Special Election Independent Expenditure 48 Hour Reports Start December 16, 2023 | State Representative 13th District * State Representative 25th District
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Article Summary:
Late Filing Fee Schedules
Defining Independent Expenditures
1/30/24 Special Primary Independent Expenditure 48 Hour Reports
Lisa Farnum, MPP is President of L Farnum, Inc., a firm that specializes in PAC compliance, research and project management. Lisa has been helping clients resolve campaign finance issues and maintain compliance for more than 23 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Northwood University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, Dearborn. Ms. Farnum has over 25 years of experience working with corporations and non-profits.
Due to the special elections for State Representative Districts 13 & 25, additional reporting requirements may be required if Independent Expenditures are made to support or oppose one of the candidates on the ballot.
The Special Primary will be held January 30, 2024. Here are the campaign finance immediate disclosure reporting deadlines for those committees participating in the January 30th special election:
Special Election Independent Expenditure 48-hour reports: December 16th, 2023 – January 27th, 2024.
There are two types of Independent Expenditures: Those made by unregistered individuals, groups or organizations, and those made by registered Political Committees.
Independent Expenditures by Unregistered Individuals, Groups and Organizations:
An unregistered individual, group or organization that spends more than $100.00 on independent expenditures within a calendar year to support or oppose the nomination or election of a state level candidate, or advocate the qualification, passage or defeat of a state level ballot question, is required to file with the Michigan Department of State's Bureau of Elections.
In addition, independent expenditures made by out-of-state entities must also file with the Michigan Department of State's Bureau of Elections. The filing is required to be submitted within 10 calendar days of meeting the $100.00 threshold. An organization includes, but is not limited to, a corporation, union or domestic dependent sovereign.
Source: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/disclosure/cfr/independent-expenditure-reports-state-level
Independent Expenditures by Registered Committees:
A Political, Independent or Independent Expenditure Committee registered on the state level is required to file a Special Election Independent Expenditure Report if the committee makes an independent expenditure to support or oppose a candidate or ballot question no more than 45 calendar days prior to a Special Election in which the candidate or ballot question is involved. The report must be filed with the Bureau of Elections within 48 hours of an independent expenditure. However, that reporting requirement is waived if the committee makes the independent expenditure before the due date of a Campaign Statement prior to the date of the Special Election and the independent expenditure is included in that Campaign Statement.
Source: https://mertsplus.com/mertsuserguide/index.php?n=MANUALS.AppendixG#Special_IER
Late Filing Fee Schedule-Appendix E
Late filing fees are assessed for late or missed Special Election Independent Expenditure Reports. The fee schedules can be found here in Appendix E on the State Bureau of Elections’ website.
The content above is meant to serve only as a guide. Every filing situation is different and you can always email your questions to Lfarnum@farnuminc.com, visit the Bureau of Elections for more information (https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/disclosure/cfr) and consult with your attorney. 