The Vice Chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has resigned, leaving the commission with fewer members than they need to form a quorum and operate. The FEC is supposed to have six commissioners, three Democrats and three Republicans, but recently it has only had four appointed... and now it has three.

As the 2020 election approaches, the FEC is now officially unable to enforce campaign finance laws. [1] Without a quorum the FEC can’t levy fines against violators, audits campaigns, or vote on the outcome of investigations.

Here’s what could happen if the FEC does not have a quorum:

• Politicians can use campaign money for personal expenses

• Big donors can make contributions beyond the legal maximum

• Candidates can collude with super PACs and outside groups that can take unlimited amounts of money from corporations and billionaires.

• Government contractors can donate to PACs despite pay-to-play restrictions

• Foreign governments can fund groups that work to influence U.S. elections

Trump’s sole FEC nominee has been blocked in the Senate because he has has close ties to the Trump administration. With the 2020 elections quickly approaching, we cannot let the FEC remain shut down.

Tell Congress: Do everything in your power to demand that Trump appoints new, independent commissioners so the FEC can re-open and protect our elections.

Sludge will deliver signatures to Democratic and Republican leadership and key contacts working on oversight in the U.S. Congress.

1: August 26, 2019, Center for Public Integrity: https://publicintegrity.org/federal-politics/federal-election-commission-fec-to-effectively-shut-down/