Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 21-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
1.  Campaign.  "Campaign" means any course of activities to influence the nomination or election of a candidate or to initiate or influence any of the following ballot measures:  
A. A people's veto referendum under the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 17;   [PL 2011, c. 389, §26 (AMD).]
B. A direct initiative of legislation under the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 18;   [PL 2011, c. 389, §26 (AMD).]
C. An amendment to the Constitution of Maine under Article X, Section 4;   [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
D. A referendum vote on a measure enacted by the Legislature and expressly conditioned upon ratification by a referendum vote under the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 19;   [PL 2011, c. 389, §26 (AMD).]
E. The ratification of the issue of bonds by the State or any agency thereof; and   [PL 1989, c. 504, §§21, 31 (AMD).]
F. Any county or municipal referendum.   [PL 1995, c. 483, §17 (AMD).]
[PL 2011, c. 389, §26 (AMD).]
2.  Committee.  "Committee" means any political action committee or ballot question committee and includes any agent of a political action committee or ballot question committee.  
[PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
2-A.  Ballot question committee.  "Ballot question committee" means a person that receives contributions or makes expenditures aggregating in excess of $5,000 for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign, other than a campaign for the nomination or election of a candidate. The term "ballot question committee" does not include a political action committee or an exempt donor.  
[PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (NEW).]
3.  Contribution.  "Contribution" includes:  
A. A gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value made to or received by a committee for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign, including but not limited to:  
(1) Funds that the contributor specified were given, in whole or in part, in connection with a campaign;  
(2) Funds provided in response to a solicitation that would lead the contributor to believe that the funds would be used specifically, in whole or in part, for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign; and  
(3) Funds that can reasonably be determined to have been provided by the contributor for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign when viewed in the context of the contribution and the recipient committee's activities regarding a campaign;   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
A-1. Any funds deposited or transferred into the campaign account described in section 1054;   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (NEW).]
B. [PL 2025, c. 224, §17 (RP).]
C. Any funds received by a committee that are to be transferred to any candidate, committee, campaign or organization for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign; or   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
D. The payment, by any person or organization, of compensation for the personal services of other persons provided to a committee that is used by the committee to initiate or influence a campaign.   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
"Contribution" does not include a loan of money by a financial institution made in accordance with applicable banking laws and regulations and in the ordinary course of business.  
[PL 2025, c. 224, §17 (AMD).]
3-A.  Exempt donor.  "Exempt donor" means a person that has not received contributions for the purpose of influencing a campaign in the prior 2 years and whose only payments of money to influence a campaign in the prior 2 years are:  
A. Contributions of money to candidates, party committees, political action committees or ballot question committees registered with the commission or a municipality; or   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (NEW).]
B. Payments for goods or services with an aggregate value of no more than $100,000 contributed to candidates, party committees, political action committees or ballot question committees registered with the commission or a municipality.   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (NEW).]
4.  Expenditure.  The term "expenditure":  
A. Includes:  
(1) A purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value, made for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign;  
(1-A) Any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money made from the campaign account described in section 1054;  
(2) A contract, promise or agreement, expressed or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any expenditure for the purposes set forth in this paragraph; and  
(3) The transfer of funds by a political action committee to another candidate or political committee; and   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
B. Does not include:  
(1) Any news story, commentary or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, cable television system, newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication, unless these facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, candidate or the spouse or domestic partner of a candidate;  
(2) Activity designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or to vote, if that activity or communication does not mention a clearly identified candidate;  
(3) Any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its members or stockholders, if that membership organization or corporation is not organized primarily for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any person to state or county office;  
(4) The use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided by a political action committee in rendering voluntary personal services for candidate-related activities, if the cumulative value of these activities by the political action committee on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $250 with respect to any election;  
(5) Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred and paid for by a political action committee that volunteers personal services to a candidate, if the cumulative amount of these expenses does not exceed $100 with respect to any election;  
(6) Any communication by a committee that is not made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any person to state or county office; and  
(7) Any payments to initiate a people's veto referendum or the direct initiative of legislation made prior to the submission of an application to the Department of the Secretary of State as provided in section 901.   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
[PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
4-A.  Influence.  "Influence" means to promote, support, oppose or defeat.  
[PL 2011, c. 389, §30 (NEW).]
4-B.  Initiate.  "Initiate" includes the collection of signatures on petitions and related activities to qualify a state or local initiative or referendum for the ballot.  
[PL 2025, c. 224, §18 (AMD).]
4-C.  Leadership political action committee. 
[PL 2023, c. 244, §11 (RP).]
5.  Political action committee.  The term "political action committee":  
A. Includes:  
(1) Any separate or segregated fund established by any corporation, membership organization, cooperative or labor or other organization that receives contributions or makes expenditures aggregating more than $2,500 in a calendar year for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate to political office; and  
(5) Any person, including any corporation or association, other than an individual, that receives contributions or makes expenditures aggregating more than $2,500 in a calendar year for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any candidate to political office; and   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
B. Does not include:  
(1) A candidate or a candidate's treasurer under section 1013‑A, subsection 1;  
(2) A candidate's authorized political committee under section 1013‑A, subsection 1, paragraph B;  
(3) A party committee under section 1013‑A, subsection 3; or  
(4) An exempt donor.   [PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
[PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD).]
6.  Separate segregated fund committee. 
[PL 2023, c. 244, §12 (RP).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW). PL 1985, c. 614, §23 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 504, §§21-23,31 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 833, §§13,21 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 839, §27 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 839, §33 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 483, §17 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 683, §A12 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 729, §6 (AMD). RR 2005, c. 2, §14 (COR). PL 2005, c. 301, §22 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 575, §§3-5 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §§27, 28 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 477, §2 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §16 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 389, §§26-32 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 334, §18 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 408, §1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 563, §3 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 217, §3 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 274, §§9, 10 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 274, §13 (AFF). PL 2023, c. 244, §§11, 12 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 224, §§17, 18 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1999–2022 · leading case: Nat'l Org. for Marriage v. McKee, 723 F. Supp. 2d 245 (D. Me. 2010).
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Nat'l Org. for Marriage v. McKee, 723 F. Supp. 2d 245 (D. Me. 2010). · cites it 9× “The Clerk shall enter declaratory judgment that the phrase “influence in any way” and the verb “influence” as they appear in the following provisions of Maine election law, 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1052(4-5), 1012(3), 1053-B, 1019-B(2), and 1014(2-A), are unconstitutionally vague, but…”
Lindemann v. Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices, 2008 ME 187 (Me. 2008). · cites it 2× “Lindemann’s complaint suggested that MHPC qualified as a political action committee as defined by 21-A M.R.S. § 1052(5) (2007) and, as a political action committee, was required to register and file reports with the Commission.”
Volle v. Webster, 69 F. Supp. 2d 171 (D. Me. 1999). · cites it 3× “” See 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1052(5)(A)(3). 2 He then must appoint a treasurer before actually spending the money, see id.”
Nat'l Org. for Marriage v. McKee, 765 F. Supp. 2d 38 (D. Me. 2011). “21-A M.R.S.A. § 1052(1)(A). See Me. Const, art IV, pt.”
Daggett v. Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices, 205 F.3d 445 (5th Cir. 2000). · cites it 2× “See 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1052(2) & (5). In Maine, a political party’s fundraising committee must register as a political committee the same way that a political action committee does.”
Nat'l Org. for Marr v. Walter McKee (1st Cir. 2011). · cites it 8× “ber 2010 targeting state legislative candidates were 20 "Expenditure," which appears in the definition of a non- major-purpose PAC, is defined by another portion of the statute to include a "purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of…”
Clean Energy for ME, LLC v. Maine Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices (Me. Super. Ct 2020). “qualifying as a political action committee under 21-A M.R.S. § 1052(5), receives contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $5,000 for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign relating to a ballot question.”
Clean Energy For Me, LLC v. Maine Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices (Me. Super. Ct 2022). “21-A M.R.S. § 1052(5)(A) (2019). However, the definition of PAC excludes: [O]rganization[s] whose only payments of money in the prior 2 years for the purpose of influencing a campaign in this State are contributions to candidates, party committees, political action committees or…”
Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting v. Maine Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices (Me. Super. Ct 2015). “" MFBH argues that the time spent by IF&W employees fell within the definition of contribution in 21-A M.R.S. § 1052(3)(A): "a gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money of anything of value to a political action committee,"4 and MFBH emphasizes the words "anything…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(1)(A) — 1 case
Nat'l Org. for Marriage v. McKee, 765 F. Supp. 2d 38 (D. Me. 2011). “21-A M.R.S.A. § 1052(1)(A). See Me. Const, art IV, pt.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(2) — 1 case
Daggett v. Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices, 205 F.3d 445 (5th Cir. 2000). “See 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1052(2) & (5). In Maine, a political party’s fundraising committee must register as a political committee the same way that a political action committee does.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(3)(A) — 1 case
Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting v. Maine Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices (Me. Super. Ct 2015). “" MFBH argues that the time spent by IF&W employees fell within the definition of contribution in 21-A M.R.S. § 1052(3)(A): "a gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money of anything of value to a political action committee,"4 and MFBH emphasizes the words "anything…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(4)(A) — 1 case
Nat'l Org. for Marriage v. McKee, 723 F. Supp. 2d 245 (D. Me. 2010). “The Clerk shall enter declaratory judgment that the phrase “influence in any way” and the verb “influence” as they appear in the following provisions of Maine election law, 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1052(4-5), 1012(3), 1053-B, 1019-B(2), and 1014(2-A), are unconstitutionally vague, but…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(4)(A)(1) — 1 case
Nat'l Org. for Marr v. Walter McKee (1st Cir. 2011). “ber 2010 targeting state legislative candidates were 20 "Expenditure," which appears in the definition of a non- major-purpose PAC, is defined by another portion of the statute to include a "purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(5) — 3 cases
Lindemann v. Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices, 2008 ME 187 (Me. 2008). “Lindemann’s complaint suggested that MHPC qualified as a political action committee as defined by 21-A M.R.S. § 1052(5) (2007) and, as a political action committee, was required to register and file reports with the Commission.”
Nat'l Org. for Marriage v. McKee, 723 F. Supp. 2d 245 (D. Me. 2010). “The Clerk shall enter declaratory judgment that the phrase “influence in any way” and the verb “influence” as they appear in the following provisions of Maine election law, 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1052(4-5), 1012(3), 1053-B, 1019-B(2), and 1014(2-A), are unconstitutionally vague, but…”
Clean Energy for ME, LLC v. Maine Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices (Me. Super. Ct 2020). “qualifying as a political action committee under 21-A M.R.S. § 1052(5), receives contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $5,000 for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign relating to a ballot question.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(5)(A) — 1 case
Clean Energy For Me, LLC v. Maine Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices (Me. Super. Ct 2022). “21-A M.R.S. § 1052(5)(A) (2019). However, the definition of PAC excludes: [O]rganization[s] whose only payments of money in the prior 2 years for the purpose of influencing a campaign in this State are contributions to candidates, party committees, political action committees or…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(5)(A)(1) — 1 case
Daggett v. Comm'n on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices, 205 F.3d 445 (5th Cir. 2000). “See 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1052(2) & (5). In Maine, a political party’s fundraising committee must register as a political committee the same way that a political action committee does.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(5)(A)(3) — 1 case
Volle v. Webster, 69 F. Supp. 2d 171 (D. Me. 1999). “” See 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1052(5)(A)(3). 2 He then must appoint a treasurer before actually spending the money, see id.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(5)(A)(4) — 3 cases
Nat'l Org. for Marriage v. McKee, 723 F. Supp. 2d 245 (D. Me. 2010). “The Clerk shall enter declaratory judgment that the phrase “influence in any way” and the verb “influence” as they appear in the following provisions of Maine election law, 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1052(4-5), 1012(3), 1053-B, 1019-B(2), and 1014(2-A), are unconstitutionally vague, but…”
Volle v. Webster, 69 F. Supp. 2d 171 (D. Me. 1999). “” See 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1052(5)(A)(3). 2 He then must appoint a treasurer before actually spending the money, see id.”
Nat'l Org. for Marr v. Walter McKee (1st Cir. 2011). “ber 2010 targeting state legislative candidates were 20 "Expenditure," which appears in the definition of a non- major-purpose PAC, is defined by another portion of the statute to include a "purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 1052(5)(A)(5) — 2 cases
Nat'l Org. for Marriage v. McKee, 723 F. Supp. 2d 245 (D. Me. 2010). “The Clerk shall enter declaratory judgment that the phrase “influence in any way” and the verb “influence” as they appear in the following provisions of Maine election law, 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1052(4-5), 1012(3), 1053-B, 1019-B(2), and 1014(2-A), are unconstitutionally vague, but…”
Nat'l Org. for Marr v. Walter McKee (1st Cir. 2011). “ber 2010 targeting state legislative candidates were 20 "Expenditure," which appears in the definition of a non- major-purpose PAC, is defined by another portion of the statute to include a "purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of…”
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