Resources

Starting a Political Committee

For SPAC/JSPC/GPAC/MPAC/SCSPAC
CEC/MCEC/DCE/ASIF-SPAC Filers

Checklist for Starting a Political Committee

1. Determine whether you are a group of persons that has as a principal purpose accepting political contributions or making political expenditures. If you are such a group, you are a political committee, and the committee must comply with all restrictions and reporting requirements.
2. File a campaign treasurer appointment with the appropriate filing authority (TEC, county clerk, or secretary of the governing body of the political subdivision). If filing with the TEC:
1. Email, fax, mail, or hand-deliver a campaign treasurer appointment to the TEC to obtain your Filer I.D. Number.
2. Email, fax, mail, or hand-deliver a Form Security to the TEC to obtain access to the filing application.
3. Do not accept political contributions totaling more than $980 or make or authorize political expenditures totaling more than $980 at a time when a campaign treasurer appointment for the committee is not in effect.
4. Check the filing deadlines and timely file all required campaign finance reports, which may include:
1. Monthly reports;
2. Semiannual reports due on January 15 of each year;
3. Semiannual reports due on July 15 of each year;
4. 30-day pre-election reports;
5. 8-day pre-election reports;
6. Runoff reports;
7. Daily reports; and
8. Special Session reports.
5. Continue filing reports until the campaign treasurer files a dissolution report. (See Checklist for Dissolving a Political Committee.)