Effective immediately, each candidate and the treasurer of each principal campaign committee and political committee supporting a candidate or candidates participating in the April 3, 2012 Primary Election must file Reports of Receipts and Expenditures (OCF Form 16) in the 7 months preceding the date on which the election is held for the office the candidate is seeking. This means Reports of Receipts and Expenditures must be filed before the election on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 (Monday, October 10, 2011 is a Legal Holiday); Monday, December 12, 2011 (December 10, 2011 is a Saturday); Monday, February 1, 2012 (January 31, 2012 is a Sunday); Monday, March 12, 2012 (March 10, 2012 is a Saturday); and Monday, March 26, 2012. Further reports must be filed after the primary election on June 10th, August 10th, October 10th, October 29th (required only from candidates/committees on the ballot for the November general election) and the December 10th or until the committee files a termination report showing a zero balance with no debt.

On July 15, 2011, B19-0348, the “Campaign Finance Reporting Emergency Amendment Act of 2011”, became effective. This Act will require increased reporting dates in the year preceding the date of an election, commensurate with the change of the September Primary Election and the February Presidential Preference Election to the 1st Tuesday in April in an election year. See D.C. Law 19-0007, the “District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics Primary Date Alteration Amendment Act of 2011,” effective June 16, 2011, for changes in the primary election dates. The Council of the District of Columbia declared the Campaign Finance Act needed amendment to “improve transparency and maintain the number of financial disclosure reports a principal campaign committee must file with the Office of Campaign Finance before the primary election.” See PR19-0278, the “Campaign Finance Reporting Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2011.” 

Any political committee (PAC) that will not support a candidate in the April 3, 2012 Primary Election must file a Notification of Non-Support (OCF Form 12) by the October 11, 2011 Report Deadline. Failure to do so will require the political committee to file a Report of Receipts and Expenditures on the October 11, 2011 Report Deadline and on all subsequent reporting deadlines. Political Committees that previously filed a Notification of Non-Support  in relation to its non support of candidates in the April 2011 Special Election must file an additional Notification for the 2012 Election if they wish to maintain that status.

Please note that with the exception of the March 26, 2012 reporting date, all other aforementioned reporting dates will apply to those candidates/committees participating in the Special Election for Ward-5, City Council.  However candidates for this office will have to file a report on Monday, May 7, 2012.

Reminder letters will issue from the Office of Campaign Finance prior to the report dates for the April 3, 2012 Primary Election to all participating candidates and political committees. If you have any questions regarding these changes to the Campaign Finance Act, please contact Wesley Williams, OCF Public Affairs Manager, at (202) 671-0551 or via email at [email protected].