[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62782-62783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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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