Informal Hearings on Delinquent Filers

The Office of Campaign Finance utilizes the informal hearing process to address alleged violations of the reporting and disclosure requirements, prescribed by the Campaign Finance Act and Chapters 30 – 37 of Title 3, “Elections and Ethics” of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations. The OCF Regulations governing the informal hearing process may be found in Section 3709 of Chapter 37.

When a violation of the reporting and disclosure requirements has occurred, the Director of Campaign Finance may ministerially impose fines upon the offending party as enumerated in Section 3711 of Chapter 37. Notice of hearing and possible fines regarding the alleged violation is mailed to each offending party. A hearing is conducted and a written order is issued soon thereafter. Orders reflect the type of reporting entity in the Docket Number. Orders listed under "Candidates and Political Committees" include those for candidates, principal campaign committee, and political action committees, or PACs. Therefore, noted in the Docket Number before the “dash,” orders regarding Advisory Neighborhood Commission candidates are identified with an “A”; all other candidates and principal campaign committees are identified with a "C"; and political action committees, or PACs, are identified with a "P".

The Office of Campaign Finance will post orders in matters where informal hearings on the reporting requirements have been concluded.

Occasionally, the Office of Campaign Finance may be unable to locate an alleged filing entity or individual filer due to, among other things, changes in address information, filing or employment, or the suspension of the financial operations or activity of the entity or filer. When the Office of Campaign Finance has spent a reasonable amount of resources to locate an alleged filing entity or individual filer, but to no avail, the Director will issue an Order of Administrative Dismissal; and, in certain instances, the Office of Campaign Finance will vacate an Order previously issued. See the link to Administrative Dismissal and Vacated Orders on this website.