§9038 Examinations and Audits; Repayments

Summary

After each matching payment period, the Commission must examine and audit the qualified campaign expenses of every candidate and their authorized committees that got matching payments. If the Commission finds a candidate got more money than they were entitled to, it will notify the candidate and the candidate must pay that excess amount to the Secretary. The Commission also checks that matching payments were used only to pay qualifying campaign expenses or to repay or restore loans or funds that were used for those expenses. Candidates may keep matching payments for up to 6 months after the matching period to pay remaining campaign bills. Once bills are paid, any leftover money that is attributable to matching payments must be returned to the matching payment account in the same proportion as the matching funds were to total account deposits. The Commission cannot make a repayment notification more than 3 years after the matching period. Any repayments go into the matching payment account.