[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 111 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31159-31160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14714]


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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

[Notice 1999-8]

11 CFR Part 110


Candidate Debates

AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.

ACTION: Petition for rulemaking; notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: On May 25, 1999, the Commission received a Petition for 
Rulemaking from Mary Clare Wohlford, William T. Wohlford and Martin T. 
Mortimer urging the Commission to amend its rules so that the objective 
criteria for inclusion in Presidential and Vice Presidential debates is 
established by the Commission itself, and not left to the discretion of 
debate staging organizations. This petition is available for inspection 
in the Commission's Public Records Office.

DATES: Statements in support of or in opposition to the petitions must 
be filed on or before July 12, 1999.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to Rosemary C. Smith, 
Senior Attorney, and must be submitted in either written or electronic 
form. Written comments should be sent to the Federal Election 
Commission, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20463. Faxed comments 
should be sent to (202) 219-3923, with printed copy follow up. 
Electronic mail comments should be sent to [email protected], and should 
include the full name, electronic mail address and postal service 
address of the commenter. Additional information on electronic 
submission is provided below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemary C. Smith, Senior Attorney, or 
Paul Sanford, Staff Attorney, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20463, 
(202) 694-1650 or (800) 424-9530.


[[Page 31160]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 25, 1999, the Commission received a 
Petition for Rulemaking from Mary Clare Wohlford, William T. Wohlford 
and Martin T. Mortimer regarding the Commission's candidate debate 
regulations at 11 CFR 110.13. Paragraph (c) of that section states, 
inter alia, that ``[f]or all debates, staging organization(s) must use 
pre-established objective criteria to determine which candidates may 
participate in a debate.'' Id. The petitioners assert that the 
objective criteria for inclusion in Presidential and Vice Presidential 
debates should be established by the Commission itself, and not left to 
the discretion of debate staging organizations. Therefore, the petition 
urges the Commission to revise this paragraph to set forth ``mandatory 
criteria for participation in Presidential and Vice Presidential 
Debates.'' Petition at 1.
    Specifically, the petition recommends that the debates be open to 
any candidate that (1) has the mathematical potential to win the 
election in that he or she is on the ballot in enough states to earn 
270 Electoral College votes; and (2) has proven his or her viability by 
having spent at least $500,000 on the campaign by the end of the month 
preceding the date of the first scheduled debate held on or after 
September 1 of the election year. In addition, the petition recommends 
that candidates have equal access to debates held before September 1 
without regard to the above requirements.
    Copies of the petitions are available for public inspection in the 
Commission's Public Records Office, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20463, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 
p.m. Copies of the petitions can also be obtained at any time of the 
day and week from the Commission's home page at www.fec.gov, or from 
the Commission's FlashFAX service. To obtain copies of the petitions 
from FlashFAX, dial (202) 501-3413 and follow the FlashFAX service 
instructions. Request document # 239 to receive the petition.
    All statements in support of or in opposition to the petitions 
should be addressed to Rosemary C. Smith, Senior Attorney, and must be 
submitted in either written or electronic form. Written comments should 
be sent to the Commission's postal service address: Federal Election 
Commission, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20463. Faxed comments 
should be sent to (202) 219-3923. Commenters submitting faxed comments 
should also submit a printed copy to the Commission's postal service 
address to ensure legibility. Comments may also be sent by electronic 
mail to [email protected]. Commenters sending comments by electronic mail 
should include their full name, electronic mail address and postal 
service address within the text of their comments. All comments, 
regardless of form, must be submitted by July 12, 1999.
    Consideration of the merits of the petition will be deferred until 
the close of the comment period. If the Commission decides that the 
petition has merit, it may begin a rulemaking proceeding. Any 
subsequent action taken by the Commission will be announced in the 
Federal Register.

    Dated: June 4, 1999.
Scott E. Thomas,
Chairman, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 99-14714 Filed 6-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P