Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1101 – Maine Code of Fair Campaign Practices
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1. Distribution to candidates. At the time a candidate for the office of Governor, the Senate or the House of Representatives registers with the commission as required under section 1013?A, the commission shall give the candidate a form containing a copy of the Maine Code of Fair Campaign Practices established in this subchapter. The commission shall, at that time, inform the candidate that subscription to the code is voluntary. For the purposes of this subchapter, “code” means the Maine Code of Fair Campaign Practices.
[PL 1989, c. 802, §1 (NEW).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1101
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Candidate: means any person who has filed a petition under either sections 335 and 336 or sections 354 and 355 and has qualified as a candidate by either procedure, or any person who has received contributions or made expenditures or has given consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures with the intent of qualifying as a candidate. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1
- Commission: means the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices established under Title 1, section 1002. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1001
- Election: means any primary, general or special election for state or county office or municipal office in a municipality subject to Title 30?A, section 2502, subsection 1 and any referendum, including a municipal referendum in a municipality subject to Title 30?A, section 2502, subsection 2. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1001
- Party: means a political organization which has qualified to participate in a primary or general election under chapter 5. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1
- Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
- Voter: means a person registered to vote. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1
2. The code form. The code, printed on the form provided to candidates under subsection 1, must read as follows:
“Maine Code of Fair Campaign Practices
I shall conduct my campaign and, to the extent reasonably possible, insist that my supporters conduct themselves, in a manner consistent with the best Maine and American traditions, discussing the issues and presenting my record and policies with sincerity and candor.
I shall uphold the right of every qualified voter to free and equal participation in the election process.
I shall not participate in and I shall condemn defamation of and other attacks on any opposing candidate or party that I do not believe to be truthful, provable and relevant to my campaign.
I shall not use or authorize and I shall condemn material relating to my campaign that falsifies, misrepresents or distorts the facts, including, but not limited to, malicious or unfounded accusations creating or exploiting doubts as to the morality, patriotism or motivations of any party or candidate.
I shall not appeal to and I shall condemn appeals to prejudices based on actual or perceived race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, age or familial status.
I shall not practice and I shall condemn practices that tend to corrupt or undermine the system of free election or that hamper or prevent the free expression of the will of the voters.
I shall promptly and publicly repudiate the support of any individual or group that resorts, on behalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of an opponent, to methods in violation of the letter or spirit of this code.
I, the undersigned, candidate for election to public office in the State of Maine, hereby voluntarily endorse, subscribe to and solemnly pledge to conduct my campaign in accordance with the above principles and practices.
______________________
Candidate for Public Office”
[PL 2021, c. 553, §14 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1989, c. 802, §1 (NEW). PL 2021, c. 553, §14 (AMD).