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Coordinated Communications Periods

When an individual or political committee pays for a communication that is coordinated with a candidate or party committee, the communication is considered an in-kind contribution to that candidate or party committee and is subject to the limits, prohibitions and reporting requirements of the federal campaign finance law. FEC regulations establish a three-prong test to determine whether a communication is coordinated. All three prongs of the test—payment, content and conduct—must be met for a communication to be deemed coordinated and thus an in-kind contribution. 11 CFR 109.21.

In response to the DC Court of Appeals decision in Shays v. FEC, the Commission promulgated new regulations on Coordinated Communications. Specifically, these regulations redefine the pre-election time frames used in the content prong of the three-prong coordinated communication test. See 11 CFR 109.21(c)(4)(i) and (ii) and the FEC brochure "Coordinated Communications and Independent Expenditures" [HTML] [PDF] for additional information.

The charts below provide a state-by-state breakdown of the 90- and 120-day coordinated communications periods for Congressional primaries, Presidential primaries, Presidential nominating conventions, the Congressional general election and special elections.
NOTE: For communications that refer to both a party and a clearly identified federal candidate please consult the regulations at 11 CFR 109.21(c)(4)(i)-(iv).

 

Coordinated Communications Periods for Congressional Primaries ¹

State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*Alabama Congressional Primary	06/03/08	03/05/08 - 06/03/08
Primary Runoff	07/15/08	04/16/08 - 07/15/08
*Alaska Congressional Primary	08/26/08	05/28/08 - 08/26/08
American Samoa Congressional Primary	11/04/08	08/06/08 - 11/04/08
Arizona Congressional Primary	09/02/08	06/04/08 - 09/02/08
*Arkansas Congressional Primary	05/20/08	02/20/08 - 05/20/08
Primary Runoff	06/10/08	03/12/08 - 06/10/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
California Congressional Primary	06/03/08	03/05/08 - 06/03/08
*Colorado Congressional Primary	08/12/08	05/14/08 - 08/12/08
Connecticut Congressional Primary	08/12/08 2	05/14/08 - 08/12/08
Connecticut Democratic Party Conventions - House	05/12/08 2	02/12/08 - 05/12/08
Connecticut Republican Party Conventions - House	05/10/08 2	02/10/08 - 05/10/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*Delaware Congressional Primary	09/09/08	06/11/08 - 09/09/08
District of Columbia Congressional Primary	09/09/08	06/11/08 - 09/09/08
Florida Congressional Primary	08/26/08	05/28/08 - 08/26/08
*Georgia Congressional Primary	07/15/08	04/16/08 - 07/15/08
Primary Runoff	08/05/08	05/07/08 - 08/05/08
General Runoff	12/02/08	09/03/08 - 12/02/08
Guam Congressional Primary	09/06/08	06/08/08 - 09/06/08
Hawaii Congressional Primary	09/20/08	06/22/08 - 09/20/08
*Idaho Congressional Primary	05/27/08	02/27/08 - 05/27/08
*Illinois Congressional Primary	02/05/08	11/07/07 - 02/05/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
Indiana Congressional Primary	05/06/08 2	02/06/08 - 05/06/08
Indiana Libertarian Party Conventions -- Congressional	04/26/08 2	01/27/08 - 04/26/08
*Iowa Congressional Primary	06/03/08	03/05/08 - 06/03/08
*Kansas Congressional Primary	08/05/08 2	05/07/08 - 08/05/08
*Kentucky Congressional Primary	05/20/08	02/20/08 - 05/20/08
*Louisiana Congressional Primary **CANCELED**	09/06/08	06/08/08 - 09/06/08
*Louisiana Congressional Primary	10/04/08	07/06/08 - 10/04/08
Primary Runoff	11/04/08 3	08/06/08 - 11/04/08
General	12/06/08 3	09/07/08 - 12/06/08
*Maine Congressional Primary	06/10/08	03/12/08 - 06/10/08
Maryland Congressional Primary	02/12/08	11/14/07 - 02/12/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*Massachusetts Congressional Primary	09/16/08	06/18/08 - 09/16/08
*Michigan Congressional Primary	08/05/08 2	05/07/08 - 08/05/08
*Michigan Green Party Conventions - Congressional	07/27/08 2	04/28/08 - 07/27/08
*Michigan Libertarian Party Conventions - Congressional	06/07/08 2	03/09/08 - 06/07/08
*Michigan US Taxpayers Party Conventions - Congressional	05/03/08 2	02/03/08 - 05/03/08
*Minnesota Congressional Primary	09/09/08	06/10/08 - 09/09/08
*Mississippi Congressional Primary	03/11/08	12/12/07 - 03/11/08
Primary Runoff	04/01/08	01/02/08 - 04/01/08
Missouri Congressional Primary	08/05/08	05/07/08 - 08/05/08
*Montana Congressional Primary	06/03/08	03/05/08 - 06/03/08
*Nebraska Congressional Primary	05/13/08	02/13/08 - 05/13/08
Nevada Congressional Primary	08/12/08	05/14/08 - 08/12/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*New Hampshire Congressional Primary	09/09/08	06/11/08 - 09/09/08
*New Jersey Congressional Primary	06/03/08	03/05/08 - 06/03/08
*New Mexico Congressional Primary	06/03/08	03/05/08 - 06/03/08
New York Congressional Primary	09/09/08	06/11/08 - 09/09/08
*North Carolina Congressional Primary	05/06/08	02/06/08 - 05/06/08
Primary Runoff	06/24/08	03/26/08 - 06/24/08
North Dakota Congressional Primary	06/10/08	03/12/08 - 06/10/08
Ohio Congressional Primary	03/04/08	12/05/07 - 03/04/08
*Oklahoma Congressional Primary	07/29/08	04/30/08 - 07/29/08
Primary Runoff	08/26/08	05/28/08 - 08/26/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*Oregon Congressional Primary	05/20/08	02/20/08 - 05/20/08
*Oregon Libertarian Party Convention -- Congressional	06/01/08	03/03/08 - 06/01/08
Pennsylvania Congressional Primary	04/22/08	01/23/08 - 04/22/08
Puerto Rico Congressional Primary	03/09/08	12/10/07 - 03/09/08
*Rhode Island Congressional Primary	09/09/08	06/11/08 - 09/09/08
*South Carolina Congressional Primary	06/10/08 2	03/12/08 - 06/10/08
Primary Runoff	06/24/08	03/26/08 - 06/24/08
*South Carolina Constitution Party Conventions -- Congressional	05/10/08 2	02/10/08 - 05/10/08
*South Carolina Green Party Conventions -- Congressional	05/03/08 2	02/03/08 - 05/03/08
*South Carolina Working Families Party Conventions -- Congressional	05/10/08 2	02/10/08 - 05/10/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
*South Dakota Congressional Primary	06/03/08	03/05/08 - 06/03/08
Primary Runoff	06/17/08	03/19/08 - 06/17/08
*Tennessee Congressional Primary	08/07/08	05/09/08 - 08/07/08
*Texas Congressional Primary	03/04/08 2	12/05/07 - 03/04/08
Primary Runoff	04/08/08	01/09/08 - 04/08/08
*Texas Minor Party Senate Convention	06/14/08 2	03/16/08 - 06/14/08
Texas House -- Minor Party Convention  [Dist. #s 7, 16, 18, 20, 29, 30, 32]	03/15/08 2	12/16/07 - 03/15/08
Texas House -- Minor Party Convention  [Dist. #s 1-6, 8-15, 17, 19, 21-28, 31]	03/22/08 2	12/23/07 - 03/22/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
Utah Congressional Primary	06/24/08 2	03/26/08 - 06/24/08
Utah Constitution Party Congressional Convention	04/19/08 2	01/20/08 - 04/19/08
Utah Democratic Party Congressional Convention	05/10/08 2	02/10/08 - 05/10/08
Utah Libertarian Party Congressional Convention	04/19/08 2	01/20/08 - 04/19/08
Utah Republican Party Congressional Convention	05/10/08 2	02/10/08 - 05/10/08
Vermont Congressional Primary	09/09/08	06/11/08 - 09/09/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
Virgin Islands Congressional Primary	09/13/08	06/15/08 - 09/13/08
*Virginia Congressional Primary	06/10/08 2	03/12/08 - 06/10/08
Virginia Senate Convention -- Republican Party	05/31/08 2	03/02/08 - 05/31/08
Virginia Democratic Party Congressional Conventions [Dist. #s 1, 4, 5 & 9]	05/17/08 2	02/17/08 - 05/17/08
Virginia Democratic Party Congressional Convention [Dist. #6]	05/24/08 2	02/24/08 - 05/24/08
Virginia Republican Party Congressional Convention [Dist. #3]	05/17/08 2	02/17/08 - 05/17/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
Washington Congressional Primary	08/19/08	05/21/08 - 08/19/08
*West Virginia Congressional Primary	05/13/08 2	02/13/08 - 05/13/08
*Wisconsin Congressional Primary	09/09/08	06/11/08 - 09/09/08
*Wyoming Congressional Primary	08/19/08	05/21/08 - 08/19/08

* States holding 2008 Senate elections.

¹ Election dates are subject to change.  This chart will be updated as additional information becomes available.

² In Connecticut and Utah, conventions are held by the political parties prior to the primary.  In Virginia, parties may choose to nominate by convention rather than by primary election. (In other states, such as Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia, it is possible that minor parties may schedule conventions to nominate candidates.)

³ If a Primary Runoff Election is necessary, it will be held on November 4, 2008. The General Election will instead be held on December 6, 2008, in the affected Congressional Districts.

 

Coordinated Communications Period for Congressional General Election

Special Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through date of general election)
General Election	11/04/08	08/06/08 - 11/04/08

 

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Coordinated Communications Periods for Presidential Primary Elections ⁴

Alabama-Colorado
Connecticut-Guam
Hawaii-Kentucky
Louisiana-Missouri
Montana-New York
North Carolina-Rhode Island
South Carolina-Virgin Islands
Virginia-Wyoming
 

State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Alabama Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Alaska Presidential Caucus	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
American Samoa Presidential Caucus (D)	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
American Samoa Presidential Caucus (R)	02/23/08	10/26/07 - 11/04/08
Arizona Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Arkansas Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
California Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Colorado Presidential Caucus	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Connecticut Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Delaware Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
District of Columbia Presidential Primary	02/12/08	10/15/07 - 11/04/08
Florida Presidential Primary	01/29/08	10/01/07 - 11/04/08
Georgia Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Guam Presidential Caucus (R)	03/08/08	11/09/07 - 11/04/08
Guam Presidential Caucus (D)	05/03/08	01/04/08 - 11/04/08
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Hawaii Presidential Convention (R)	02/07/08	10/10/07 - 11/04/08
Hawaii Presidential Caucus (D)	02/19/08	10/22/07 - 11/04/08
Idaho Presidential Caucus (D)	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Idaho Presidential Primary	05/27/08	01/28/08 - 11/04/08
Illinois Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Indiana Presidential Primary	05/06/08	01/07/08 - 11/04/08
Iowa Presidential Caucus	01/03/08	09/05/07 - 11/04/08
Kansas Presidential Caucus (D)	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Kansas Presidential Convention (R)	02/09/08	10/12/07 - 11/04/08
Kentucky Presidential Primary	05/20/08	01/21/08 - 11/04/08
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Louisiana Presidential Primary	02/09/08	10/12/07 - 11/04/08
Maine Presidential Caucus (D)	02/10/08	10/13/07 - 11/04/08
Maine Presidential Caucus (R)	02/01/08	10/04/07 - 11/04/08
Maryland Presidential Primary	02/12/08	10/15/07 - 11/04/08
Massachusetts Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Michigan Presidential Primary	01/15/08	09/17/07 - 11/04/08
Minnesota Presidential Caucus	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Mississippi Presidential Primary	03/11/08	11/12/07 - 11/04/08
Missouri Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Montana Presidential Primary	06/03/08	02/04/08 - 11/04/08
Nebraska Presidential Caucus (D)	02/09/08	10/12/07 - 11/04/08
Nebraska Presidential Primary (R)	05/13/08	01/14/08 - 11/04/08
Nevada Presidential Caucus	01/19/08	09/21/07 - 11/04/08
New Hampshire Presidential Primary	01/08/08	09/10/07 - 11/04/08
New Jersey Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
New Mexico Presidential Caucus (D)	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
New Mexico Presidential Primary (R)	06/03/08	02/04/08 - 11/04/08
New York Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
State & Type of Election	Primary Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
North Carolina Presidential Primary	05/06/08	01/07/08 - 11/04/08
North Dakota Presidential Caucus	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Ohio Presidential Primary	03/04/08	11/05/07 - 11/04/08
Oklahoma Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Oregon Presidential Primary	05/20/08	01/21/08 - 11/04/08
Pennsylvania Presidential Primary	04/22/08	12/24/07 - 11/04/08
Puerto Rico Presidential Caucus (D)	06/01/08	02/02/08 - 11/04/08
Puerto Rico Presidential Caucus (R)	02/24/08	10/27/07 - 11/04/08
Rhode Island Presidential Primary	03/04/08	11/05/07 - 11/04/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
South Carolina Presidential Primary (D)	01/26/08	09/28/07 - 11/04/08
South Carolina Presidential Convention (R)	01/19/08	09/21/07 - 11/04/08
South Dakota Presidential Primary	06/03/08	02/04/08 - 11/04/08
Tennessee Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Texas Presidential Primary	03/04/08	11/05/07 - 11/04/08
Utah Presidential Primary	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Vermont Presidential Primary	03/04/08	11/05/07 - 11/04/08
Virgin Islands Presidential Caucus (D)	02/09/08	10/12/07 - 11/04/08
Virgin Islands Presidential Caucus (R)	04/05/08	12/07/07 - 11/04/08
State & Type of Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (120-days prior to primary through date of general election)
Virginia Presidential Primary	02/12/08	10/15/07 - 11/04/08
Washington Presidential Primary	02/19/08	10/22/07 - 11/04/08
West Virginia Presidential Primary	05/13/08	01/14/08 - 11/04/08
West Virginia Presidential Caucus	02/05/08	10/08/07 - 11/04/08
Wisconsin Presidential Primary	02/19/08	10/22/07 - 11/04/08
Wyoming Presidential Caucus (D)	03/08/08	11/09/07 - 11/04/08
Wyoming Presidential Convention (R)	01/05/08	09/07/07 - 11/04/08

⁴ Because delegate selection rules vary by state and by party, some Presidential election, caucus and convention dates are not yet available, and the published dates are subject to change.  In some states, for example, one or both major parties intend to hold caucuses but have not finalized their plans.  To account for these and other similar situations, this chart will be updated as additional information becomes available.

 

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Coordinated Communications Periods for Special Elections

Special Election	Election Date	Coordinated Communications Period (90-days prior through election date)
California 12th District Special General	04/08/08	01/09/08 - 04/08/08
California 12th District Special General Runoff	06/03/08	03/05/08 - 06/03/08
Illinois 14th District Special Primary	02/05/08	11/07/07 - 02/05/08
Illinois 14th District Special General	03/08/08	12/09/07 - 03/08/08
Indiana 7th District Special General	03/11/08	12/12/07 - 03/11/08
Louisiana 1st District Special Primary	03/08/08	12/09/07 - 03/08/08
Louisiana 1st District Special Primary Runoff	04/05/08 5	01/06/08 - 04/05/08
Louisiana 1st District Special General	04/05/08 5	01/06/08 - 04/05/08
Louisiana 1st District Special General	05/03/08 5	02/03/08 - 05/03/08
Louisiana 6th District Special Primary	03/08/08	12/09/07 - 03/08/08
Louisiana 6th District Special Primary Runoff	04/05/08 5	01/06/08 - 04/05/08
Louisiana 6th District Special General	04/05/08 5	01/06/08 - 04/05/08
Louisiana 6th District Special General	05/03/08 5	02/03/08 - 05/03/08
Maryland 4th District Special General	06/17/08	03/19/08 - 06/17/08
Mississippi Senate Special General	11/04/08	08/06/08 - 11/04/08
Mississippi Senate Special General Runoff	11/25/08	08/27/08 - 11/25/08
Mississippi 1st District Special General	04/22/08	01/23/08 - 04/22/08
Mississippi 1st District Special General Runoff	05/13/08	02/13/08 - 05/13/08
Ohio 11th District Special Primary	10/14/08	07/16/08 - 10/14/08
Ohio 11th District Special General	11/18/08	08/20/08 - 11/18/08

5 In the event that Special Runoff Elections are NOT necessary, the Special General Election will be held on April 5, 2008, instead of May 3, 2008.