Many election-related topics are not under the jurisdiction of the FEC. Some of these topics are listed below, along with links to the appropriate web sites. (Consult the FEC's Combined Federal/State Disclosure Directory for additional topics and agencies.)
Absentee Ballots
Contact your city or county clerk. If you are overseas at election time, your
nearest U.S. Consulate can help you get an absentee ballot. Military
personnel should contact the Defense Department's Federal
Voting Assistance Program at 800/438-VOTE or 703/588-1584.
Apportionment, Congressional
Data collected by the United States Census Bureau is used to determine the apportionment of representatives (i.e., the number of representatives each state has in the U.S. House).
Ballot Access
Contact the Secretary of State in
your state capital for information on how to get your name or party listed
on the ballot.
Consumer Price Index
The Bureau
of Labor Statistics provides the inflation figures used to adjust various
limits set forth in the Federal Election Campaign Act.
Contested Elections
For information on how to challenge the results of a federal election, contact
the Secretary of State in your state
capital.
Criminal Enforcement of the FECA
Enforcement authority for criminal violations of the Federal Election
Campaign Act rests with the Public
Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Debates, Presidential
The Commission on Presidential
Debates is the nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that has sponsored all
of the general election debates since 1988.
Disclaimers
The Internal Revenue Service has regulations requiring solicitation notices ("disclaimers") by some political committees in addition to disclaimers required by the FEC. Contact the IRS Tax Exempt Government Entities Division at 877/829-5500.
Election Assistance Commission
The Election Assistance Commission
serves as a national clearinghouse on election administration.
Election Fraud
If you believe that a federal election has been administered fraudulently,
contact the nearest
branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Electoral College
The National Archives provides information and statistics concerning the
electoral college.
Ethics in Government Act
The U.S. Office of
Government Ethics administers the Ethics in Government Act.
Franking Privilege
The Commission
on Congressional Mailing Standards (better known as the Franking Commission)
provides information on the history of the frank, as well as the most commonly
requested Franking forms. In addition, the Clerk
of the House of Representatives provides information on the contents of
mass mailings sent by Members of the House of Representatives.
Federal Communications Commission
The FCC administers the laws on radio, television, wire, satellite, cable, broadcast advertising, and 900-line communications.
FCC Electioneering Communication Database
Use the Federal Communication
Commission Electioneering Database to determine whether a communication
sent via a broadcast station, cable system and/or satellite system can or
cannot reach 50,000 or more people in a particular Congressional District
or State.
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission has regulations regulating communications and consumer protection (including telemarketing).
Freedom of Information Act
The U.S. Department of Justice provides detailed information on provisions
of the Freedom
of Information Act.
Hatch Act
The U.S. Office
of Special Counsel (Merit Systems Protection Board) administers the Hatch
Act, which governs political activity of federal/D.C. government employees.
Telephone: 800/85-HATCH (800/854-2824).
Help America Vote Act
The Election Assistance Commission
administers the Help America Vote Act. Telephone: 202/566-3100 or toll-free
866/747-1471. E-mail: HAVAinfo@eac.gov.
Incumbent Candidates
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have rules regulating the activity of incumbent Senators and Representatives. For Senate members, contact the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. For House of Representatives members, contact the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The Internal
Revenue Service provides disclosure information for 527 organizations
that are not registered with the FEC.
Justice Department
The Public
Integrity Section of the Justice Department's Criminal Division handles
criminal violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA).
Kids' Guide to Elections
For election information geared toward children, visit the Government Printing
Office's "Ben's Guide"
page.
Lobbying
Lobbyists must register and file reports with the Clerk
of the House and/or Secretary
of the Senate.
Lobbying Reform
The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the Senate Select Ethics Committee can provide information about lobbying reform.
Mail Fraud and Other Postal Issues
U.S. Postal
Inspectors handle complaints/questions about false representation in mailings,
mail fraud and other violations involving the mail.
National Voter Registration Act (Motor-Voter Law)
The Election Assistance Commission
administers the National Voter Registration Act, which allows individuals
to register to vote when they renew or apply for a driver's license. Telephone
202/566-3100 or toll-free 866/747-1471. E-mail: HAVAinfo@eac.gov.
Personal Finances of Federal Candidates
House: Contact the House
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, 202/225-7103.
Senate: Contact the Senate
Select Committee on Ethics, 202/224-2981.
Presidential: Review a Legal Advisory issued by the Office of Government Ethics and contact the FEC's Office of General Counsel - General Law and Advice Division at (800) 424-9530 or (202) 694-1650.
Phone Solicitation
Contact the FCC's Telecommunications
Consumers Division at 202/418-7320.
Political Activity of Federal/D.C. Government Employees
Contact the U.S.
Office of Special Counsel (Merit Systems Protection Board) at 800/85-HATCH
(800/854-2824).
Presidential Debates
The Commission on Presidential
Debates is the nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that has sponsored all
of the general election debates since 1988.
Redistricting
State and local governments use data collected by the United States Census Bureau to revise the geographic boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts. Typically, the state legislature is responsible for drawing the new district boundaries.
Representatives
For information about your current Representatives, visit the U.S. House of Representatives homepage.
Secret Service
In addition to protecting the President and other government leaders,
the Secret
Service provides protection for major Presidential and Vice Presidential
candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general Presidential election.
Senators
For information about your current Senator, visit the Senate homepage.
State Election Offices
In most states, the Secretary of State provides access to FEC reports filed by federal candidates running in
that state and administers the state election laws.
Tax Questions
To get a taxpayer ID number for a political committee, call 800/TAX-FORM (800/829-3676).
For other tax-related questions, political committees should contact the Exempt
Organizations Technical Division of the Internal Revenue Service at 877/829-5500
or visit their web site at
http://www.irs.gov/charities/political/index.html.
Telephone Solicitation
Contact the FCC's Telecommunications
Consumers Division at 202/418-7320.
TV and Radio Broadcasting
Contact the Federal Communications Commission's Media
Bureau, Policy Branch at 888/225-5322 or 202/418-2120.
Voter Fraud
Allegations of voter fraud should be reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or to the nearest United States Attorney's Office.
Voter Registration, Polling Times and Places
Contact your city or county clerk. Information on the National Voter
Registration Act (NVRA) is available from the Election
Assistance Commission and from the U.S.
Department of Justice.
Voting Age Population
The U.S. Census Bureau annually estimates the
voting age population for each state. These figures are used in
a variety of campaign finance calculations, including the coordinated party
expenditure limits, the Presidential spending limits and the threshold amounts
under the Millionaires' Amendment.
Voting Rights
If you believe your right to vote has been denied due to racial or ethnic
discrimination, contact the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil
Rights Division, at 202/307-2767.
