What is a Special Election?

Special elections are held to fill vacancies in House and Senate seats. Elections are called by the respective chambers, with the filing dates for nomination papers subsequently set by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. OCPF sets the campaign finance reporting schedule after notification by the Secretary.

Candidates in special legislative elections have three reporting periods for the election cycle:

• A Pre-Primary reporting period: deposit reports are due for each deposit made between the pre-primary period's starting date and ending date (18 days before the primary);
• A Pre-Election period: deposit reports are due 8 days before the special election, starting the day after the pre-primary ending date through 10 days prior to the due date (18 days before the special election); and
• A Post-Election period: deposit reports are due 30 days after the special election and complete through 10 days prior to the due date (20 days after the special election).

Expenditures made by the candidate are reported by the candidate's designated depository bank by the 5th of each month, covering the entire previous month, i.e. January's report is due by February 5th and covers January 1st through the 31st.

If a candidate maintains a committee or has money or liabilities outstanding after the Post Election report, he or she must file a year-end report covering the subsequent activity as well as in-kind contributions received through this election cycle.