Campaign and Political Finance Penalty Summary
This summary represents an analysis of data pulled from the online campaign finance reporting system TRACER. The
data covers the current election cycle running from December 3, 2010 through December 6, 2012 (Data is current to
November 21, 2012). Contribution data contained in the TRACER system is self reported and is not independently
verified by the Secretary of State’s Office.
Contributions Received by Committee Type
12/3/2010 - 11/21/2012
(Total - $59.9 million)
$6,165,540, 10%
$71,011, 0%
Candidate Committee
$5,051,037, 9%
Issue Committee
Political Committee
$14,383,032,
24%
$15,689,148,
26%
$9,347,301,
16%
Political Parties
527s
Small Donor
Fed PAC
IEC
$6,198,139, 10% $2,957,470, 5%
Contributions are reported on regularly scheduled disclosure reports. Analysis does not include pending or unreported
contributions.
Number of Penalties by Committee Type (1,335)
12/3/2010 - 11/21/2012
36, 3%
56, 4%
Candidate Committee
105, 8%
10, 1%
Issue Committee
Political Committee
94, 7%
162, 12%
Political Parties
710, 53%
527s
Small Donor
162, 12%
Fed PAC
IEC
Penalties are imposed for late filings. This analysis does not include penalties imposed by an Administrative Law Judge
through the Office of Administrative Courts.
Total Imposed Penalties By Committee Type
12/3/2010 - 11/21/2012
Total ($1,780,045)
$32,350, 2%
$29,950, 2%
$76,550, $100,700, 6%
4%
Candidate Committee
Issue Committee
$63,750, 3%
Political Committee
$176,075, 10%
Political Parties
$389,250, 22%
$911,420, 51%
527s
Small Donor
Fed PAC
IEC
Section 10(2)(a) or Article XXVII of the Colorado Constitution requires the imposition of a penalty of fifty dollars per day
for each day a required filing is delinquent.
Number of Penalties by Penalty Range
12/3/2010 - 11/21/2012
30, 2%
$0-100
195, 15%
$100-300
77, 6%
$300-500
68, 5%
206, 15%
759, 57%
$500-1000
$1000-5000
>$5000
A penalty in the $0-$100 range represents a report that was filed up to two days late. Penalties greater than $5,000
represent filings that were more than 100 days late.
Penalty Amount by Status
12/3/2010 - 11/21/2012
Open
$740,400,
42%
$702,875,
39%
Paid
Waived
Closed
$172,600, 10% $164,170, 9%
Open penalties represent penalties that were unpaid at the time of analysis and were still accruing $50 per day
penalties. Waived penalties are those where the delinquent filer, pursuant to Section 10(2)(b) of Article XXVII of the
Colorado Constitution filed a waiver request with the Secretary of States office within 30 days of the imposition of the
penalty. Waivers may include penalties that were waived in full or in part. Closed penalties have been transferred to
Central Collections and/or written off as uncollectable.
Historical Analysis of Campaign Finance Data
Penalties as a Percentage of Contributions Raised
12/3/2010 - 11/21/2012
7.0%
6.0%
5.0%
4.0%
3.0%
2.0%
1.0%
0.0%
Candidate
Committee
Issue
Committee
Political
Committee
Political
Parties
527s
Small Donor
IEC
Percent of Overall Contributions Received Compared
to Percent of Overall Penalties Imposed
12/3/2010 - 11/21/2012
60
50
40
30
20
% Funds Raised
10
% Penalties
0
Total Contributions Received by Committee Type
$25,000,000.00
$20,000,000.00
$15,000,000.00
$10,000,000.00
2010
2011
$5,000,000.00
$0.00
2012
Total Number of Penalties Imposed by
Committee Type
800
700
600
500
400
300
2010
200
2011
100
2012
0
Total Penalties Imposed by Committee Type
$2,500,000.00
$2,000,000.00
$1,500,000.00
$1,000,000.00
2010
2011
$500,000.00
$0.00
2012
Percentage of Committees Fined
12/3/2010 - 11/21/2012
100.0%
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Total Amount Imposed
$1,780,045
Number Imposed
1335
Avg. Fine Amount
$1,333.37
Standard Deviation
3,705