Under FEC regulations for the GA‑14 special elections, participating House candidate committees must file:
• Regular 2026 quarterly reports (Form 3) on the standard schedule (April 15, July 15, October 15 and Jan. 31, 2027) unless a quarter‑end report is waived because a pre‑election report falls in the 5–15 day window after quarter close. • A pre‑special‑general report, due 12 days before the March 10, 2026 Special General Election, covering activity through the 20th day before that election (i.e., books close Feb. 19, report due Feb. 27, 2026). • If a runoff is required, a pre‑special‑runoff report, due 12 days before the April 7, 2026 Special Runoff, covering activity through the 20th day before that election (books close March 18, report due March 26, 2026). • A post‑general (or post‑runoff, if the runoff is the election that fills the vacancy) report, due 30 days after the election that fills the seat, covering activity through the 20th day after that election (for a March 10 fill, due April 9; for an April 7 fill, due May 7). • 48‑hour contribution notices for contributions of $1,000+ received during the 20‑day window before any of these elections, in addition to being disclosed on the post‑election report.
These schedules are mandated by 11 C.F.R. §104.5 and described in the FEC’s GA‑14 Special Elections Filing Information document, which applies generic pre‑ and post‑election rules to the March 10 and April 7 dates.
In this special‑election context, the basic reporting framework is the same for PACs, Hybrid PACs, and party committees, but differs by type and filing frequency:
• Non‑monthly PACs/party committees (including Hybrid PACs filing on the quarterly/semiannual schedule) that make contributions or expenditures in the GA‑14 special elections and have not yet reported that activity must file: – Pre‑special‑general and, if held, pre‑special‑runoff reports due 12 days before each election, covering activity through the 20th day before the election. – A post‑general (or post‑runoff) report due 30 days after the election that fills the vacancy. – Their regular quarterly/semiannual reports, unless a quarter‑end report is waived because the due date falls within 5–15 days after quarter close. • Monthly‑filing PACs, Hybrid PACs and party committees keep filing on their normal monthly schedule; they do not add extra special‑election pre/post reports because their monthly reports already cover that activity. • All committees (candidates, PACs, parties) that make last‑minute contributions or independent expenditures must still file 24‑hour or 48‑hour notices as applicable.
These distinctions come from 11 C.F.R. §104.5(c) and how the FEC applies it in the GA‑14 special‑election guidance.
A “monthly filer” is a political committee (candidate, PAC, party, or separate segregated fund) that has notified the FEC it will file disclosure reports every month instead of on the quarterly/semiannual schedule.
Effects in this special election: • Monthly filers continue to file on the standard monthly calendar (reports due 20 days after month‑end) in 2026. • They generally do not add extra special‑election pre‑ and post‑reports for GA‑14, because their monthly filings already cover the relevant periods (except for certain presidential committees that replace the November and December monthly reports with pre‑/post‑general reports in a regular general‑election year). • Non‑monthly filers involved in the GA‑14 special must add the special pre‑ and post‑election reports on top of their regular quarterly/semiannual filings.
The definition and consequences of monthly filing status are set in 11 C.F.R. §104.5(b)–(c) and explained in FEC guidance for monthly filers.
Georgia’s April 7, 2026 Special Runoff Election will be held only if the March 10, 2026 Special General Election does not produce a winner under Georgia law—i.e., if no candidate receives the required majority of the vote. In that case, the top two vote‑getters advance to the April 7 runoff to decide who fills the vacant U.S. House seat.
Candidates and committees can obtain the required forms and instructions here:
• FEC forms (Form 1, Form 2, Form 3, Form 3X, etc.) and line‑by‑line instructions: https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/forms/ • General reporting guidance and calendars, including special‑election due dates: https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/dates-and-deadlines/ • GA‑14‑specific special‑election filing instructions (PDF): https://www.fec.gov/documents/6055/GA14_Special_Elections_Filing_Information.pdf
All are accessible via the FEC’s “Help for candidates and committees” section.
If a candidate or committee fails to file required special‑election reports on time, the FEC can:
• Assess a civil money penalty under the Administrative Fine Program for late or non‑filed reports, using a formula based mainly on the amount of financial activity and the length of the delay. • Open an enforcement matter, which can lead to negotiated conciliation agreements, higher civil penalties, and, in egregious or knowing/willful cases, referral to the Department of Justice. • Publicly note the delinquent status in its records and on its website, which can affect public and media scrutiny.
These tools apply equally to special‑election reports, which are covered reporting obligations under the Federal Election Campaign Act.
No. The FEC’s GA‑14 guidance only adds or clarifies reporting schedules; it does not change contribution limits or the substantive disclosure rules.
Contribution limits still follow the normal “per‑election” structure: each special election (special general and, if held, special runoff) is treated as a separate election with its own limit (e.g., an individual may give up to the per‑election maximum to a candidate for the special general and another, separate maximum for the special runoff). Standard itemization thresholds, 24‑hour/48‑hour notices, and other disclosure rules remain the same and are applied to these special elections under existing FEC regulations.