FEC Retires Legacy SERS, Launches New Rulemaking Search System

WASHINGTON—The Federal Election Commission has retired the Searchable Electronic Rulemaking System (SERS), a legacy tool on the FEC website designed to search and locate documents related to completed and ongoing Commission rulemakings. As a replacement for SERS, the Commission recently launched a new Rulemaking Search System on the FEC’s website.

The new system provides fast, comprehensive access to FEC rulemaking documents and is easily accessible via mobile devices. Users can search rulemaking documents by regulation number, document type, date, and more. Advanced search capabilities include keyword and Boolean options and proximity filters that allow users to search for terms or phrases that appear within a set distance from one another. Members of the public will also be able to submit comments in response to ongoing rulemakings directly via the new search system. More information about the FEC’s legal search system capabilities is available in the FEC’s Legal Research Guide.

Today’s retirement of SERS is part of the FEC’s long-term program to modernize IT systems and applications. Over the past decade, the Commission has undertaken significant efforts to update FEC.gov and to develop secure and cost-effective online tools that allow users convenient and comprehensive access to the FEC’s legal resources and campaign finance data. The Commission has recently made significant updates to the search systems for Advisory Opinions and Matters Under Review (MURs) while retiring outdated platforms. Transitioning from SERS to a new rulemaking search system represents another substantial step forward in this ongoing effort.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

• Contact

  • Myles Martin
  • Deputy Press Officer

Read next:

Statistical Summary of 12-Month Campaign Activity of the 2025-2026 Election Cycle

More press releases »

This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public.

The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.