Notice2023-19726
Request for Public Comment on Improvements To Report Filing Processes and Website Usability
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 13, 2023
Issuing agencies
Federal Election Commission
Abstract
The Commission seeks public comment on ways to improve its report filing processes and public-facing website.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 176 (Wednesday, September 13, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62782-62783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19726]
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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
[Notice 2023-14]
Request for Public Comment on Improvements To Report Filing
Processes and Website Usability
AGENCY: Federal Election Commission (``Commission'').
ACTION: Notification of request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Commission seeks public comment on ways to improve its
report filing processes and public-facing website.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 13, 2023.
ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters may submit
comments by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#671712050b0e0404080a0a020913555755544a56532701020449000811"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bacacfd8d6d3d9d9d5d7d7dfd4ce888a8889978b8efadcdfd994ddd5cc">[email protected]</span></a>.
All commenters must provide, at a minimum, their first name, last
name, city, and state. All properly submitted comments, including
attachments, will become part of the public record, and the Commission
will make comments available for public viewing on the Commission's
website and in the Commission's Public Records Office. Accordingly,
commenters should not provide in their comments any information that
they do not wish to make public, such as a home street address, date of
birth, phone number, social security number, or driver's license
number, or any information that is restricted from disclosure, such as
trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged
or confidential.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert M. Knop, Assistant General
Counsel, or Evan R. Christopher, Attorney, 1050 First Street NE,
Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694-1650 or (800) 424-9530.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission administers the Federal
Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101-45, in relevant part, through a
review of disclosure reports that are filed with the Commission.
Political committees must file periodic reports, while others must file
only upon the occurrence of specific activity, such as the making of
independent expenditures in an aggregate amount or value in excess of
$250 during a calendar year. See 52 U.S.C. 30104(a), (c). Some
political committees and other regulated persons must file reports
electronically, while others may file electronically or in paper form.
See 11 CFR 104.18.
The Commission processes the information it receives from both
electronic and paper filings, and digitally provides the information to
the public on its website with search and filter functions. See 52
U.S.C. 30111(a)(4). In addition, the Commission's website contains
legal resources for the public, including databases of concluded
enforcement matters, advisory opinions, statutes and legislative
history, regulations and related rulemaking materials, and documents
from court cases. The Commission also provides campaign guides and
other explanatory materials designed for non-lawyers, including
candidates, treasurers, journalists, and members of the general public.
The Commission periodically reviews its programs to ensure it is
fulfilling its mission of providing transparency to the campaign
finance system. As part of that mission, not only does the Commission
strive to provide to the public data in an easily usable format, but
also strives to streamline the report filing process for filers. The
purpose of this Notice is to inform the public that the Commission is
examining its existing policies and procedures regarding the filing of
reports with the agency and to provide the public with an opportunity
to
[[Page 62783]]
identify any issues or concerns with the report filing process, as well
as potential solutions to those concerns. The Commission also seeks
public comment on how to improve its website, including the
organization, substance, and ease of use of the information on the
website. The Commission will use the comments received to help
determine whether to change its policies or processes, and, if so, how.
The Commission welcomes comments on all aspects of report filing.
For example, one filer expressed frustration that electronic Form 99
(Miscellaneous Electronic Submission to the FEC) has a character limit,
while another filer criticized the inability of the Commission's
electronic filing system to accept an Excel spreadsheet. The Commission
is also aware that filers have encountered software issues, both with
FECFile and third-party filing software. While the Commission has
deployed significant resources towards a multi-year project to develop
a more user-friendly report-filing software, the Commission is seeking
public comment concerning what can be accomplished immediately to
improve the report-filing process.
In addition, the Commission seeks public comment on how to improve
the Commission's website. Public comments can address any aspect of the
website, including how the website displays campaign finance data, the
organization of the website, search functions for legal research, or
the provision of campaign guides. For example, how can the Commission
make campaign finance data more accessible? Can the Commission add
filters, searches, or features that would make the data more useful for
the public? How can the Commission improve the website's organization
or search functions for legal research? Do the campaign guides
adequately educate non-lawyer members of the public about campaign
finance rules?
The Commission is particularly interested in hearing from members
of the public who regularly file reports or use the Commission's
website, including political committees, candidates, non-profit
organizations, journalists, and law enforcement.
On behalf of the Commission,
Dara Lindenbaum,
Chair, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 2023-19726 Filed 9-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P
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