11 C.F.R. PART 9003—ELIGIBILITY FOR PAYMENTS


Title 11 - Federal Elections


Title 11: Federal Elections

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PART 9003—ELIGIBILITY FOR PAYMENTS

Section Contents
§ 9003.1   Candidate and committee agreements.
§ 9003.2   Candidate certifications.
§ 9003.3   Allowable contributions; General election legal and accounting compliance fund.
§ 9003.4   Expenses incurred prior to the beginning of the expenditure report period or prior to receipt of Federal funds.
§ 9003.5   Documentation of disbursements.
§ 9003.6   Production of computer information.


Authority:  26 U.S.C. 9003 and 9009(b).

Source:  56 FR 35913, July 29, 1991, unless otherwise noted.

§ 9003.1   Candidate and committee agreements.
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(a) General. (1) To become eligible to receive payments under 11 CFR part 9005, the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of a political party shall agree in a letter signed by the candidates to the Commission that they and their authorized committee(s) shall comply with the conditions set forth in 11 CFR 9003.1(b).

(2) Major party candidates shall sign and submit such letter to the Commission within 14 days after receiving the party's nomination for election. Minor and new party candidates shall sign and submit such letter within 14 days after such candidates have qualified to appear on the general election ballot in 10 or more states pursuant to 11 CFR 9002.2(a)(2). The Commission, on written request by a minor or new party candidate, at any time prior to the date of the general election, may extend the deadline for filing such letter except that the deadline shall be a date prior to the date of the general election.

(b) Conditions. The candidates shall:

(1) Agree that they have the burden of proving that disbursements made by them or any authorized committee(s) or agent(s) thereof are qualified campaign expenses as defined in 11 CFR 9002.11.

(2) Agree that they and their authorized committee(s) shall comply with the documentation requirements set forth at 11 CFR 9003.5.

(3) Agree that they and their authorized committee(s) shall provide an explanation, in addition to complying with the documentation requirements, of the connection between any disbursements made by the candidates or the authorized committee(s) of the candidates and the campaign if requested by the Commission.

(4) Agree that they and their authorized committee(s) will keep and furnish to the Commission all documentation relating to receipts and disbursements including any books, records (including bank records for all accounts), all documentation required by this subchapter (including those required to be maintained under 11 CFR 9003.5), and other information that the Commission may request. If the candidate or the candidate's authorized committee maintains or uses computerized information containing any of the categories of data listed in 11 CFR 9003.6(a), the committee will provide computerized magnetic media, such as magnetic tapes or magnetic diskettes, containing the computerized information that meets the requirements of 11 CFR 9003.6(b) at the times specified in 11 CFR 9007.1(b)(1). Upon request, documentation explaining the computer system's software capabilities shall be provided, and such personnel as are necessary to explain the operation of the computer system's software and the computerized information prepared or maintained by the committee shall also be made available.

(5) Agree that they and their authorized committee(s) shall obtain and furnish to the Commission upon request all documentation relating to funds received and disbursements made on the candidate's behalf by other political committees and organizations associated with the candidate.

(6) Agree that they and their authorized committee(s) shall permit an audit and examination pursuant to 11 CFR part 9007 of all receipts and disbursements including those made by the candidate, all authorized committees and any agent or person authorized to make expenditures on behalf of the candidate or committee(s). The candidate and authorized committee(s) shall facilitate the audit by making available in one central location, office space, records and such personnel as are necessary to conduct the audit and examination, and shall pay any amounts required to be repaid under 11 CFR part 9007.

(7) Submit the name and mailing address of the person who is entitled to receive payments from the Fund on behalf of the candidates; the name and address of the depository designated by the candidates as required by 11 CFR part 103 and 11 CFR 9005.2; and the name under which each account is held at the depository at which the payments from the Fund are to be deposited.

(8) Agree that they and their authorized committee(s) shall comply with the applicable requirements of 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq., 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq., and the Commission's regulations at 11 CFR parts 100–400, and 9001–9012.

(9) Agree that they and their authorized committee(s) shall pay any civil penalties included in a conciliation agreement or otherwise imposed under 2 U.S.C. 437g against the candidates, any authorized committees of the candidates or any agent thereof.

(10) Agree that any television commercial prepared or distributed by the candidate or the candidate's authorized committee(s) will be prepared in a manner which ensures that the commercial contains or is accompanied by closed captioning of the oral content of the commercial to be broadcast in line 21 of the vertical blanking interval, or is capable of being viewed by deaf and hearing impaired individuals via any comparable successor technology to line 21 of the vertical blanking interval.

[56 FR 35913, July 29, 1991, as amended at 60 FR 31872, June 16, 1995; 63 FR 45680, Aug. 27, 1998; 65 FR 38424, June 21, 2000; 68 FR 47414, Aug. 8, 2003]

§ 9003.2   Candidate certifications.
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(a) Major party candidates. To be eligible to receive payments under 11 CFR part 9005, each Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate of a major party shall, under penalty of perjury, certify to the Commission:

(1) That the candidate and his or her authorized committee(s) have not incurred and will not incur qualified campaign expenses in excess of the aggregate payments to which they will be entitled under 11 CFR part 9004.

(2) That no contributions have been or will be accepted by the candidate or his or her authorized committee(s); except as contributions specifically solicited for, and deposited to, the candidate's legal and accounting compliance fund established under 11 CFR 9003.3(a); or except to the extent necessary to make up any deficiency in payments received from the Fund due to the application of 11 CFR 9005.2(b).

(b) Minor and new party candidates. To be eligible to receive any payments under 11 CFR part 9005, each Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate of a minor or new party shall, under penalty of perjury, certify to the Commission:

(1) That the candidate and his or her authorized committee(s) have not incurred and will not incur qualified campaign expenses in excess of the aggregate payments to which the eligible candidates of a major party are entitled under 11 CFR 9004.1.

(2) That no contributions to defray qualified campaign expenses have been or will be accepted by the candidate or his or her authorized committee(s) except to the extent that the qualified campaign expenses incurred exceed the aggregate payments received by such candidate from the Fund under 11 CFR 9004.2.

(c) All candidates. To be eligible to receive any payment under 11 CFR 9004.2, the Presidential candidate of each major, minor or new party shall certify to the Commission, under penalty of perjury, that such candidate will not knowingly make expenditures from his or her personal funds, or the personal funds of his or her immediate family, in connection with his or her campaign for the office of President in excess of $50,000 in the aggregate.

(1) For purposes of this section, the term immediate family means a candidate's spouse, and any child, parent, grandparent, brother, half-brother, sister, or half-sister of the candidate, and the spouses of such persons.

(2) Expenditures from personal funds made under this paragraph shall not apply against the expenditure limitations.

(3) For purposes of this section, the terms personal funds and personal funds of his or her immediate family mean:

(i) Any assets which, under applicable state law, at the time he or she became a candidate, the candidate had legal right of access to or control over, and with respect to which the candidate had either:

(A) Legal and rightful title, or

(B) An equitable interest.

(ii) Salary and other earned income from bona fide employment; dividends and proceeds from the sale of the candidate's stocks or other investments; bequests to the candidate; income from trusts established before candidacy; income from trusts established by bequest after candidacy of which the candidate is a beneficiary; gifts of a personal nature which had been customarily received prior to candidacy; proceeds from lotteries and similar legal games of chance.

(iii) A candidate may use a portion of assets jointly owned with his or her spouse as personal funds. The portion of the jointly owned assets that shall be considered as personal funds of the candidate shall be that portion which is the candidate's share under the instrument(s) of conveyance or ownership. If no specific share is indicated by any instrument of conveyance or ownership, the value of one-half of the property used shall be considered as personal funds of the candidate.

(4) For purposes of this section, expenditures from personal funds made by a candidate of a political party for the office of Vice President shall be considered to be expenditures made by the candidate of such party for the office of President.

(5) Contributions made by members of a candidate's family from funds which do not meet the definition of personal funds under 11 CFR 9003.2(c)(3) shall not count against such candidate's $50,000 expenditure limitation under 11 CFR 9003.2(c).

(6) Personal funds expended pursuant to this section shall be first deposited in an account established in accordance with 11 CFR 9003.3 (b) or (c).

(7) The provisions of this section shall not operate to limit the candidate's liability for, nor the candidate's ability to pay, any repayments required under 11 CFR part 9007. If the candidate or his or her committee knowingly incurs expenditures in excess of the limitations of 11 CFR 110.8(a), the Commission may seek civil penalties under 11 CFR part 111 in addition to any repayment determinations made on the basis of such excessive expenditures.

(8) Expenditures made using a credit card for which the candidate is jointly or solely liable will count against the limits of this section to the extent that the full amount due, including any finance charge, is not paid by the committee within 60 days after the closing date of the billing statement on which the charges first appear. For purposes of this section, the “closing date” shall be the date indicated on the billing statement which serves as the cutoff date for determining which charges are included on that billing statement.

(d) Form. Major party candidates shall submit the certifications required under 11 CFR 9003.2 in a letter which shall be signed and submitted within 14 days after receiving the party's nomination for election. Minor and new party candidates shall sign and submit such letter within 14 days after such candidates have qualified to appear on the general election ballot in 10 or more States pursuant to 11 CFR 9002.2(a)(2). The Commission, upon written request by a minor or new party candidate made at any time prior to the date of the general election, may extend the deadline for filing such letter, except that the deadline shall be a date prior to the day of the general election.

§ 9003.3   Allowable contributions; General election legal and accounting compliance fund.
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(a) Legal and accounting compliance fund—major party candidates—(1) Sources. (i) A major party candidate, or an individual who is seeking the nomination of a major party, may accept contributions to a legal and accounting compliance fund if such contributions are received and disbursed in accordance with this section. A general election legal and accounting compliance fund (“GELAC”) may be established by such individual prior to being nominated or selected as the candidate of a political party for the office of President or Vice President of the United States. Before April 1 of the calendar year in which a Presidential general election is held, contributions may only be deposited in the GELAC if they are made for the primary and exceed the contributor's contribution limits for the primary and are lawfully redesignated for the GELAC pursuant to 11 CFR 110.1.

(A) All solicitations for contributions to the GELAC shall clearly state that Federal law prohibits private contributions from being used for the candidate's election and that contributions will be used solely for legal and accounting services to ensure compliance with Federal law, and shall clearly state how contribution checks should be made payable. Contributions shall not be solicited for the GELAC before April 1 of the calendar year in which a Presidential general election is held. If the candidate does not become the nominee, all contributions accepted for the GELAC, including redesignated contributions, shall be refunded within sixty (60) days after the candidate's date of ineligibility.

(B) Contributions to the GELAC shall be subject to the limitations and prohibitions of 11 CFR parts 110, 114, and 115.

(C) Contributions shall be deposited in the GELAC only if they are designated in writing for the GELAC, or transferred pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of this section. Any contribution which otherwise could be matched pursuant to 11 CFR 9034.2 shall not be considered designated in writing for the GELAC unless the contributor specifically redesignates it for the GELAC or unless it is accompanied by a proper designation for the GELAC. Any contribution that is designated in writing or redesignated for the GELAC shall not be matched pursuant to 11 CFR 9034.2.

(ii)(A) Contributions made during the matching payment period that do not exceed the contributor's limit for the primary election may be redesignated for the GELAC and subsequently transferred to the GELAC before the nomination only if—

(1) The contributions represent funds in excess of any amount needed to pay remaining primary expenses;

(2) The contributions have not been submitted for matching;

(3) The written redesignations are received within 60 days of the Treasurer's receipt of the contributions; and

(4) The requirements of 11 CFR 110.1(b)(5)(i) and (ii)(A) and 110.1(l) regarding redesignation are satisfied.

(B) All contributions redesignated and deposited pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(A) of this section shall be subject to the contribution limitations applicable for the general election pursuant to 11 CFR 110.1(b)(2)(i).

(iii) Funds received during the matching payment period that are remaining in a candidate's primary election account after the nomination may be transferred to the GELAC without regard to the contribution limitations of 11 CFR part 110 and used for any purpose permitted under this section, only if the funds are in excess of any amount needed to pay remaining net outstanding campaign obligations under 11 CFR 9034.1(b) and any amount required to be reimbursed to the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account under 11 CFR 9038.2. The excess funds so transferred may include contributions made before the beginning of the expenditure report period, which contributions do not exceed the contributor's limit for the primary election. Such contributions need not be redesignated by the contributors for the GELAC.

(iv) Contributions that are made after the beginning of the expenditure report period but that are not designated in writing for the GELAC are considered made with respect to the primary election and may be redesignated for the GELAC and transferred to the GELAC only if—

(A) The funds are in excess of any amount needed to pay remaining net outstanding campaign obligations under 11 CFR 9034.1(b) and any amount required to be reimbursed to the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account under 11 CFR 9038.2;

(B) The contributions have not been submitted for matching; and

(C) The candidate obtains the contributor's written redesignation in accordance with 11 CFR 110.1.

(v) Contributions made with respect to the primary election that exceed the contributor's limit for the primary election may be redesignated for the GELAC and transferred to the GELAC if the candidate redesignates the contribution for the GELAC in accordance with 11 CFR 110.1(b)(5)(i) and (ii)(A) or (ii)(B). For purposes of this section only, 11 CFR 110.1(b)(5)(ii)(B)(1) shall not apply.

(vi) For purposes of this section, a contribution shall be considered to be designated in writing for the GELAC if—

(A) The contribution is made by check, money order, or other negotiable instrument which clearly indicates that it is made with respect to the GELAC; or

(B) The contribution is accompanied by a writing, signed by the contributor, which clearly indicates that it is made with respect to the GELAC.

(2) Uses. (i) Contributions to the GELAC shall be used only for the following purposes:

(A) To defray the cost of legal and accounting services provided solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq. and 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq. in accordance with paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section;

(B) To defray in accordance with paragraph (a)(2)(ii)(A) of this section, that portion of expenditures for payroll, overhead, and computer services related to ensuring compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq. and 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq.;

(C) To defray any civil or criminal penalties imposed pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 437g or 26 U.S.C. 9012;

(D) To make repayments under 11 CFR 9007.2, 9038.2, or 9038.3;

(E) To defray the cost of soliciting contributions to the GELAC;

(F) To defray the cost of producing, delivering and explaining the computerized information and materials provided pursuant to 11 CFR 9003.6 and explaining the operation of the computer system's software;

(G) To make a loan to an account established pursuant to 11 CFR 9003.4 to defray qualified campaign expenses incurred prior to the expenditure report period or prior to receipt of Federal funds, provided that the amounts so loaned are restored to the GELAC;

(H) To defray unreimbursed costs incurred in providing transportation and services for the Secret Service and national security staff pursuant to 11 CFR 9004.6; and

(I) To defray winding down expenses for legal and accounting compliance activities incurred after the end of the expenditure report period by either the candidate's primary election committee, general election committee, or both committees. For purposes of this section, 100% of salary, overhead and computer expenses incurred after the end of the expenditure report period shall be considered winding down expenses for legal and accounting compliance activities payable from GELAC funds, and will be presumed to be solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq. and 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq.

(ii)(A) Expenditures for payroll (including payroll taxes), overhead and computer services, a portion of which are related to ensuring compliance with Title 2 of the United States Code and Chapter 95 of Title 26 of the United States Code, shall be initially paid from the candidate's Federal fund account under 11 CFR 9005.2 and may be later reimbursed by the compliance fund. For purposes of paragraph (a)(2)(i)(B) of this section, a candidate may use contributions to the GELAC to reimburse his or her Federal fund account an amount equal to 10% of the payroll and overhead expenditures of his or her national campaign headquarters and state offices.

(B) Overhead expenditures include, but are not limited to rent, utilities, office equipment, furniture, supplies and all telephone charges except for telephone charges related to a special use such as voter registration and get out the vote efforts.

(C) If the candidate wishes to claim a larger compliance exemption for payroll or overhead expenditures, the candidate shall establish allocation percentages for each individual who spends all or a portion of his or her time to perform duties which are considered necessary to ensure compliance with title 2 of the United States Code or chapter 95 of title 26 of the United States Code. The candidate shall keep detailed records to support the derivation of each percentage. Such records shall indicate which duties are considered compliance and the percentage of time each person spends on such activity.

(D) In addition, a candidate may use contributions to the GELAC to reimburse his or her Federal fund account an amount equal to 50% of the costs (other than payroll) associated with computer services. Such costs include but are not limited to rental and maintenance of computer equipment, data entry services not performed by committee personnel, and related supplies.

(E) If the candidate wishes to claim a larger compliance exemption for costs associated with computer services, the candidate shall establish allocation percentages for each computer function that is considered necessary, in whole or in part, to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq., and 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq. The allocation shall be based on a reasonable estimate of the costs associated with each computer function, such as the costs for data entry services performed by persons other than committee personnel and processing time. The candidate shall keep detailed records to support such calculations. The records shall indicate which computer functions are considered compliance-related and shall reflect which costs are associated with each computer function.

(F) The Commission's Financial Control and Compliance Manual for General Election Candidates Receiving Public Funding contains some accepted alternative allocation methods for determining the amount of salaries and overhead expenditures that may be considered exempt compliance costs.

(G) Reimbursement from the GELAC may be made to the separate account maintained for federal funds under 11 CFR 9005.2 for legal and accounting compliance services disbursements that are initially paid from the separate federal funds account. Such reimbursement must be made prior to any repayment determination by the Commission pursuant to 11 CFR 9007.2. Any amounts so reimbursed to the Federal funds account may not subsequently be transferred back to the GELAC.

(iii) Amounts paid from the GELAC for the purposes permitted by paragraphs (a)(2)(i) (A) through (F), (H) and (I) of this section shall not be subject to the expenditure limits of 2 U.S.C. 441a(b) and 11 CFR 110.8. (See also 11 CFR 100.146.) When the proceeds of loans made in accordance with paragraph (a)(2)(i)(G) of this section are expended on qualified campaign expenses, such expenditures shall count against the candidate's expenditure limit.

(iv) Contributions to and funds deposited in the GELAC may not be used to retire debts remaining from the presidential primaries, except that, after payment of all expenses set out in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section, and the completion of the audit and repayment process, including the making of all repayments owed to the United States Treasury by both the candidate's primary and general election committees, funds remaining in the GELAC may be used for any purpose permitted under 2 U.S.C. 439a and 11 CFR part 113, including payment of primary election debts, which shall remain subject to the primary expenditure limit under 11 CFR 9035.1.

(3) Deposit and disclosure. (i) Amounts received pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be deposited and maintained in a GELAC account separate from the account described in 11 CFR 9005.2 and shall not be commingled with any money paid to the candidate by the Secretary pursuant to 11 CFR 9005.2.

(ii) The receipts to and disbursements from the GELAC account shall be reported in a separate report in accordance with 11 CFR 9006.1(b)(2). All contributions made to the GELAC account shall be recorded in accordance with 11 CFR 102.9. Disbursements made from the GELAC account shall be documented in the same manner provided in 11 CFR 9003.5.

(b) Contributions to defray qualified campaign expenses—major party candidates. (1) A major party candidate or his or her authorized committee(s) may solicit contributions to defray qualified campaign expenses to the extent necessary to make up any deficiency in payments received from the Fund due to the application of 11 CFR 9005.2(b).

(2) Such contributions may be deposited in a separate account or may be deposited with federal funds received under 11 CFR 9005.2. Disbursements from this account shall be made only to defray qualified campaign expenses and to defray the cost of soliciting contributions to such account. All disbursements from this account shall be documented in accordance with 11 CFR 9003.5 and shall be reported in accordance with 11 CFR 9006.1.

(3) A candidate may make transfers to this account from his or her GELAC, or from the candidate's primary election account in accordance with paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section.

(4) The contributions received under this section shall be subject to the limitations and prohibitions of 11 CFR parts 110, 114 and 115 and shall be aggregated with all contributions made by the same persons to the candidate's GELAC under paragraph (a) of this section for the purposes of such limitations.

(5) Any costs incurred for soliciting contributions to this account shall not be considered expenditures to the extent that the aggregate of such costs does not exceed 20 percent of the expenditure limitation under 11 CFR 9003.2(a)(1). These costs shall, however, be reported as disbursements in accordance with 11 CFR part 104 and 11 CFR 9006.1. For purposes of this section, a candidate may exclude from the expenditure limitation an amount equal to 10% of the payroll (including payroll taxes) and overhead expenditures of his or her national campaign headquarters and state offices as exempt fundraising costs. The candidate may claim a larger fundraising exemption by establishing allocation percentages for employees using the method described in paragraph (a)(2)(ii)(C) of this section.

(6) Any costs incurred for legal and accounting services which are provided solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq. and 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq. shall not count against the candidate's expenditure limitation. A candidate may exclude from the expenditure limitation the amounts described in paragraphs (a)(2)(ii) (A) and (D) of this section for payroll, overhead or computer costs or a larger amount under paragraphs (a)(2)(ii) (C) and (E) of this section.

(7) The Commission's Financial Control and Compliance Manual for General Election Candidates Receiving Public Funding contains some accepted alternative allocation methods for determining the amount of salaries and overhead expenditures that may be considered exempt compliance costs or exempt fundraising costs.

(c) Contributions to defray qualified campaign expenses—minor and new party candidates. (1) A minor or new party candidate may solicit contributions to defray qualified campaign expenses which exceed the amount received by such candidate from the Fund, subject to the limits of 11 CFR 9003.2(b).

(2) The contributions received under this section shall be subject to the limitations and prohibitions of 11 CFR parts 110, 114 and 115.

(3) Such contributions may be deposited in a separate account or may be deposited with federal funds received under 11 CFR 9005.2. Disbursements from this account shall be made only for the following purposes:

(i) To defray qualified campaign expenses;

(ii) To make repayments under 11 CFR 9007.2;

(iii) To defray the cost of soliciting contributions to such account;

(iv) To defray the cost of legal and accounting services provided solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq. and 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq.;

(v) To defray the cost of producing, delivering and explaining the computerized information and materials provided pursuant to 11 CFR 9003.6 and explaining the operation of the computer system's software.

(4) All disbursements from this account shall be documented in accordance with 11 CFR 9003.5 and shall be reported in accordance with 11 CFR part 104 and §9006.1. The candidate shall keep and maintain a separate record of disbursements made to defray exempt legal and accounting costs under paragraphs (c) (6) and (7) of this section and shall report such disbursements in accordance with 11 CFR part 104 and 11 CFR 9006.1.

(5) Any costs incurred for soliciting contributions to this account shall not be considered expenditures to the extent that the aggregate of such costs does not exceed 20 percent of the expenditure limitation under 11 CFR 9003.2(a)(1). These costs shall, however, be reported as disbursements in accordance with 11 CFR part 104 and 9006.1. For purposes of this section, a candidate may exclude from the expenditure limitation the amount of payroll costs described in paragraph (b)(5) of this section.

(6) Any costs incurred for legal and accounting services which are provided solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq. and 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq. shall not count against the candidate's expenditure limitation. A candidate may exclude from the expenditure limitation the amounts described in paragraphs (a)(2)(ii) (A) and (D) of this section for payroll, overhead or computer costs or a larger amount under paragraphs (a)(2)(ii) (C) and (E) of this section.

(7) The Commission's Financial Control and Compliance Manual for General Election Candidates Receiving Public Funding contains some accepted alternative allocation methods for determining the amount of salaries and overhead expenditures that may be considered exempt compliance costs or exempt fundraising costs.

[60 FR 31872, June 16, 1995, as amended at 60 FR 57537, Nov. 16, 1995; 64 FR 49362, Sept. 13, 1999; 67 FR 78682, Dec. 26, 2002; 68 FR 47414, Aug. 8, 2003]

§ 9003.4   Expenses incurred prior to the beginning of the expenditure report period or prior to receipt of Federal funds.
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(a) Permissible expenditures. (1) A candidate may incur expenditures before the beginning of the expenditure report period, as defined at 11 CFR 9002.12, if such expenditures are for property, services or facilities which are to be used in connection with his or her general election campaign and which are for use during the expenditure report period. Such expenditures will be considered qualified campaign expenses. Examples of such expenditures include but are not limited to: Expenditures for establishing financial accounting systems and expenditures for organizational planning. Expenditures for polling that are incurred before the start of the expenditure report period are attributed as provided in 11 CFR 9034.4(e)(2).

(2) A candidate may incur qualified campaign expenses prior to receiving payments under 11 CFR part 9005.

(b) Sources. (1) A candidate may obtain a loan which meets the requirements of 11 CFR 100.82 for loans in the ordinary course of business to defray permissible expenditures described in 11 CFR 9003.4(a). A candidate receiving payments equal to the expenditure limitation in 11 CFR 110.8 shall make full repayment of principal and interest on such loans from payments received by the candidate under 11 CFR part 9005 within 15 days of receiving such payments.

(2) A major party candidate may borrow from his or her legal and accounting compliance fund for the purposes of defraying permissible expenditures described in 11 CFR 9003.4(a). All amounts borrowed from the legal and accounting compliance fund must be restored to such fund after the beginning of the expenditure report period either from federal funds received under 11 CFR part 9005 or private contributions received under 11 CFR 9003.3(b). For candidates receiving federal funds, restoration shall be made within 15 days after receipt of such funds.

(3) A minor or new party candidate may defray such expenditures from contributions received in accordance with 11 CFR 9003.3(c).

(4)(i) A candidate who has received federal funding under 11 CFR part 9031 et seq., may borrow from his or her primary election committee(s) an amount not to exceed the residual balance projected to remain in the candidate's primary account(s) on the basis of the formula set forth at 11 CFR 9038.3(c). A major party candidate receiving payments equal to the expenditure limitation shall reimburse amounts borrowed from his or her primary committee(s) from payments received by the candidate under 11 CFR part 9005 within 15 days of such receipt.

(ii) A candidate who has not received federal funding during the primary campaign may borrow at any time from his or her primary account(s) to defray such expenditures, provided that a major party candidate receiving payments equal to the expenditure limitation shall reimburse all amounts borrowed from his or her primary committee(s) from payments received by the candidate under 11 CFR part 9005 within 15 days of such receipt.

(5) A candidate may use personal funds in accordance with 11 CFR 9003.2(c), up to his or her $50,000 limit, to defray such expenditures.

(c) Deposit and disclosure. Amounts received or borrowed by a candidate under 11 CFR 9003.4(b) to defray expenditures permitted under 11 CFR 9003.4(a) shall be deposited in a separate account to be used only for such expenditures. All receipts and disbursements from such account shall be reported pursuant to 11 CFR 9006.1(a) and documented in accordance with 11 CFR 9003.5

[56 FR 35913, July 29, 1991, as amended at 60 FR 31874, June 16, 1995; 67 FR 78682, Dec. 26, 2002]

§ 9003.5   Documentation of disbursements.
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(a) Burden of proof. Each candidate shall have the burden of proving that disbursements made by the candidate or his or her authorized committee(s) or persons authorized to make expenditures on behalf of the candidate or authorized committee(s) are qualified campaign expenses as defined in 11 CFR 9002.11. The candidate and his or her authorized committee(s) shall obtain and furnish to the Commission on request any evidence regarding qualified campaign expenses made by the candidate, his or her authorized committees and agents or persons authorized to make expenditures on behalf of the candidate or committee(s) as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Documentation required. (1) For disbursements in excess of $200 to a payee, the candidate shall present a canceled check negotiated by the payee and either:

(i) A receipted bill from the payee that states that purpose of the disbursement; or

(ii) If such a receipt is not available,

(A) One of the following documents generated by the payee: a bill, invoice, or voucher that states the purpose of the disbursement; or

(B) Where the documents specified in paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(A) of this section are not available, a voucher or contemporaneous memorandum from the candidate or the committee that states the purpose of the disbursement; or

(iii) Where the supporting documentation required in paragraphs (b)(1) (i) or (ii) of this section is not available, the candidate or committee may present collateral evidence to document the qualified campaign expense. Such collateral evidence may include, but is not limited to:

(A) Evidence demonstrating that the expenditure is part of an identifiable program or project which is otherwise sufficiently documented such as a disbursement which is one of a number of documented disbursements relating to a campaign mailing or to the operation of a campaign office; or

(B) Evidence that the disbursement is covered by a pre-established written campaign committee policy, such as a dairy travel expense policy.

(iv) If the purpose of the disbursement is not stated in the accompanying documentation, it must be indicated on the canceled check negotiated by the payee.

(2) For all other disbursements, the candidate shall present:

(i) A record disclosing the full name and mailing address of the payee, the amount, date and purpose of the disbursement, if made from a petty cash fund; or

(ii) A canceled check negotiated by the payee that states the full name and mailing address of the payee, and the amount, date and purpose of the disbursement.

(3) For purposes of this section:

(i) Payee means the person who provides the goods or services to the candidate or committee in return for the disbursement; except that an individual will be considered a payee under this section if he or she receives $1000 or less advanced for travel and/or subsistence and if the individual is the recipient of the goods or services purchased.

(ii) Purpose means the full name and mailing address of the payee, the date and amount of the disbursement, and a brief description of the goods or services purchased. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable descriptions of goods and services purchased are listed at 11 CFR 104.3(b)(3)(i)(B).

(4) The documentation requirements of 11 CFR 102.9(b) shall also apply to disbursements.

(c) Retention of records. The candidate shall retain records with respect to each disbursement and receipt, including bank records, vouchers, worksheets, receipts, bills and accounts, journals, ledgers, fundraising solicitation material, accounting systems documentation, and any related materials documenting campaign receipts and disbursements, for a period of three years pursuant to 11 CFR 102.9(c), and shall present these records to the Commission on request.

(d) List of capital and other assets—(1) Capital assets The candidate or committee shall maintain a list of all capital assets whose purchase price exceeded $2000 when acquired by the campaign. The list shall include a brief description of each capital asset, the purchase price, the date it was acquired, the method of disposition and the amount received in disposition. For purposes of this section, “capital asset” shall be defined in accordance with 11 CFR 9004.9(d)(1).

(2) Other assets. The candidate or committee shall maintain a list of other assets acquired for use in fundraising or as collateral for campaign loans, if the aggregate value of such assets exceeds $5000. The list shall include a brief description of each such asset, the fair market value of each asset, the method of disposition and the amount received in disposition. The fair market value of other assets shall be determined in accordance with 11 CFR 9004.9(d)(2).

[60 FR 31874, June 16, 1995, as amended at 64 FR 49362, Sept. 13, 1999; 68 FR 47415, Aug. 8, 2003]

§ 9003.6   Production of computer information.
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(a) Categories of computerized information to be provided. If the candidate or the candidate's authorized committee maintains or uses computerized information containing any of the categories of data listed in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(9) of this section, the committee shall provide computerized magnetic media, such as magnetic tapes or magnetic diskettes, containing the computerized information at the times specified in 11 CFR 9007.1(b)(1):

(1) Information required by law to be maintained regarding the committee's receipts or disbursements;

(2) Receipts by and disbursements from a legal and accounting compliance fund under 11 CFR 9003.3(a), including the allocation of payroll and overhead expenditures;

(3) Receipts and disbursements under 11 CFR 9003.3 (b) or (c) to defray the costs of soliciting contributions or to defray the costs of legal and accounting services, including the allocation of payroll and overhead expenditures;

(4) Records relating to the costs of producing broadcast communications and purchasing airtime;

(5) Records used to prepare statements of net outstanding qualified campaign expenses;

(6) Records used to reconcile bank statements;

(7) Disbursements made and reimbursements received for the cost of transportation, ground services and facilities made available to media personnel, including records relating to how costs charged to media personnel were determined;

(8) Records relating to the acquisition, use and disposition of capital assets or other assets; and

(9) Any other information that may be used during the Commission's audit to review the committee's receipts, disbursements, loans, debts, obligations, bank reconciliations or statements of net outstanding qualified campaign expenses.

(b) Organization of computerized information and technical specifications. The computerized magnetic media shall be prepared and delivered at the committee's expense and shall conform to the technical specifications, including file requirements, described in the Federal Election Commission's Computerized Magnetic Media Requirements for title 26 Candidates/Committees Receiving Federal Funding. The data contained in the computerized magnetic media provided to the Commission shall be organized in the order specified by the Computerized Magnetic Media Requirements.

(c) Additional materials and assistance. Upon request, the committee shall produce documentation explaining the computer system's software capabilities, such as user guides, technical manuals, formats, layouts and other materials for processing and analyzing the information requested. Upon request, the committee shall also make available such personnel as are necessary to explain the operation of the computer system's software and the computerized information prepared or maintained by the committee.

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