Section 270-1-1 - DEFINITIONSIn 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. §1001et seq.8.Contribution. "Contribution" has the same meaning as in Title 21-A, chapter 13, subchapter II [§1012(2)].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; orB. have some other significant financial attachment to the membership organization, such as significant investment or ownership stake in the organization; orC. 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.
14.Nonparticipating Candidate. "Nonparticipating candidate" has the same meaning as in the Act [§1122(5)].15.Participating Candidate. "Participating candidate" has the same meaning as in the Act [§1122(6)].16.Qualifying Contribution. "Qualifying Contribution" has the same meaning as in the Act [§1122(7)].17.Qualifying Period. "Qualifying period" has the same meaning as in the Act, except that for special elections, vacancies, withdrawals, deaths, disqualifications or replacements of candidates, the qualifying period shall be the period designated in section 8 of this chapter [§1122(8)].18.Seed Money Contribution. "Seed money contribution" has the same meaning as in the Act [§1122(9)].19.Write-In Candidate. "Write-in candidate" means a person whose name does not appear on the ballot under the office designation to which a voter may wish to elect the candidate and who has filed a declaration to be a write-in candidate pursuant to 21-A M.R.S.A. §722-A.