ADVISORYOPINIONNO.20132(June20,2013) SUMMARY Basedontheinformationnowavailable,theBoardhasdeterminedthataDemocraticParty mayoralrunoffelectionisreasonablyanticipated.Candidatesseekingnominationforelectionin the2013DemocraticPartymayoralprimarythereforemaynowacceptcontributionsforarunoff election,fordepositinaseparaterunoffaccount.Thisallowanceforacceptingcontributionsfora runoffelectionisnotopenended.Ifitbecomesnolongerreasonabletoanticipatethisrunoff election,theBoardwillsodetermine,atwhichtimesuchcontributionswillnolongerbepermitted. Programparticipantsinarunoffelectionareeligibletoreceivepublicfundsgrantsequalto25 percentofthepublicfundspaymentstheyreceivedfortheprimaryelection,ifany.Runoffelection publicfundsgrantsmustbedepositedinasegregatedrunoffelectionaccount. FULLTEXT Re:NewYorkStateElectionLaw6162NewYorkCityAdministrativeCode(Admin.Code) 3703(1)(f),(h),(1a),3703(2)(a)(i),3705(5)CampaignFinanceBoardRules(BoardRules)103(b), 104(q),206(c),501(j)CampaignFinanceBoardAdvisoryOpinionNos.

19938,19972,199710, 19991,20011,20013,200110,200111,20052,20085,20095,20096Op.No.20132. TheNewYorkCityCampaignFinanceBoard(theBoard)hasbeenaskedbyNewYorkersforde Blasio(theCampaign)1,the2013principalcommitteeforBilldeBlasios2013campaignformayor,to makeadeterminationthataDemocraticPartyrunoffprimaryelection2in2013forthepositionofmayoris reasonablyanticipated. ACandidateMustProvideConcreteEvidencetoMeettheBurdentoDemonstratethata RunoffElectionisReasonablyAnticipated BoardRule104(q)providesthat[a]candidateseekingthenominationofapoliticalpartymaynot acceptcontributionsforarunoffprimaryelectionunlessthecandidatehaspreviouslydemonstratedto theBoardthatarunoffelectionisreasonablyanticipated.3Thecandidatehastheburdentoshowthata runoffelectionisreasonablyanticipated,byproducingevidenceofasufficientnumberofbonafide prospectiveopponentsforthatpoliticalnomination.AdvisoryOpinionNo.19991(January7,1999).This standardisalesserburdenthan,forexample,provingthatarunoffisprobable.AdvisoryOpinionNo. 20013(May17,2001).Further,therequirementthatacandidatemustdemonstratethatarunoffis reasonablyanticipatedimpliesthattheBoardmustgrounditsdeterminationinobjectivefacts.Id.Board Rule104(q)alsoprovidesthatcontributionsforarunoffelectionmaynotbeacceptedonceitisno longerreasonabletoanticipatesucharunoffelection.4 TheCampaignsrequestnotesthattheincumbentmayorisnotseekingreelectionthatfiveormore candidateswilllikelybeontheprimaryelectionballot,allofwhomhaveraisedsignificantfundsthat publicopinionpollsindicatealikelihoodthatnoonecandidatewillreceiveatleast40percentofthevotein theprimaryelectionandthatmediacommentarysuggeststhatarunoffprimaryelectionislikely.The letterprovidesconcreteevidenceofsevenprospectivecandidatesfortheDemocraticPartynomination fortheofficeofmayor.

AFindingthataRunoffPrimaryisReasonablyAnticipatedisBasedonObjectiveFacts Inassessingwhetherarunoffelectionwasreasonablyanticipated,theBoardhasconsideredfacts including:1)[a]historyofrunoffprimariesinaparticularpartyfortheofficeatissue(AdvisoryOpinion No.19991,20095(July16,2009),20096(August6,2009))2)mediareportsdiscussingthelikelihoodof arunoffprimary(AdvisoryOpinionNos.20011(March13,2001),20013(May17,2001),200110 (August23,2001),20095,20096)3)pollinginformation(AdvisoryOpinionNos.20011,20013, 200110,20095,20096)4)theproximitytothedateoftheprimary(AdvisoryOpinionNos.19991, 20013,200110,20085(July10,2008),20095,20096)5)whetheranincumbentisintherace (AdvisoryOpinionNos.20011,20013,200110,20095,20096)6)thenumberofcandidatesrunning (AdvisoryOpinionNos.19938(July20,1993),20011,20013,200110,20052(July7,2005),20095, 20096)7)theamountoffundsraisedbythecandidates(AdvisoryOpinionNos.20011,20013,200110, 20052,20085,20095,20096)and8)endorsementsmadetothecandidates(AdvisoryOpinionNos. 20095,20096). 1. Ofthetenelectionsfortheofficeofmayorsincetheadventoftherunoffrequirement,threehave hadprimaryrunoffelections. 2. TheCampaignsrequestreferencesmediareportsfromTheWallStreetJournal,The WashingtonPost,andCapitalNewYorkspeculatingonthelikelihoodofarunoffinthe Democraticprimaryelectionformayor.ThereportsnotethattheadditionofformerCongressman AnthonyWeinertothefieldofcandidateshasfurtherincreasedthepossibilitythatnoone candidatewillreceive40percentofthevote. 3. ApollpublishedonMay22,2013listedthetopfivemayoralcandidatesasreceiving25percent, 15percent,10percent,10percent,andsixpercentsupportamongregisteredDemocrats.Inapoll publishedonMay28,2013,nomayoralcandidatehadmorethan24percentsupportamong registeredDemocrats,withthetopfivecandidatespollingat24percent,19percent,12percent,11 percent,and8percent. 4. Therequestforthisadvisoryopinionwassubmitted15weeksbeforethedateofthescheduled DemocraticPartyprimaryelection. 5. Thereisnoincumbentinthecurrentrace.AsnotedintheCampaignsrequest,sincetheadvent oftherunoffrequirement,runoffprimariesfortheDemocraticnominationformayorhavebeen heldinbothinstanceswhentheincumbentdidnotseekreelection(1973and2001). 6. Asnotedabove,therearesevenpotentialDemocraticPartyprimarycandidatesformayor. 7. Asofdisclosurestatementeight(May15,2013),grossreportingindicatesthatfiveofthese candidateshaveeachraisedmorethan$3.3million,andtwoothershaveraisedlesser,butstill significant,amounts.5Itappearsunlikelythatanyofthetopfivecandidatesinthetworecentpolls willleavetheracebeforetheprimarydate. Inlightoftherecentpollsandmediareports,thelackofanincumbentintherace,andthelargenumberof viablecandidates,theBoardconcludesthatarunoffelectionintheDemocraticPartyprimaryformayoris reasonablyanticipated.6

Programparticipantsinarunoffelectionareeligibletoreceivepublicfundsgrantsequalto25percentof thepublicfundspaymentstheyreceivedfortheprimaryelection,ifany.Admin.Code3705(5)Board Rule501(j)AdvisoryOpinionNos.200111(September7,2001),199710(September18,1997). PursuanttoBoardRule501(j),theBoardshallmaketheserunoffprimarypublicfundsgrantswithinfour businessdaysafterthedateoftheprecedingelectionorassoonthereafteraspracticable.Runoff electionpublicfundsgrantsmustbedepositedinasegregatedrunoffelectionaccount.BoardRules 104(q),206(c).Disbursements,withdrawals,ortransfersfromarunoffelectionaccountmaynotbe madeuntilthedayaftertheprimaryelectionforwhichtherunoffprimaryisheld.SeeRule206(c) AdvisoryOpinionNos.200111,19991(January7,1999).Ifarunoffprimaryisnotheld,oraparticipant isnotontheballotforarunoffelection,therunoffprimaryelectionaccountwillbetreatedlikeanaccount establishedforanelectionnotsubjecttotheAct,sothatitsuseintheprimaryandgeneralelectionsis prohibited,andtheuseoftheaccountisfrozenuntilthefirstJanuary12aftertheelection.SeeAdvisory OpinionNos.200111,19972(May15,1997)seealsoBoardRules103(b),206(c)(1)(ii).Further, expendituresincurredaftertheprimarywillbesubjecttothegeneralelectionspendinglimitifthe participantisinthegeneralelection.7Contributionsreceivedforarunoffprimarymaynotbereturnedto contributorsaftertheparticipantreceivespublicfundsfortherunoffprimaryunlesstherunoffprimaryis notheldortheparticipantisnotontheballotfortherunoffprimary.SeeBoardRules104(c)(2),206(c) AdvisoryOpinionNos.200111,199710(September18,1997),fn.2. Iftheofficialresultsoftheprimaryelectionareundulydelayed,theBoardwillentertainapplicationsto issuepublicfundsgrantstothoseProgramparticipantsontheballotinaprimaryelectionwhoshowthat theyreasonablyanticipatethattheywillbeontheballotforarunoffprimaryelection,pursuanttoAdmin. Code3705(5)andBoardRule501(j).SeeAdvisoryOpinionNo.200111cf.Rule501(i)(2).These grantswillbeissuedbytheBoardassoonastheBoarddetermineswho,ifanyone,isreasonably anticipatedtobeinarunoffprimary.SeeRule501(j).RelevantconsiderationsfortheBoards determinationwillincludethenumberofcandidateswhosestatusisuncertainandtheapparentcloseness oftheprimaryelectionresults.SeeAdvisoryOpinionNo.200111.IftheBoardofElections(BOE) determinesthataparticipantwhohasalreadyreceivedarunoffprimarypublicfundsgrantisnotonthe runoffprimaryballot(orthatarunoffprimarywillnotbeheld),thentheparticipantmustreturntotheFund theportionofanygrantreceivedthatexceedsqualifiedcampaignexpendituresincurredfortherunoff primaryuptothedateoftheBOEsdetermination.SeeAdvisoryOpinionNos.200111,199710seealso Admin.Code3704. NEWYORKCITY CAMPAIGNFINANCEBOARD 1TheBoardreceivedaletter(availableathttp://www.nyccfb.info/PDF/aor/aor20130528laufer.pdf) fromNewYorkersfordeBlasio,datedMay28,2013.Intheletter,theCampaignrequestspermissionto beginraisingfundsforananticipatedDemocraticPartyrunoffelectionforthe2013mayoralrace.De BlasiohasfiledaCertificationwiththeBoardfortheofficeofmayorforthe2013elections. 2Whennocandidateforcitywideofficereceivesatleast40percentofthevoteinaprimaryelection,the

twoleadingcandidatesparticipateinarunoffprimaryelection.NewYorkElectionLaw6162. 3UnderBoardRule104(q),oncetheBoardmakesadeterminationthatarunoffprimaryisreasonably anticipated,candidatesrunninginthatelectionmayacceptadditionalcontributionsfortheanticipated runoffelectionuptoonehalftheamountoftheapplicablelimitation,asprovidedinsection3703(1)(f)of theNewYorkCityCampaignFinanceAct(theAct).Thecontributionlimitforcandidatesrunningfor mayoris$4,950.Admin.Code3703(1)(f).Thus,candidatesrunningintheDemocraticPartyprimary electionfornominationformayorcouldacceptadditionalcontributionsofupto$2,475forarunoffelection fromcontributorswhohavealreadygiven$4,950.Id.seealsoAdvisoryOpinionNos.20095(July16, 2009),20085(July10,2008),20011(March13,2001).PursuanttoAdmin.Code3703(1a),those candidatesmaynotacceptadditionalaggregatecontributionsexceeding$200forarunoffprimaryelection fromindividualswhohavebusinessdealingswiththeCityasdefinedbyAdmin.Code3702(18). 4TheBoardmaymakeafindingthatarunoffprimaryisnolongerreasonablyanticipatedbasedupona submittedrequestoronitsowninitiative.SeeAdvisoryOpinionNo.20052(July7,2005). 5Asnotedintherequest,bothofthecandidateswhoraisedlessthan$3millionhavereportedraisingtotal contributionsinexcessof$200,000. 6Thereareveryspecificrulesregardingtheraisingandspendingoffundsfortherunoff.BoardRule 104(q)providesthat:1)contributionsraisedforarunoffelectionmustbedepositedintoaseparate accountinaccordancewithBoardRule206(c)2)solicitationsforcontributionsforarunoffelectionmust stateexpresslythatthosecontributionsarebeingsolicitedforarunoffelectionthatmightnotoccur3)no singlecontributioncheckshallbeacceptedinanamountthatexceedsthelimitapplicablefortheprimary andgeneralelection,oraspecialelection,underAdmin.Code3703(1)(f)or(h)and4)acandidates disclosurestatementsmustincludeacopyofthemostrecentbankstatementfortherunoffelection account.Inrelevantpart,BoardRule206(c)providesthat:1)nowithdrawalsmaybemadefromthe runoffaccountpriortothedayoftheprecedingprimary,excepttoreturncontributionstocontributorsprior tothedateonwhichthefirstpublicfundsfortherunoffelectionarereceived2)noexpendituremaybe madefromtherunoffaccountuntilthedayoftheprimaryand3)receiptsacceptedforarunoffprimary maynotbecommingledinanyaccountwithanyreceiptsacceptedforanyotherelection,orusedfora primaryorgeneralelectionheldintheyearthattherunoffprimaryisheldoranticipated. 7Otherwise,nospendinglimitwillapply(exceptasotherwiseprovidedintheActandBoardRulesforan expenditurethatisaninkindcontributiontoanotherparticipant).SeeBoardRule108(d)Advisory OpinionNos.200111,19972.