R2-20-702. Use of Campaign Funds
A. A participating candidate shall use funds in the candidate’s current campaign account to pay for goods and services for direct campaign purposes only. Funds shall be disbursed and reported in accordance with A.R.S. § 16-948(C).
B. A participating candidate may:
1. Make a payment from the candidate’s campaign bank account:
- a. To a political committee or civic organization
including a person with tax exempt status under section 501(a) of the internal revenue codeor an unincorporated association. The payment is not a contribution if the payment is reasonable in relation to the value received. - b. For customary charges for services rendered, such as for printing and obtaining voter or telephone lists, shall be considered reasonable in relation to the value received.
- c. Of not more than $200 per person to attend a political event open to the public or to party members shall be considered reasonable in relation to the value received.
2. Only make an advanced payment to a political party for services such as consulting, communications,
field employees, canvassers, mailers, auto-dialers, telephone town halls, electronic communications and
other advertising purchases and other campaign services if an itemized invoice identifying the value of
the service is provided directly to the participating candidate at the time of the advanced payment.
a. Payment in the absence of an itemized invoice or advanced payment for such services shall be
deemed a contribution to the political party.
b. Payment may be advanced for postage upon the receipt of a written estimate and so long as
any balance is returned to the candidate if the advance exceeds the actual cost of the postage.
c. Payment may be advanced for advertising that customarily requires prepayment upon the
receipt of a written estimate and so long as any balance is returned to the candidate if the
advance exceeds the actual cost of the advertisement.
d. A political party may not mark up or add any additional charge to the value of services
provided to the particular candidate. All expenditures must be for the services used by the
particular participating candidate.
e. The Commission shall be included in the mail batch for all mailers and invitations. The
Commission shall also be provided with documentation from the mail house, printer or other
original source showing the number of mailers printed and the number of households to which a
mailer was sent. Failure to provide this information within 7 days after a mailer has been mailed
may be considered as evidence the mailer was not for direct campaign purposes.
The above link should open your default email program to provide commentary on the rule proposal. However, if your default email program is not working please email all comments to [email protected], with the subject line indicating what rule number you are referencing.