---
kind: "section"
citation: "11 C.F.R. § 110.13"
title: "11"
number: "110.13"
heading: "Candidate debates."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/11/110.13"
---

# §110.13. Candidate debates.

- (a) **Staging organizations.**
  - (1) Nonprofit organizations described in 26 U.S.C. [501 (c)(3)](/usc/26/501.md?p=c-3) or [(c)(4)](/usc/26/501.md?p=c-4) and which do not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or political parties may stage candidate debates in accordance with this section and [11 CFR 114.4(f)](/cfr/11/114.4.md?p=f).
  - (2) Broadcasters (including a cable television operator, programmer or producer), bona fide newspapers, magazines and other periodical publications may stage candidate debates in accordance with this section and [11 CFR 114.4(f)](/cfr/11/114.4.md?p=f), provided that they are not owned or controlled by a political party, political committee or candidate. In addition, broadcasters (including a cable television operator, programmer or producer), bona fide newspapers, magazines and other periodical publications, acting as press entities, may also cover or carry candidate debates in accordance with [11 CFR part 100](/cfr/11/part100.md), subparts [B](/cfr/11/subpartB.md) and [C](/cfr/11/subpartC.md) and [part 100](/cfr/11/part100.md), [subparts D](/cfr/11/subpartD.md) and E.
- (b) **Debate structure.** The structure of debates staged in accordance with this section and [11 CFR 114.4(f)](/cfr/11/114.4.md?p=f) is left to the discretion of the staging organizations(s), provided that:
  - (1) Such debates include at least two candidates; and
  - (2) The staging organization(s) does not structure the debates to promote or advance one candidate over another.
- (c) **Criteria for candidate selection.** For all debates, staging organization(s) must use pre-established objective criteria to determine which candidates may participate in a debate. For general election debates, staging organizations(s) shall not use nomination by a particular political party as the sole objective criterion to determine whether to include a candidate in a debate. For debates held prior to a primary election, caucus or convention, staging organizations may restrict candidate participation to candidates seeking the nomination of one party, and need not stage a debate for candidates seeking the nomination of any other political party or independent candidates.

## Notes

### Amendments

[61 FR 18051, Apr. 24, 1996; 61 FR 24533, May 15, 1996, as amended at 67 FR 78681, Dec. 26, 2002]

### Authority

Authority: 52 U.S.C. 30101(8), 30101(9), 30102(c)(2) and (g), 30104(i)(3), 30111(a)(8), 30116, 30118, 30120, 30121, 30122, 30123, 30124, and 36 U.S.C. 510.

### Amendments

[61 FR 18051, Apr. 24, 1996; 61 FR 24533, May 15, 1996, as amended at 67 FR 78681, Dec. 26, 2002]