A public subsidy agreement is effective for the entire election cycle regardless of when the agreement is signed.
By signing a public subsidy agreement after the first year of an election cycle, a candidate agrees to abide by spending and contribution limits for candidates with public subsidy agreements for the entire election cycle. The candidate is subject to the same remedies for prior violations of contribution and spending limits as a candidate who signed a public subsidy agreement during the first year of the election cycle.
The right to issue receipts under the political contribution refund program established in Minnesota Statutes, section 290.06, subdivision 23, arises only when the public subsidy agreement is actually signed.
Public subsidy agreements for all candidates in a district in which a special election is held expire at the end of the special election cycle regardless of whether the candidate actually ran in the special election.
If a candidate who has received public subsidy money fails to file a year-end report of receipts and expenditures in an election year, the board may determine the amount of public subsidy which must be returned based on the last report filed by the candidate.
A public subsidy agreement is binding regardless of whether the candidate actually receives funds from the state elections campaign fund.
For a special election for which the filing period does not coincide with a general election, the candidate must submit the affidavit of contributions not later than five days after filing an affidavit of candidacy or nominating petition for the office sought.
Candidates who qualify for first-time candidate status receive a ten percent increase in the campaign expenditure limit in all years of the applicable election cycle.
Minn. R. 4503.1400
Statutory Authority: MS s 10A.02; 10A.025