The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $31.65 million on lobbying during the third quarter of 2012, maintaining a record pace during the current cycle, according to the latest Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

So far this year, the business lobby has spent nearly $75 million on advocacy and voter education. The tally dwarfs what the group has spent in past election years, a reflection of the group’s ambition to play a much bigger role this year. Third-quarter lobbying reports are due by midnight tonight.

The chamber appeared poised to maintain its perch as the top interest group spender. Unlike many firms and associations subject to the LDA, the chamber includes all election-related spending in its quarterly tally, including grass-roots and voter education expenses.

The chamber has spent $28.87 million on independent expenditures so far this cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, placing it among the top outside spenders and on par with the Koch-backed conservative nonprofit Americans for Prosperity.

Lobbying expenditures typically drop during the three-month period from July through September, especially in presidential election years. And, with very little legislation moving through Congress because of partisan gridlock, this year is no exception.