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      Endorsing candidates

Endorsing candidates Endorsing a candidate to the restricted class A corporation or labor organization may announce its candidate endorsement at an appearance by a candidate or party representative before, or in a publication sent to, its restricted class (no more than a de minimis number of copies of the publication that includes the endorsement may be distributed beyond the restricted class). These communications may be coordinated with candidates. Reporting When a corporation, labor organization, trade association or incorporated membership organization pays for express advocacy communications (including endorsements) that are directed to the restricted class, it (rather than the SSF) must report the payments on Form 7, once the payments exceed $2,000 for any election.
 Learn more about making and reporting communications to the restricted class
 Endorsing a candidate to the general public A corporation or labor organization may endorse a candidate and may communicate the endorsement to the general public. The corporation or labor organization may communicate with candidates for the purpose of deciding which, if any, candidate to endorse. For example, the corporation or labor organization may discuss issues with the candidate in determining whether or not to make an endorsement. However, the corporation or labor organization may not coordinate the announcement of its public endorsement with any candidate, candidate committee or its agents without the endorsement resulting in a contribution or expenditure. Disbursements for endorsements made to the general public are not contributions or expenditures as long as the endorsement is not coordinated with any candidate, candidate committee or its agents; and disbursements for any press release or press conference are de minimis. (Disbursements are considered de minimis if the press release and notice of press conference are distributed only to the organization’s usual media contacts when issuing non-political press releases or holding press conferences for other purposes.)
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          Communications to restricted classDistributing publications to the restricted class for communicationsMaking electioneering communicationsMaking independent expenditures Need help? Get help from the FEC by phone or email
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 104.6Form and content of internal communications reports 11 CFR 109.21What is a coordinated communication? 11 CFR 114.3(a)Disbursements for communications to the restricted class in connection with a federal election 11 CFR 114.4(c)(6)Communications by a corporation or labor organization to the general public; Endorsements
 Advisory opinions AO 1997-22Communicating membership corporation's endorsements of federal candidates to members and their restricted classes AO 1996-21Membership organization communications


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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