Improve organization of information on IE reporting on Dates and deadlines pages

[dorothyyeager]

Summary

What we're after:
We want to make sure people understand when to file 48-hour reports of independent expenditures.

Related issues

#5941

Background and feedback from RAD

On the “Dates and Deadlines” page (https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/dates-and-deadlines/), under “2023 Reporting Dates,” there is a bullet for “Independent Expenditures,” which leads directly to the page on “24- and 48-Hour Reports of Independent Expenditures periods: special elections (2023).” The filer complained that this makes it sound like there is no other IE reporting requirement besides that relating to special elections, so I was wondering if we could tweak this. We could make the special election reporting a subsection on this page, and include a new section stating that for IEs relating to the upcoming 2024 elections, there is a 48-Hour reporting requirement. My suggestion would be to change the title of this page to “2023 24- and 48-Hour Reports of Independent Expenditures,” for consistency with the title of the quarterly reporting page for committees (“2023 Quarterly Reports”), and revise the first paragraph with the text in bold: “Political committees and other persons who make independent expenditures (IEs) may have to disclose this activity within 24- or 48-hours based upon the date and amount of the expenditure. Aside from the reporting requirements below relating to 2023 special elections, filers may need to disclose IEs made in 2023 relating to 2024 elections on 48-Hour Reports. During non-election years, filers must report each time they make independent expenditures with an aggregate value of $10,000 or more with respect to any given election, up to and including the 20th day before an election, on a 48-Hour Report.” Then, we can move the title below for 2023 special election reporting below the button “Learn more about making independent expenditures” (please see the screen shot below), so that it is a subsection.

Current pages:
https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/dates-and-deadlines/2022-reporting-dates/24-and-48-hour-reports-independent-expenditures-periods-main-page-2022/
https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/dates-and-deadlines/2023-reporting-dates/24-and-48-hour-reports-independent-expenditures-periods-special-elections-2023/

Completion criteria

• Review RAD's feedback and run by Info (and OGC if needed)
• Make decision how to proceed and put in implementation ticket

[bmathesonFEC]

I emailed Info Div with a detailed explanation of the desired changes.

[bmathesonFEC]

Arrived at a consensus for language on the Dates and Deadlines Page. Info Div is circulating the language to OGC to review.

24- and 48-Hour Reports of Independent Expenditures periods (2023-24)

Political committees and other persons who make independent expenditures (IEs) may have to disclose this activity within 24- or 48-hours based upon the date and amount of the expenditure. Aside from the reporting requirements below relating to 2023 special elections, filers may need to disclose IEs made in 2023 relating to 2024 elections on 48-Hour Reports. During non-election years, filers must report each time they make independent expenditures with an aggregate value of $10,000 or more with respect to any given election, up to and including the 20th day before an election, on a 48-Hour Report.

Learn more about making independent expenditures

Coverage periods for 24- and 48-Hour Reports of Independent Expenditures in connection with 2023-24 special elections

The following table provide a breakdown of the periods during which 24- and 48-Hour Reports of Independent Expenditures must be filed in connection with 2023-24 special elections. For a chronological listing, consult the FEC Calendar.

Political committees must use Form 3X, Schedule E to file 24- and 48-Hour Reports of Independent Expenditures. Persons who are not political committees must use Form 5.

[table with special election dates]

[dorothyyeager]

We will be moving this to the backlog and pick it up again closer to next year.