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      Coordinated communications periods: congressional general election (2020)

# Coordinated communications periods: congressional general election (2020)

When a person pays for a communication that is coordinated with a candidate, a candidate’s authorized committee, or their agents, or a political party committee or its agents, the communication is considered an in-kind contribution to that candidate or party committee and is subject to the limits, prohibitions and reporting requirements of the federal campaign finance law. FEC regulations establish a three-prong test to determine whether a communication is coordinated. All three prongs of the test—payment, content and conduct—must be met for a communication to be deemed coordinated and thus an in-kind contribution.


One provision identifies certain pre-election time frames during which a public communication that references a candidate will satisfy the content prong of the coordination test.


The following chart provides the 90-day coordinated communications (CC) period for the 2020 congressional general election.


NOTE: For communications that refer to both a party and a clearly identified federal candidate please consult the regulations at 11 CFR 109.21(c)(4)(i)-(iv).





Related pages: CC periods - main page (2020)CC periods for congressional primaries (2020)CC periods for presidential primaries (2020)CC periods for national party nominating conventions (2020)CC periods for special elections (2020-21)





Coordinated communications period for congressional general election


Election dateCC period (90-days prior through date of general election)General election11/03/202008/05/2020 - 11/03/2020





Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 109.21(c)(4)What is a “coordinated communication”?


This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.


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