On November 7, the Socialist Workers Party asked the Federal Election Commission to extend its exemption from having to identity the individuals who contribute to its federal candidates. See this story from The Militant. In 1982 the party had won a unanimous decision in the U.S. Supreme Court that it need not identify its contributors nor its expenditures. The expenditure exemption was based on the fact that the list of expenditures would necessarily include the names of its branch organizers. The SWP won the case because it showed that when its supporters are identified publicly, they are subject to harassment.

The FEC has never ruled that the SWP is exempt from disclosure forever. The FEC always grants the party an exemption, but limits the time. The current exemption runs out on December 31, 2012.