Qualifying Expenditures

§ C42-6: Qualified campaign expenditures

Eligible Expenditures

• Matching campaign funds may be used only for expenditures by a participating candidate or their principal committee to further their campaign in the primary election or general election.
• Funds may only be used for election efforts, including but not limited to mailings, political literature, polling and staff.
• Travel related solely and exclusively in furtherance of the candidates' political campaign.
• Legal defense of a noncriminal matter arising out of a political campaign.
• Computer hardware, software and other office technology purchased more than two weeks before the date of a primary election, in the case of a candidate who is opposed in the primary election, or two weeks before the date of a general election, in the case of a candidate who was not opposed in a primary election.
• A post-election event for staff, volunteers and/or supporters held within 30 days of the election.
• Payment of noncriminal penalties or fines arising out of a political campaign.
• Costs incurred in demonstrating eligibility for the ballot or public funds payments or defending against a claim that public funds must be repaid.
• Food and beverages provided to campaign workers and volunteers.
• Costs incurred in fundraising, including payments to fundraising consultants and costs incurred by online fundraising.

Non-Eligible Expenditures

The campaign funds of a participating candidate shall not be converted to a personal use which is unrelated to a political campaign. Expenditures not in furtherance of a political campaign for elective office include the following:

• Expenditures of normal living expenses of the candidate, immediate family of the candidate or any other individual, except for the provision of such expenses for professional staff as part of a compensation package.
• Any residential or household items, supplies or expenditures.
• Clothing, haircuts or other personal grooming.
• Funeral, cremation or burial expenses, including any expenses related to a death within a candidate's or officeholder's family.
• Automobile purchases.
• Tuition payment and child-care costs.
• Dues, fees or gratuities at a country club, health club, recreational facility or other nonpolitical organization unless part of a specific fundraising event that takes place on the organization's premises.
• Admission to a sporting event, theater, concert or other entertainment event not part of a specific campaign activity.
• Expenditure for non-campaign-related travel, food, drink or entertainment. if a candidate uses campaign funds to pay expenses associated with travel that involves both personal activities and campaign activities, the incremental expenses that result from the personal activities shall be considered for personal use unless the candidate benefiting from the use reimburses the campaign account within 30 days for the full amount of the incremental expenses. and
• Gifts, except for brochures, buttons, signs and other campaign materials and token gifts valued at not more than $50 that are for the purpose of expressing gratitude, condolences or congratulations.
• Any expenditure in violation of any law.
• Any expenditure made after the candidate has been finally disqualified or had his or her petitions finally declared invalid by the Suffolk County Board of Elections or a court of competent jurisdiction.
• Any expenditure made after the only remaining opponent of the candidate has been finally disqualified or had his or her petitions declared invalid by the Suffolk County Board of Elections or a court of competent jurisdiction.
• Payments in cash.
• Any contribution, transfer, or loan made to another candidate or political committee.
• Any expenditures made to challenge or defend the validity of petitions of designation or nomination or of certificates of nomination, acceptance, authorization, declination, or substitution, and expenses related to the canvassing of election results.
• An expenditure made primarily for the purpose of expressly advocating a vote for or against a ballot proposal, other than expenditures made also to further the participating candidate's nomination for election or election.
• Payment of any penalty or fine imposed pursuant to federal, state or local law. and
• Transfers to other candidates, political committees or party committees.

All receipts accepted by a participating candidate and their principal committee shall be deposited in an account of the principal committee by its treasurer. All deposits shall be made within 10 business days of receipt. provided, however, that deposits of contributions made in the form of checks more than one year before the first covered election for which such candidate is seeking nomination or election may be made within 20 business days of receipt. Each disclosure report filed pursuant to § C42-6 of this article shall include the date of receipt of each contribution accepted.

Unused matching funds must be returned to the Board within 30 days of the general election.