§114.4. Disbursements for communications by corporations and labor organizations beyond the restricted class in connection with a Federal election.
11 C.F.R. § 114.4
General. A corporation or labor organization may communicate beyond the restricted class in accordance with this section. Communications that a corporation or labor organization may make only to its employees (including its restricted class) and their families, but not to the general public, are set forth in paragraph (b) of this section. Any communications that a corporation or labor organization may make to the general public under paragraph (c) of this section may also be made to the corporation's or labor organization's restricted class and to other employees and their families. Communications that a corporation or labor organization may make only to its restricted class are set forth at 11 CFR 114.3. The activities described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section may be coordinated with candidates and political committees only to the extent permitted by this section. For the otherwise applicable regulations regarding independent expenditures and coordination with candidates, see 11 CFR 100.16, 109.21, and 114.2(c). Voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives as described in paragraph (d) of this section must not include coordinated expenditures as defined in 11 CFR 109.20, coordinated communications as defined in 11 CFR 109.21, or contributions as defined in 11 CFR part 100, subpart B. See also note to 11 CFR 114.2(b), 114.10(a). Incorporated membership organizations, incorporated trade associations, incorporated cooperatives, and corporations without capital stock will be treated as corporations for the purpose of this section.
Communications by a corporation or labor organization to employees beyond its restricted class—
Candidate and party appearances on corporate premises or at a meeting, convention or other function. Corporations may permit candidates, candidates' representatives or representatives of political parties on corporate premises or at a meeting, convention, or other function of the corporation to address or meet its restricted class and other employees of the corporation and their families, in accordance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (b)(1)(viii) of this section. Other guests of the corporation who are being honored or speaking or participating in the event and representatives of the news media may be present. A corporation may bar all candidates, candidates' representatives and representatives of political parties from addressing or meeting its restricted class and other employees of the corporation and their families on corporate premises or at any meeting, convention or other function of the corporation.
If a candidate for the House or Senate or a candidate's representative is permitted to address or meet employees, all candidates for that seat who request to appear must be given a similar opportunity to appear;
If a Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate or candidate's representative is permitted to address or meet employees, all candidates for that office who are seeking the nomination or election, and who meet pre-established objective criteria under 11 CFR 110.13(c), and who request to appear must be given a similar opportunity to appear;
If representatives of a political party are permitted to address or meet employees, representatives of all political parties which had a candidate or candidates on the ballot in the last general election or which are actively engaged in placing or will have a candidate or candidates on the ballot in the next general election and who request to appear must be given a similar opportunity to appear;
The candidate's representative or party representative (other than an officer, director or other representative of a corporation) or the candidate, may ask for contributions to his or her campaign or party, or ask that contributions to the separate segregated fund of the corporation be designated for his or her campaign or party. The candidate, candidate's representative or party representative shall not accept contributions before, during or after the appearance while at the meeting, convention or other function of the corporation, but may leave campaign materials or envelopes for members of the audience. A corporation, its restricted class, or other employees of the corporation or its separate segregated fund shall not, either orally or in writing, solicit or direct or control contributions by members of the audience to any candidate or party in conjunction with any appearance by any candidate or party representative under this section, and shall not facilitate the making of contributions to any such candidate or party (see 11 CFR 114.2(f));
A corporation or its separate segregated fund shall not, in conjunction with any candidate, candidate representative or party representative appearance under this section, expressly advocate the election or defeat of any clearly identified candidate(s) or candidates of a clearly identified political party and shall not promote or encourage express advocacy by employees;
No candidate, candidate's representative or party representative shall be provided with more time or a substantially better location than other candidates, candidates' representatives or party representatives who appear, unless the corporation is able to demonstrate that it is clearly impractical to provide all candidates, candidates' representatives and party representatives with similar times or locations;
Coordination with each candidate, candidate's agent, and candidate's authorized committee(s) may include discussions of the structure, format and timing of the candidate appearance and the candidate's positions on issues, but shall not include discussions of the candidate's plans, projects, or needs relating to the campaign; and
Representatives of the news media may be allowed to be present during a candidate, candidate representative or party representative appearance under this section, in accordance with the procedures set forth at 11 CFR 114.3(c)(2)(iv).
Candidate and party appearances on labor organization premises or at a meeting, convention or other function. A labor organization may permit candidates, candidates' representatives or representatives of political parties on the labor organization's premises or at a meeting, convention, or other function of the labor organization to address or meet its restricted class and other employees of the labor organization, and their families, in accordance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(1) (i) through (iii), (vi) through (viii), and paragraphs (b)(2) (i) and (ii) of this section. Other guests of the labor organization who are being honored or speaking or participating in the event and representatives of the news media may be present. A labor organization may bar all candidates, candidates' representatives and representatives of political parties from addressing or meeting its restricted class and other employees of the labor organization and their families on the labor organization's premises or at any meeting, convention or other function of the labor organization.
The candidate's representative or party representative (other than an official, member or employee of a labor organization) or the candidate, may ask for contributions to his or her campaign or party, or ask that contributions to the separate segregated fund of the labor organization be designated for his or her campaign or party. The candidate, candidate's representative or party representative shall not accept contributions before, during or after the appearance while at the meeting, convention or other function of the labor organization, but may leave campaign materials or envelopes for members of the audience. No official, member, or employee of a labor organization or its separate segregated fund shall, either orally or in writing, solicit or direct or control contributions by members of the audience to any candidate or party representative under this section, and shall not facilitate the making of contributions to any such candidate or party. See 11 CFR 114.2(f).
A labor organization or its separate segregated fund shall not, in conjunction with any candidate or party representative appearance under this section, expressly advocate the election or defeat of any clearly identified candidate(s), and shall not promote or encourage express advocacy by its members or employees.
Communications by a corporation or labor organization to the general public—
General. A corporation or labor organization may make independent expenditures or electioneering communications pursuant to 11 CFR 114.10. This section addresses specific communications, described in paragraphs (c)(2) through (c)(7) of this section, that a corporation or labor organization may make to the general public. The general public includes anyone who is not in the corporation's or labor organization's restricted class. The preparation, contents, and distribution of any of the communications described in paragraphs (2) through (6) below must not include coordinated expenditures as defined in 11 CFR 109.20, coordinated communications as defined in 11 CFR 109.21, or contributions as defined in 11 CFR part 100, subpart B. See also note to 11 CFR 114.2(b), 114.10(a).
Voter registration and get-out-the-vote communications.
A corporation or labor organization may make voter registration and get-out-the-vote communications to the general public.
Disbursements for the activity described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section are not contributions or expenditures, provided that:
The voter registration and get-out-the-vote communications to the general public do not expressly advocate the election or defeat of any clearly identified candidate(s) or candidates of a clearly identified political party; and
The preparation and distribution of voter registration and get-out-the-vote communications is not coordinated with any candidate(s) or political party.
Official registration and voting information.
A corporation or labor organization may distribute to the general public, or reprint in whole and distribute to the general public, any registration or voting information, such as instructional materials, that has been produced by the official election administrators.
A corporation or labor organization may distribute official registration-by-mail forms to the general public. A corporation or labor organization may distribute absentee ballots to the general public if permitted by the applicable State law.
A corporation or labor organization may donate funds to State or local government agencies responsible for the administration of elections to help defray the costs of printing or distributing voter registration or voting information and forms.
Disbursements for the activity described in paragraphs (c)(3)(i) through (iii) of this section are not contributions or expenditures, provided that:
The corporation or labor organization does not, in connection with any such activity, expressly advocate the election or defeat of any clearly identified candidate(s) or candidates of a clearly identified political party and does not encourage registration with any particular political party; and
The reproduction and distribution of registration or voting information and forms is not coordinated with any candidate(s) or political party.
Voting records.
A corporation or labor organization may prepare and distribute to the general public the voting records of Members of Congress.
Disbursements for the activity described in paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section are not contributions or expenditures, provided that:
The voting records of Members of Congress and all communications distributed with it do not expressly advocate the election or defeat of any clearly identified candidate(s) or candidates of a clearly identified political party; and
The decision on content and the distribution of voting records is not coordinated with any candidate, group of candidates, or political party.
Voter guides.
A corporation or labor organization may prepare and distribute to the general public voter guides, including voter guides obtained from a nonprofit organization that is described in 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or (c)(4).
Disbursements for the activity described in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section are not contributions or expenditures, provided that the voter guides comply with either paragraph (c)(5)(ii)(A) or (c)(5)(ii)(B)(1) through (5) of this section:
The corporation or labor organization does not act in cooperation, consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion of the candidates, the candidates' committees or agents regarding the preparation, contents and distribution of the voter guide, and no portion of the voter guide expressly advocates the election or defeat of one or more clearly identified candidate(s) or candidates of any clearly identified political party; or
(1) The corporation or labor organization does not act in cooperation, consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion of the candidates, the candidates' committees or agents regarding the preparation, contents and distribution of the voter guide;
(2) All of the candidates for a particular seat or office are provided an equal opportunity to respond, except that in the case of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates the corporation or labor organization may choose to direct the questions only to those candidates who—
(i) Are seeking the nomination of a particular political party in a contested primary election; or
(ii) Appear on the general election ballot in the state(s) where the voter guide is distributed or appear on the general election ballot in enough states to win a majority of the electoral votes;
(3) No candidate receives greater prominence in the voter guide than other participating candidates, or substantially more space for responses;
(4) The voter guide and its accompanying materials do not contain an electioneering message; and
(5) The voter guide and its accompanying materials do not score or rate the candidates' responses in such a way as to convey an electioneering message.
Endorsements.
A corporation or labor organization may endorse a candidate, and may communicate the endorsement to the restricted class and the general public. The Internal Revenue Code and regulations promulgated thereunder should be consulted regarding restrictions or prohibitions on endorsements by nonprofit corporations described in 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
Disbursements for announcements of endorsements to the general public are not contributions or expenditures, provided that:
The public announcement is not coordinated with a candidate, a candidate's authorized committee, or their agents; and
Disbursements for any press release or press conference to announce the endorsement are de minimis. Such disbursements shall be considered de minimis if the press release and notice of the press conference are distributed only to the representatives of the news media that the corporation or labor organization customarily contacts when issuing non-political press releases or holding press conferences for other purposes.
Disbursements for announcements of endorsements to the restricted class may be coordinated pursuant to 114.3(a) and are not contributions or expenditures provided that no more than a de minimis number of copies of the publication that includes the endorsement are circulated beyond the restricted class.
Candidate appearances on educational institution premises—
Rental of facilities at usual and normal charge. Any incorporated nonprofit educational institution exempt from federal taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), such as a school, college or university, may make its facilities available to any candidate or political committee in the ordinary course of business and at the usual and normal charge. In this event, the requirements of paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of this section are not applicable.
Use of facilities at no charge or at less than the usual and normal charge. An incorporated nonprofit educational institution exempt from federal taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), such as a school, college or university, may sponsor appearances by candidates, candidates' representatives or representatives of political parties at which such individuals address or meet the institution's academic community or the general public (whichever is invited) on the educational institution's premises at no charge or at less than the usual and normal charge, if:
The educational institution makes reasonable efforts to ensure that the appearances constitute speeches, question and answer sessions, or similar communications in an academic setting, and makes reasonable efforts to ensure that the appearances are not conducted as campaign rallies or events; and
The educational institution does not, in conjunction with the appearance, expressly advocate the election or defeat of any clearly identified candidate(s) or candidates of a clearly identified political party, and does not favor any one candidate or political party over any other in allowing such appearances.
Voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives—
Voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives permitted. A corporation or labor organization may support or conduct voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives that are aimed at employees outside its restricted class and the general public. Voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives include providing transportation to the polls or to the place of registration.
Disbursements for certain voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives not expenditures. Voter registration or get-out-the-vote drives that are conducted in accordance with paragraphs (d)(2)(i) through (d)(2)(v) of this section are not expenditures.
The corporation or labor organization shall not make any communication expressly advocating the election or defeat of any clearly identified candidate(s) or candidates of a clearly identified political party as part of the voter registration or get-out-the-vote drive.
The voter registration drive shall not be directed primarily to individuals previously registered with, or intending to register with, the political party favored by the corporation or labor organization. The get-out-the-vote drive shall not be directed primarily to individuals currently registered with the political party favored by the corporation or labor organization.
These services shall be made available without regard to the voter's political preference. Information and other assistance regarding registering or voting, including transportation and other services offered, shall not be withheld or refused on the basis of support for or opposition to particular candidates or a particular political party.
Individuals conducting the voter registration or get-out-the-vote drive shall not be paid on the basis of the number of individuals registered or transported who support one or more particular candidates or political party.
The corporation or labor organization shall notify those receiving information or assistance of the requirements of paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section. The notification shall be made in writing at the time of the registration or get-out-the-vote drive.
Incorporated membership organizations, incorporated trade associations, incorporated cooperatives and corporations without capital stock. An incorporated membership organization, incorporated trade association, incorporated cooperative or corporation without capital stock may permit candidates, candidates' representatives or representatives of political parties to address or meet members and employees of the organization, and their families, on the organization's premises or at a meeting, convention or other function of the organization, in accordance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(1) (i) through (viii) of this section.
Candidate debates.
A nonprofit organization described in 11 CFR 110.13(a)(1) may use its own funds and may accept funds donated by corporations or labor organizations under paragraph (f)(3) of this section to defray costs incurred in staging candidate debates held in accordance with 11 CFR 110.13.
A broadcaster (including a cable television operator, programmer or producer), bona fide newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication may use its own funds to defray costs incurred in staging public candidate debates held in accordance with 11 CFR 110.13.
A corporation or labor organization may donate funds to nonprofit organizations qualified under 11 CFR 110.13(a)(1) to stage candidate debates held in accordance with 11 CFR 110.13 and 114.4(f).
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[60 FR 64276, Dec. 14, 1995, as amended at 61 FR 18051, Apr. 24, 1996; 67 FR 78681, Dec. 26, 2002; 68 FR 457, Jan. 3, 2003; 72 FR 72913, Dec. 26, 2007; 79 FR 62817, Oct. 21, 2014]
Authority
Authority: 52 U.S.C. 30101(8), 30101(9), 30102, 30104, 30107(a)(8), 30111(a)(8), 30118.
Amendments
[60 FR 64276, Dec. 14, 1995, as amended at 61 FR 18051, Apr. 24, 1996; 67 FR 78681, Dec. 26, 2002; 68 FR 457, Jan. 3, 2003; 72 FR 72913, Dec. 26, 2007; 79 FR 62817, Oct. 21, 2014]