Organization Drops Campaign Mailers,
Fails to Register and/or Report as Required by Law
Jackson, Miss.— Several campaign mailers in opposition to candidates were sent by an organization which has failed to register and/or report campaign finance information required by state law.
The mailers disclosed the name of the organization “Center for Public Accountability” but it is not organized as a political committee nor has it filed independent expenditure reports with the Secretary of State’s Office.
“Political free speech has few limits, but one is the requirement our citizens know who is exercising that right,” Secretary Hosemann said. “Failure to disclose is violating state law and can mislead voters.”
Pursuant to state law, a political committee shall file a statement of organization which must be received by the Secretary of State’s Office no later than forty-eight (48) hours after receipt of contributions aggregating in excess of $200.00 or having made expenditures aggregating in excess of $200.00. Additionally, a political committee is required to file campaign finance disclosure reports in accordance with the same reporting schedule as the candidates for or against whom the committee has made expenditures. Miss. Code. Ann. § 23-15-803.
While organizations making independent expenditures are not required to file a statement of organization, they are required to file independent expenditure reports if expenditures are made in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $200.00. Miss. Code. Ann. § 23-15-809.
Failure to comply may result in civil penalties imposed by the Mississippi Ethics Commission in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 per violation. Miss. Code. Ann. § 23-15-803.
The Secretary of State’s Office issued a letter to the Center for Public Accountability on Friday, August 2.
