The Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) reports this morning that the "Big Six" committees of the two major parties have $1.7 million cash on hand.

Reports show the two parties raised a combined $7.1 million and spent $6.4 million last year.

Here's the breakdown from January 1 through December 30, 2012:

New Jersey Republican State Committee raised $3.2 million, spent $3.5 million, and has $247,579 cash on hand.

The NJ Democratic State Committee raised $1.3 million, spent $1.3 million, and has $81,794 cash on hand.

The Senate Republican Majority Office raised $594,891, spent $297,214, and has $503,999 cash on hand.

The Senate Democratic Majority Office raised $661,883, spent $425,030, and has $296,872 cash on hand.

The Assembly Republican Victory Fund raised $543,515, spent $406,864, and has $205,919 cash on hand.

The Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee raised $768,617, spent $456,858 and has $348,362 cash on hand.

Jeff Brindle, ELEC’s Executive Director, said the $1.7 million in cash reserves is slightly less than the $1.8 million held by the “Big Six” committees as they went into the 2009 election year.

The Governor’s seat and all 120 legislative seats are in contention this year. Only the Governor’s seat and 80 Assembly seats were in play in 2009.

“I’m sure both parties already are starting to prepare for this year’s campaigns. Campaigns are expensive, and candidates and parties have to start planning well ahead to have adequate cash for the election,’’ he said.

Compared to the same period four years earlier, combined fundraising and spending totals both were up. Combined cash-on-hand and net worth totals were down. Republican totals all are up compared to 2008, while Democratic totals all are down.