CFR 300.32(a)(1). 
Could groups of non-Federal candidates that are political committees be 
permitted to allocate under current 11 CFR 106.6 even though the FEA 
allocation regulations at 11 CFR 300.33 do not apply to groups of non-
Federal candidates? See also 2 U.S.C. 441i(b)(2). In addition, would 
groups of non-Federal candidates that are not political committees be 
able to allocate their FEA given that they are not covered by 11 CFR 
106.6?
    The district court also held that the promulgated regulation 
defining GOTV

[[Page 23070]]

did not meet the APA's notice requirement for the same reasons it 
articulated with regard to the definition of ``voter registration 
activity.'' See Shays at 106-07. The proposed rules do not include any 
amendments to the ``assist'' requirement in section 100.24(a)(3), or 
the non-exhaustive list of activities that constitute GOTV activities 
in current 11 CFR 100.24(a)(3)(i) and (ii). The Commission included 
these two examples of GOTV to assist in applying the regulation to 
particular factual situations. The Shays court found that ``[t]he 
regulation makes clear that the examples it provides are non-
exhaustive.'' Shays at 103. The Commission seeks comment on the 
examples of GOTV activity identified in section 100.24(a)(3). Should 
this non-exclusive list be changed in any way? Should the specific 
reference to activity within 72 hours of an election be changed in any 
way? Is 72 hours an appropriate period within which to specify activity 
included as GOTV? Would some other time frame be appropriate? Should 
the Commission provide more specificity as to when it will consider 
activity taking place more than 72 hours before an election to be GOTV?

3. Proposed 11 CFR 100.24(a)(4)--Definition of ``Voter Identification''

    ``Voter identification'' is another term used in the BCRA 
definition of FEA that is not defined by the statute. See 2 U.S.C. 
431(20)(A)(ii). Current section 100.24(a)(4) defines voter 
identification as ``creating or enhancing voter lists by verifying or 
adding information about the voters' likelihood of voting in an 
upcoming election or their likelihood of voting for specific 
candidates.'' 11 CFR 100.24(a)(4). The current definition does not 
include voter list acquisition because the Commission concluded that 
political party committees may acquire voter lists for a number of 
reasons other than for voter identification in connection with an 
election in which a Federal candidate appears on the ballot. Such 
reasons include fundraising and off-year party building activities. See 
Soft Money E&J, 67 FR at 49069. Section 100.24(a)(4) also contains an 
exception for associations of State or local candidates and/or 
officeholders identical to the exception to the definition of GOTV in 
section 100.24(a)(3).
    The district court in Shays ``agree[d] that one may obtain a voter 
list and not be engaged in an activity aimed at identifying voters. But 
whatever the intent, inherent in the acquisition of such a list is the 
identification of voters.'' Shays at 108. Because the court saw ``no 
evidence that Congress intended to exclude certain forms of activities 
that identify voters when it used the term `voter identification' '' 
the court held that the Commission's decision not to include 
acquisition of voter lists in the definition of ``voter 
identification'' failed Chevron step one. Shays at 108 (emphasis in 
original). The court held that the exception for State and local 
candidate and officeholder associations violated Chevron step one for 
the same reasons discussed above regarding the same exclusion in the 
GOTV regulation. Shays at 107 n.83.
    To comport with this ruling, proposed section 100.24(a)(4) would 
include acquisition of voter lists in the definition of ``voter 
identification.'' Thus, the acquisition of voter lists would be 
considered FEA if it occurs after the earliest filing deadline for the 
ballot in an even-numbered year and after the date is set for a special 
election in which a candidate for Federal office appears on the ballot. 
See 11 CFR 100.24(a)(1) and 100.24(b)(2). The Commission would use the 
date the information was purchased to determine whether the acquisition 
of a voter list falls within the FEA timeframes and would therefore be 
a Federal election activity. This interpretation would have the 
advantage of being a bright-line rule for the Commission and political 
parties. In addition, this interpretation would be consistent with the 
reporting requirements, as a political party would report the 
disbursement for a voter list at the time of purchase. The Commission 
seeks comment on whether this application of the rule would encourage 
State party committees to purchase voter lists outside the FEA window 
so that they would be able to allocate their purchases under 11 CFR 
106.7(d)(3) (using a mix of Federal and non-Federal funds) rather than 
being required to allocate under 11 CFR 300.33 (using a mix of Federal 
and Levin funds). Do voter lists lose sufficient value over time so 
that the benefit of being able to use a mix of Federal and non-Federal 
funds would be outweighed by having an up-to-date voter list closer to 
an election? Would the use of the purchase date raise other concerns?
    Alternatively, the Commission also seeks comment on an alternative 
application of the rule that would use the date the voter list was used 
to determine whether the acquisition of a voter list falls with the FEA 
timeframes and would therefore be a Federal election activity. Under 
this alternative, a voter list that was purchased before the FEA period 
would nonetheless be subject, at least in part, to Federal and Levin 
funds requirements whenever it was used within the FEA period. 
Triggering the FEA provisions based on the use of a voter list would 
discourage any attempts to avoid those requirements by purchasing a 
list early for intended use during the FEA period. However, this 
approach could raise allocation and valuation issues if the voter list 
is purchased outside the FEA window and used by the political party 
committee both inside and outside the window.
    The Commission is concerned about how this proposed rule may affect 
a State party committee's ability to acquire a voter list in 
preparation for a general election in an odd-numbered year in which a 
special election to fill a Federal office is called contemporaneously 
with its acquisition of a voter list. The purpose of the definition of 
``in connection with an election in which a candidate for Federal 
office appears on the ballot'' in 11 CFR 100.24(a)(1) is to ensure that 
the regulation would not affect activities that are purely non-Federal 
in nature. See Soft Money E&J, 67 FR at 49066. In the situation 
described above, requiring a State party committee to use Federal funds 
to acquire a voter list that it will use only for a general election 
where no candidate for Federal office is on the ballot may be beyond 
the purpose of the regulations relating to Federal election activity. 
The Commission seeks comment on whether the regulation should include a 
limited exception to the definition of ``voter identification'' for 
acquisition of voter lists if the State, or local party committee does 
not actually use the voter list in connection with any election where a 
Federal candidate appears on the ballot.
    Proposed section 100.24(a)(4) also would remove the exception for 
associations or groups of candidates for State or local office, and 
associations of State and local officeholders, that engage in voter 
identification activity that refers only to State or local candidates. 
Is there another approach that would address the Commission's concerns 
while still comporting with Congressional intent, as determined by the 
Shays court? As discussed above, the Commission is also seeking public 
comment regarding the impact of removing this exception for groups of 
non-Federal candidates, and the ability of those groups to pay for FEA 
by allocating between Federal and non-Federal funds under existing 
regulations at 11 CFR 106.6.

[[Page 23071]]

4. Proposed 11 CFR 100.24(a)(1)--Definition of ``In Connection With an 
Election in Which a Candidate for Federal Office Appears on the 
Ballot''

    Voter identification, GOTV, and generic campaign activity 
constitute FEA when those activities are conducted ``in connection with 
an election in which a candidate for Federal office appears on the 
ballot.'' 2 U.S.C. 431(20)(A)(ii). In defining this phrase, a 
Commission regulation establishes the timeframe in which these 
activities are FEA, and are collectively ``type 2 FEA.'' 11 CFR 
100.24(a)(1)(i) and (ii). The Commission is considering whether to make 
some limited exceptions and one change to the operation of the type 2 
FEA time periods in current 11 CFR 100.24(a)(1)(i) and (ii).
    Proposed revisions to section 100.24(a)(1)(ii) would change the 
operation of type 2 FEA time periods that are related to special 
elections for Federal office. Currently, this provision is limited so 
that it only applies in odd numbered years, and the proposed revisions 
would eliminate this limitation. While many special elections that 
occur in even numbered years will fall in time periods already covered 
by paragraph (a)(1)(i), the removal of the limitation could extend the 
type 2 FEA time period when a State schedules a special election for 
Federal office before the type 2 FEA time period under paragraph 
(a)(1)(i) has begun. The Commission seeks comment on this proposed 
change.
    The Commission is concerned that treating State party committees' 
voter drives that are related to a State or local election as FEA 
because of an upcoming special election for Federal office would unduly 
federalize an election that was initially scheduled to decide State and 
local races. To address this issue, the Commission is considering 
adopting an exception to section 100.24(a)(1)(ii) so that the type 2 
FEA time periods would not include the period before any special 
election for Federal office that is scheduled to be held on the same 
date as a previously scheduled State or local election. This exception 
does not appear in the proposed rules that follow. Is such an exception 
consistent with FECA, as amended by BCRA? Would an exception that is 
limited to voter drives that refer only to State or local candidates be 
too narrowly tailored to address this concern? Alternatively, should 
any voter drives that refer to candidates for Federal office be 
excluded from the exception so that the FEA rules would still apply to 
such voter drives?
    Proposed new section 100.24(a)(1)(iii) would create an exception to 
type 2 FEA time periods for certain municipal elections. The municipal 
elections that would be subject to the exception are those that take 
place on a date other than Federal election dates, but still during the 
type 2 FEA timeframes specified in 11 CFR 100.24(a)(1)(i). The 
rationale for such an exception might be that municipalities have 
chosen an election date apart from State or Federal elections in an 
effort to disentangle State and Federal contests from local elections 
to leave the local elections nonpartisan. If that local election date 
is nonetheless within the type 2 FEA timeframes specified in 11 CFR 
100.24(a)(1), then all of the FEA requirements of Federal law would 
apply, chief among them the requirement that State, district or local 
committees of political parties use only Federal or a combination of 
Federal and Levin funds to pay for type 2 FEA. 2 U.S.C. 441i(b).
    The Commission seeks comment on this proposed exception, which is 
reflected in the proposed regulatory language that follows. Is the 
exception adequate to address the concerns? Is it consistent with FECA, 
as amended by BCRA? Do any practical considerations tend either to 
support or to oppose such an exception?
    Alternatively, the regulation could be revised to address the same 
concerns more narrowly. One example of a more limited exception would 
be to exclude GOTV that takes place within 72 hours before an election 
that does not include an election for Federal office. The 72-hour 
standard is borrowed from the Commission's first example of the non-
exhaustive list of examples of GOTV in 11 CFR 100.24(a)(3)(i). The 
Commission seeks comment on whether GOTV that takes place only shortly 
before a local election where no Federal candidates are on the ballot 
may merit an exception from the type 2 FEA time periods, while an 
exception for other forms of FEA may not be appropriate. Would any 
other limitations on the exception be more suitable? Please note that 
the proposed regulation text that follows does not reflect the more 
narrow alternative exceptions to the type 2 FEA time periods.
    The Commission also seeks comment on whether similar exceptions 
would be appropriate for voter registration activity, or type 1 FEA. 
BCRA establishes that voter registration activity is Federal election 
activity ``during the period that begins on the date that is 120 days 
before the date a regularly scheduled Federal election is held and ends 
on the date of the election.'' 2 U.S.C. 431(20)(A)(i). Would any 
exceptions to this timeframe to address any of the situations described 
above be permissible under BCRA? If so, should any such exceptions be 
adopted?

Certification of No Effect Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b) (Regulatory 
Flexibility Act)

    The Commission certifies that the attached proposed rule, if 
promulgated, would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. The basis for this certification 
is that the organizations affected by this proposed rule are State, 
district, and local party committees, which are not ``small entities'' 
under 5 U.S.C. 601. These not-for-profit committees do not meet the 
definition of ``small organization'' which requires that the enterprise 
be independently owned and operated and not dominant in its field. 5 
U.S.C. 601(4). State political party committees are not independently 
owned and operated because they are not financed and controlled by a 
small identifiable group of individuals, and they are affiliated with 
the larger national political party organizations. In addition, the 
State political party committees representing the Democratic and 
Republican parties have a major controlling influence within the 
political arena of their State and are thus dominant in their field. 
District and local party committees are generally considered affiliated 
with the State committees and need not be considered separately. To the 
extent that any State party committees representing minor political 
parties might be considered ``small organizations,'' the number 
affected by this proposed rule is not substantial.

List of Subjects in 11 CFR Part 100

    Elections.
    For reasons set out in the preamble, subchapter A of chapter 1 of 
title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations would be amended as 
follows:

PART 100--SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS (2 U.S.C. 431)

    1. The authority citation for 11 CFR part 100 would continue to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 2 U.S.C. 431, 434, and 438(a)(8).

    2. In Sec.  100.24, paragraphs (1)(i), (ii), (iii), (2), (3), and 
(4)(a) would be revised to read as follows:


Sec.  100.24  Federal Election Activity (2 U.S.C. 431(20)).

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *

[[Page 23072]]

    (i) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section, 
the period of time beginning on the date of the earliest filing 
deadline for access to the primary election ballot for Federal 
candidates as determined by State law, or in those States that do not 
conduct primaries, on January 1 of each even-numbered year and ending 
on the date of the general election, up to and including the date of 
any general runoff.
    (ii) The period beginning on the date on which the date of a 
special election in which a candidate for Federal office appears on the 
ballot is set and ending on the date of the special election.
    (iii) In municipalities that elect local officials in elections 
that do not coincide with primary or general elections for Federal 
office but occur during the period described in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of 
this section, the following periods of time are excluded from the 
periods described in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this 
section:
    (A) For municipalities that hold local elections before primary 
elections for Federal office, from the beginning of the period 
described in paragraph (a)(1)(i) up to and including the date of the 
municipal election; and
    (B) For municipalities that hold primary elections for Federal 
office before local elections, from the day after the primary election 
for Federal office up to and including the date of the municipal 
election.
    (2) Voter registration activity means contacting individuals by 
telephone, in person, or by other individualized means to assist them 
in registering to vote. Voter registration activity includes, but is 
not limited to, printing and distributing registration and voting 
information, providing individuals with voter registration forms, and 
assisting individuals in the completion and filing of such forms.
    (3) Get-out-the-vote activity means contacting registered voters by 
telephone, in person, or by other individualized means, to assist them 
in engaging in the act of voting. Get-out-the-vote activity includes, 
but is not limited to:
    (i) Providing to individual voters, within 72 hours of an election, 
information such as the date of the election, the times when polling 
places are open, and the location of particular polling places; and
    (ii) Offering to transport or actually transporting voters to the 
polls.
    (4) Voter identification means acquiring information about 
potential voters, including, but not limited to, obtaining voter lists 
and creating or enhancing voter lists by verifying or adding 
information about the voters' likelihood of voting in an upcoming 
election or their likelihood of voting for specific candidates.
* * * * *

    Dated: April 29, 2005.
Scott E. Thomas,
Chairman, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 05-8864 Filed 5-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P