Political Committee Status, Definition of Contribution, and Allocation for Separate Segregated Funds and Nonconnected Committees

Résumé

The Federal Election Commission ("Commission") is revising portions of its regulations regarding the definition of "contribution" and the allocation of certain costs and expenses by separate segregated funds ("SSFs") and nonconnected committees. A new rule explains when funds received in response to certain communications by any person must be treated as "contributions." In the allocation regulations, the final rules eliminate the previous allocation formula under which SSFs and nonconnected committees used the "funds expended" method to calculate a ratio for use of Federal and non- Federal funds for administrative and generic voter drive expenses, replacing it with a flat 50% minimum. These rules also spell out how SSFs and nonconnected committees must pay for voter drives and certain public communications. Other changes proposed previously regarding the definitions of "political committee" and "expenditure" are not being adopted. Further information is provided in the supplementary information that follows.