Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 23 - ELECTIONS (§§ 23-NEW-NEW-001 — 23-17-61) › Chapter 15 - MISSISSIPPI ELECTION CODE (§§ 23-15-NEW — 23-15-1111) › Article 23 - DISCLOSURE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCES (§§ 23-15-801 — 23-15-821) › Section 23-15-801 - Definitions

(a)
"Election" means a general, special, primary or runoff election.
(b)
"Candidate" means an individual who seeks nomination for election, or election, to any elective office other than a federal elective office. For purposes of this article, an individual shall be deemed to seek nomination for election, or election:
(i)
If the individual has received contributions aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) or has made expenditures aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) or for a candidate for the Legislature or any statewide or state district office, by the qualifying deadlines specified in Sections
23-15-299
and
23-15-977
, whichever occurs first; or
(ii)
If the individual has given his or her consent to another person to receive contributions or make expenditures on behalf of the individual and if the other person has received contributions aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) during a calendar year, or has made expenditures aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) during a calendar year.
(c)
"Political committee" means any committee, party, club, association, political action committee, campaign committee or other groups of persons or affiliated organizations that receives contributions aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) during a calendar year or that makes expenditures aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) during a calendar year for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of voters for or against the nomination for election, or election, of one or more candidates, or balloted measures. Political committee shall, in addition, include each political party registered with the Secretary of State.
(d)
"Affiliated organization" means any organization that is not a political committee, but that directly or indirectly establishes, administers or financially supports a political committee.
(e)
(i)
"Contribution" shall include any gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value made by any person or political committee for the purpose of influencing any election for elective office or balloted measure;
(ii)
"Contribution" shall not include the value of services provided without compensation by any individual who volunteers on behalf of a candidate or political committee; or the cost of any food or beverage for use in any candidate's campaign or for use by or on behalf of any political committee of a political party;
(iii)
"Contribution to a political party" includes any gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value made by any person, political committee, or other organization to a political party and to any committee, subcommittee, campaign committee, political committee and other groups of persons and affiliated organizations of the political party;
(iv)
"Contribution to a political party" shall not include the value of services provided without compensation by any individual who volunteers on behalf of a political party or a candidate of a political party.
(f)
(i)
"Expenditure" shall include any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, gift of money or anything of value, made by any person or political committee for the purpose of influencing any balloted measure or election for elective office; and a written contract, promise, or agreement to make an expenditure;
(ii)
"Expenditure" shall not include any news story, commentary or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, unless the facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate; or nonpartisan activity designed to encourage individuals to vote or to register to vote;
(iii)
"Expenditure by a political party" includes 1. any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, gift of money or anything of value, made by any political party and by any contractor, subcontractor, agent, and consultant to the political party; and 2. a written contract, promise, or agreement to make such an expenditure.
(g)
The term "identification" shall mean:
(i)
In the case of any individual, the name, the mailing address, and the occupation of such individual, as well as the name of his or her employer; and
(ii)
In the case of any other person, the full name and address of the person.
(h)
The term "political party" shall mean an association, committee or organization which nominates a candidate for election to any elective office whose name appears on the election ballot as the candidate of the association, committee or organization.
(i)
The term "person" shall mean any individual, family, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other legal entity.
(j)
The term "independent expenditure" shall mean an expenditure by a person expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate that is made without cooperation or consultation with any candidate or any authorized committee or agent of the candidate, and that is not made in concert with or at the request or suggestion of any candidate or any authorized committee or agent of the candidate.
(k)
The term "clearly identified" shall mean that:
(i)
The name of the candidate involved appears; or
(ii)
A photograph or drawing of the candidate appears; or
(iii)
The identity of the candidate is apparent by unambiguous reference.
Derived from 1972 Code § 23-3-41 [Codes, 1942, § 3179; Laws, 1935, ch. 19; Laws, 1971, ch. 510, § 1; Laws, 1978, ch. 479, § 1], § 23-3-43 [Codes, 1942, § 3181; Laws, 1935, ch. 19; Laws, 1971, ch. 510, § 2; Laws, 1978, ch. 479, § 1], and § 23-3-67 [Codes, 1942, 1942, § 3193; Laws, 1935, ch. 19; Laws, 1971, ch. 510, § 3; Laws, 1978, ch. 479, § 1], which were repealed by Laws, 1986, ch. 495, §§ 334, 335; Laws, 1986, ch. 495, § 247(1); Laws, 1999, ch. 301, § 7, eff. 1/15/1999 (the date the United States Attorney General interposed no objection under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965).
Amended by Laws, 2017, ch. 417, SB 2689, 2, eff. 1/1/2018.