After the Election

Congratulations on your win!  

Please be aware, that pursuant to Assembly Bill 571 (Stats. 2019, Ch. 556, AB 571 Mullin), beginning January 1, 2021 a state campaign contribution limit will by default apply to city and county candidates when the city or county has not already enacted a contribution limit on such candidates. Along with the new campaign contribution limit, there are also other related provisions that formerly applied only to state level candidates that will now apply to city and county candidates. Please refer to the AB 571 fact sheet for detailed guidance. Please note that information in the fact sheet does not apply to candidates in cities or counties for which the city or county has enacted campaign contribution limits.

For candidates in cities or counties for which the city or county has enacted campaign contribution limits, you may choose to leave your committee open or to terminate it.

For all candidates, remember that even if you are not raising or spending funds, you must continue filing campaign reports in a timely manner if your committee is open.

Ongoing Responsibilities

• Form 470 -- annually, for elected officials who do not have a committee and whose contributions and expenditures are less than $2000 in the aggregate
• Form 460 -- regularly, for elected officials who have an open committee and whose contributions and expenditures are $2000 or more in the aggregate
• Form 497 -- for State elected officials who receive contributions of $5000 or more, in the aggregate, from a single contributor outside of the 90 days before an election (does not apply to local candidates)
• $50 SOS Fee -- annually, for elected officials who have an open committee

For more information on when to file campaign reports, see the filing schedule section of our website.

Debt

Elected officials may leave their committees open to continue raising funds to pay off debt from their campaign. Remember to continue filing timely campaign reports.

Future Election**

Elected officials may transfer leftover funds to a new committee if they would like to run for office again.  When candidates are ready to run for office again...

• State candidates must... 
  • complete Form 501 and
  • complete a new Form 410 and
  • open a new bank account for the future committee and
  • use LIFO/FIFO method to report transferred funds and
  • not have net debt outstanding or
  • not transfer surplus funds
• Local candidates running for the same office must:**
  • complete Form 501 and
  • amend Form 410 
• Local candidates running for a different office must:**
  • complete Form 501 and
  • complete a new Form 410 and
  • open a new bank account for the new committee and
  • transfer remaining funds, if desired, and
    
  • not have net debt outstanding 

**Local candidates who are subject to AB 571 should refer to the AB 571 Fact Sheet linked above or contact the FPPC for advice on the requirements for running for future office.

Note:  Local candidates should check with their filing officials to verify that local ordinances allow for funds to be transferred.

Terminating Your Committee**

You may only terminate your committee if:

• You have filed all required campaign statements and
• Your final campaign statement has $0 balance and
• You do not anticipate receiving further contributions and
• You do not anticipate making further expenditures and
• You are not expecting a refund on your ballot statement or filing fees that were paid out of committee funds.

Once all of these criteria are met, you may terminate your committee by filing the following:

• Form 410 and
• Form 460

Be sure to mark the "Termination" box on both forms.

**Local candidates who are subject to AB 571 should refer to the AB 571 Fact Sheet linked above or contact the FPPC for advice on the requirements and timing for terminating their committee.

For more information on reports and other post-election requirements, please see FPPC's Filing Schedules and Campaign Disclosure Manuals.

Please be aware, that pursuant to Assembly Bill 571 (Stats. 2019, Ch. 556, AB 571 Mullin), beginning January 1, 2021, a state campaign contribution limit will by default apply to city and county candidates when the city or county has not already enacted a contribution limit on such candidates. Along with the new campaign contribution limit, there are also other related provisions that formerly applied only to state level candidates that will now apply to city and county candidates.

Please refer to the AB 571 fact sheet for detailed guidance. Please note that information in the fact sheet does not apply to candidates in cities or counties for which the city or county has enacted campaign contribution limits.

For candidates in cities or counties for which the city or county has enacted campaign contribution limits, you may choose to leave your committee open or to terminate it.

For all candidates, remember that even if you are not raising or spending funds, you must continue filing campaign reports in a timely manner if your committee is open.

For candidates subject to AB 571, please see the AB 571 Fact Sheet for guidance on when committees must be terminated.

Reports

• Form 470 -- If your committee raised less than $2,000 and you submitted a Form 470, you have no further reporting requirements.
• Form 460 -- If your committee has been filing Form 460, there is no deadline for terminating the committee or disposing remaining funds, but you must continue to timely file your campaign statements.
• Form 497 -- If your State committee is open and receives contributions of $5000 or more, in the aggregate, from a single contributor outside of the 90 days before an election (does not apply to local candidates), you must file this report.
• $50 SOS Fee -- Pay annually so long as your committee is open.

For more information on reports and other post-election requirements, please see FPPC's Filing Schedules and Campaign Disclosure Manuals.

Surplus Funds!

Funds become surplus 90 days after the end of the reporting period after the election (near the end of March for November elections, and near the end of September for June elections).  Once funds become surplus they cannot be used for future elections.  Unsuccessful candidates must terminate the committee or re-designate the committee for a future election within the 90 days. Local candidates who are subject to AB 571 cannot re-designate their committee for a future election and should refer to the AB 571 Fact Sheet linked above or contact the FPPC for advice.

Debt

Candidates may continue to raise funds to pay off debt from their campaign.  Remember to continue filing regular campaign reports if your committee is open.

Future Election**

Candidates may transfer leftover funds to a new committee if they would like to run for office again, but they must do so before the funds become surplus. Within the 90 days after the end of the reporting period after the election, candidates must...

• Complete Form 501 and
• Complete a new Form 410 and
• Open a new bank account for the future committee and
• Transfer remaining funds to new bank account and
• Not have net debt outstanding or
• Not transfer surplus funds

Note:  Local candidates should check with their filing officials to verify that local ordinances allow for funds to be transferred.

**For candidates subject to AB 571, please see the AB 571 Fact Sheet for guidance on future election and use of leftover funds.

Terminating Your Committee**

You may only terminate your committee if:

• You have filed all required campaign statements and
• Your final campaign statement has $0 balance and
• You do not anticipate receiving further contributions and
• You do not anticipate making further expenditures and
• You are not expecting a refund on your ballot statement or filing fees that were paid out of committee funds.

Once all of these criteria are met, you may terminate your committee by filing the following:

• Form 410 and
• Form 460

Be sure to mark the "Termination" box on both forms.

**Local candidates who are subject to AB 571 should refer to the AB 571 Fact Sheet linked above or contact the FPPC for advice on the requirements and timing for terminating their committee.

For more information on your responsibilities after the election, please review our Campaign Disclosure Manuals.

The following are from the Political Reform Act and FPPC Regulations.

Surplus Campaign Funds

• Section 89519: Use of Surplus Funds
• Regulation 18951 Surplus Funds
  

Money Management

• Section 89511.5: Use of Personal Funds for Incumbent Elected Officers
• Section 89512: Expenditures Associated with Seeking or Holding Office
• Regulation 18525 Incumbent Candidates' Election Expenses and Officeholder Expenses
• Regulation 18530.2 Transfer of Funds Raised Prior to Proposition 34 and Assembly Bill 571 Limits
• Regulation 18531.61 Treatment of Debts Outstanding After an Election
• Regulation 18536 Transfer and Attribution of Contributions
• Regulation 18901.1 Mass Mailings Sent at Public Expense
  

Committee Termination

• Section 84214: Termination
• Regulation 18404 Termination of Candidate’s and Committees’ Filing Requirements
• Regulation 18404.1 Termination and Reopening of Committees
• Regulation 18404.2 Administrative Termination