Site Map |

Search Ethics:

financial disclosure

• View Reports and Lists

information and resources

• For Candidates
• For PACs
• For Ballot Question Committees
• For Lobbyists
• For Legislators
• For Executive Employees
• For Party Committees
• Guide to Political Activity
  • Contribution Limits
  • Spending Money in Cooperation with Campaigns
  • Independent Expenditures
  • Supporting Maine Clean Election Act Candidates
  • What Is and Is Not a Contribution
  • Corporate and Union Contributions
  • Contributing to PACs and Political Parties
  • Information Contributors Must Provide
  • Making a Contribution in the Name of Another
• Maine Clean Election Act
• Laws and Rules
• Other Disclosure
• Publications

electronic filing

• Filer Login

online services

• Lobbyist Registration
• Qualifying Contributions
• Penalty Payment

What Is and Is Not a Contribution
21-A M.R.S.A. Section 1012(2)

The term "contribution:"

1. Includes:
   • (1) A gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any person to state, county or municipal office or for the purpose of liquidating any campaign deficit of a candidate, except that a loan of money to a candidate by a financial institution in this State made in accordance with applicable banking laws and regulations and in the ordinary course of business is not included;
   • (2) A contract, promise or agreement, express or implied, whether or not legally enforcable, to make a contribution for such purposes;
   • (3) Funds recieved by a candidate or a political committee that are transferred to the candidate or committee from another politcal committee or other source; and
   • (4) The payment, by any person other then a candidate or a political committee, of compensation for the personal services of other persons that are provided to the candidate or political committee without charge for any such purpose; and
2. Does not include:
   • (1) The value of services provided without compensation by individuals who volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a candidate or political committee;
   • (2) The use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services for candidate-related activities, if the cumulative value of these activities by the individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $100 with respect to any election;
   • (3) The sale of any food or beverage by a vendor for use in a candidate's campaign at a charge less then the normal comparable charge, if the charge to the candidate is at least equal to the cost of the food or beverages to the vendor and if the cumulative value of the food or beverages does not exceed $100 with respect to any election;
   • (4) Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred and paid for by an individual who volunteers personal services to a candidate, if the cumulative amount of these expenses does not exceed $100 with respect to any election;
   • (4-A) Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred and paid for by the candidate or the candidate's spouse;
   • (5) The payment by a party's state, district, county or municipal committee of the costs of preparation, display or mailing or other distribution of a party candidate listing;
   • (6) Document, in printed or electronic form, including party platforms, single copies of issue papers, information pertaining to the requirements of this Titlelists of registered voters and voter identification information, created or maintained by a political party for the general purpose of party building and provided to a candidate who is a member of that party;
   • (7) Compensation paid by a political party to an employee of that party for the following purposes:
     • (a) Providing advice to any one candidate for a period of no more then 20 hours in any election;
     • (b) Recruiting and overseeing vounteers for campaign activites involving 3 or more candidates; or
     • (c) Coordinating campaign events involving 3 or more candidates;
   • (8) Campaign training sessions provided to 3 or more candidates;
   • (8-A) Costs paid for by a party committee in connection with a campaign event at which 3 or more candidates are present;
   • (8-B) Wood or other materials used for political signs that are found or contributed if not originally obtained by the candidate or contributor for campaign purposes;
   • (8-C) The use or distribution of any communication, as described in section 1014, obtained by the candidate for a previous election and fully paid for during that election;
   • (9) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment when that use does not result in additional cost to the provider; or
   • (10) Activity or communication designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or to vote of that communication does not mention a clearly identified candidate.

Maine.gov | Ethics Home | Site Policies