As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]
1. Certified candidate. "Certified candidate" means a candidate running for Governor, State Senator or State Representative who chooses to participate in the Maine Clean Election Act and who is certified as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate under section 1125, subsection 5.
[IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]
1-A. Caucus political action committee. "Caucus political action committee" has the same meaning as in section 1001, subsection 1‑A.
[PL 2019, c. 635, §5 (NEW).]
2. Commission. "Commission" means the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices established by Title 5, section 12004‑G, subsection 33.
[IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]
3. Contribution. "Contribution" has the same meaning as in section 1012, subsection 2.
[IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]
3-A. Election cycle. "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the day after the general election for any state, county or municipal office and ending on the day of the next general election for that office.
[IB 2015, c. 1, §13 (NEW).]
4. Fund. "Fund" means the Maine Clean Election Fund established in section 1124.
[IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]
4-A. Immediate family. "Immediate family" has the same meaning as in section 1, subsection 20 and includes a candidate's domestic partner and the immediate family of the candidate's domestic partner.
[PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).]
5. Nonparticipating candidate. "Nonparticipating candidate" means a candidate running for Governor, State Senator or State Representative who does not choose to participate in the Maine Clean Election Act and who is not seeking to be certified as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate under section 1125, subsection 5.
[IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]
6. Participating candidate. "Participating candidate" means a candidate who is running for Governor, State Senator or State Representative who is seeking to be certified as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate under section 1125, subsection 5.
[IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]
7. Qualifying contribution. "Qualifying contribution" means a donation:
A. Of $5 or more in the form of cash, a check or a money order payable to the fund and signed by the contributor in support of a candidate or a payment made over the Internet in support of a candidate according to the procedure established by the commission; [PL 2019, c. 323, §26 (AMD).]
B. Made by a registered voter within the electoral division for the office a candidate is seeking and whose voter registration has been verified according to procedures established by the commission; [PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. B, §1 (AMD).]
C. Made during the designated qualifying period; and [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §2 (AMD).]
D. That the contributor acknowledges was made with the contributor's personal funds and in support of the candidate and was not given in exchange for anything of value and that the candidate acknowledges was obtained with the candidate's knowledge and approval and that nothing of value was given in exchange for the contribution, on forms provided by the commission. [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §2 (AMD).]
[PL 2019, c. 323, §26 (AMD).]
8. Qualifying period. "Qualifying period" means the following.
A. For a gubernatorial participating candidate, the qualifying period begins October 15th immediately preceding the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on April 1st of the election year. [PL 2009, c. 363, §1 (AMD).]
B. For State Senate or State House of Representatives participating candidates, the qualifying period begins January 1st of the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on April 20th of that election year or the next business day following April 20th if the office of the commission is closed on April 20th. [PL 2009, c. 286, §5 (AMD).]
[PL 2009, c. 286, §5 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 363, §1 (AMD).]
9. Seed money contribution. "Seed money contribution" means, for a gubernatorial participating candidate, a contribution of no more than $250 per individual made to the participating candidate, including the candidate or the candidate's spouse or domestic partner. For any other participating candidate, "seed money contribution" means a contribution of no more than $100 per individual made to the participating candidate, including the candidate or the candidate's spouse or domestic partner.
[PL 2025, c. 296, §1 (AMD).]
