B. For uncontested primary elections, the amount of revenues distributed is the average amount of campaign expenditures made by each candidate during all uncontested primary election races, or for contested races if that amount is lower, for the immediately preceding 2 primary elections as reported in the initial filing period subsequent to the primary election for the respective offices of Governor, State Senate and, State House of Representatives and county office.

C. For contested general elections, the amount of revenues distributed is the average amount of campaign expenditures made by each candidate during all contested general election races for the immediately preceding 2 general elections as reported in the initial filing period subsequent to the general election for the respective offices of Governor, State Senate and, State House of Representatives and county office.

Sec. 10. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§13, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

13. Distributions not to exceed amount in fund. The commission may not distribute revenues to certified candidates in excess of the total amount of money deposited in the fund as set forth in section 1124. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, if the commission determines that the revenues in the fund are insufficient to meet distributions under subsections 8 or 9, the commission may permit certified candidates to accept and spend contributions, reduced by any seed money contributions, aggregating no more than $500 per donor per election for gubernatorial candidates and $250 per donor per election for State Senate and, State House and county office candidates, up to the applicable amounts set forth in subsections 8 and 9 according to rules adopted by the commission.

SUMMARY

This bill allows candidates for county office to run as participating candidates under the Maine Clean Election Act.