Code of Maine Rules › 94 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES › 270 - COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS AND ELECTION PRACTICES › Chapter 1 - PROCEDURES › Section 270-1-1 - DEFINITIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
In addition to the definitions provided in Title 21-A,
				  chapters 1, 13, and 14, the following definitions shall apply to the rules of
				  the Commission, unless the context otherwise requires:
1.
Act
. "Act" means the
Maine Clean Election Act
, Title 21-A, chapter 14.
2.
Association
. "Association"
				means a group of two or more persons, who are not all members of the same
				immediate family, acting in concert.
3.
Campaign Deficit
. "Campaign
				deficit" means debts, liabilities, and unmet financial obligations from all
				previous campaigns as reported to the Commission on campaign termination report
				forms required by Title 21-A, chapter 13, subchapter II
				[§1017(9)].
4.
Campaign
				Surplus
. "Campaign surplus" means money, equipment, property and other
				items of value remaining after retiring previous campaign deficit as reported
				to the Commission on campaign termination report forms required by Title 21-A,
				chapter 13, subchapter II [§1017(9)].
5.
Candidate
. "Candidate" has
				the same meaning as in Title 21-A, chapter 1, subchapter I [§
									1(5)], and includes
				individuals running for office as a write-in candidate.
INFORMATIONAL NOTE
: All contributions made after
				  the day of the general election to a candidate who has liquidated all debts and
				  liabilities associated with that election are deemed to be made in support of
				  the candidate's candidacy for a subsequent election, pursuant to section
				  4.2.A(5)(e) of this rule. A candidate who collects funds subsequent to an
				  election for purposes other than retiring campaign debt is required to register
				  with the Commission. Title 21- A, chapter 13, subchapter II
				  [§1013-A].
6.
Certified Candidate
. "Certified candidate" has the same meaning as
				in the Act [§1122(1)].
7.
Commission
. "Commission" means the Commission on Governmental
				Ethics and Election Practices established by
				Title 5,
				§12004-G, subsection
				33, and
				1 M.R.S.A.
				§1001
et seq
.
8.
Contribution
. "Contribution"
				has the same meaning as in Title 21-A, chapter 13, subchapter
9.
Election
. "Election" means
				any primary, general or special election for Governor, State Senator or State
				Representative. The period of a primary election begins on the day a person
				becomes a candidate as defined in
				21-A
				M.R.S.A. §1(5) and ends
				on the date of the primary election. The period of a general election begins on
				the day following the previous primary election and ends on the date of the
				general election. The period of a special election begins on the date of
				proclamation of the special election and ends on the date of the special
				election.
10.
Expenditure
. "Expenditure" has the same meaning as in Title 21-A,
				chapter 13, subchapter II [§1012(3)].
11.
Fund
. "Fund" means the Maine
				Clean Election Fund established by the Act [§1124].
11-A.
Influence.
"Influence"
				means to promote, support, oppose or defeat.
12.
In-Kind Contribution
.
				"In-kind contribution" means any gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit
				of anything of value other than money made for the purpose of influencing the
				nomination or election of any person to political office or for the initiation,
				support or defeat of a ballot question.
13.
Member
. A "member" of a
				membership organization includes all persons who currently satisfy the
				requirements for membership in the membership organization, have affirmatively
				accepted the membership organization's invitation to become a member, and
				either:
A. pay membership dues at least
				annually, of a specific amount predetermined by the membership organization;
				or
B. have some other significant
				financial attachment to the membership organization, such as significant
				investment or ownership stake in the organization; or
C. have a significant organizational
				attachment to the membership organization that includes direct participatory
				rights in the governance of the organization, such as the right to vote on the
				organization's board, budget, or policies.
Members of a local union are considered to be members of any
				  national or international union of which the local union is a part, of any
				  federation with which the local, national, or international union is
				  affiliated, and of any other unions which are members or affiliates of the
				  federation. Other persons who have an enduring financial or organizational
				  attachment to the membership organization are also members, including retired
				  members or persons who pay reduced dues or other fees regularly to the
				  membership organization.