Pre-writ campaigning comes with strings for N.L. candidates

Most candidates for the Nov. 30 provincial election have been in campaign mode for many weeks, but when it comes to finances, there are strict rules that must be followed before the official campaign is launched.

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In short, prospective candidates are not permitted to collect, solicit or spend anyone else's money but their own until the election writ is issued.

"They can incur election expenses at any time. They just can't use anybody else's money to pay for it," said assistant chief electoral officer Bruce Chaulk of Elections NL.

Spending on the leaders' tour

Questions about campaign spending began to surface on Monday after the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador kicked off its campaign, even before Premier Paul Davis visited the lieutenant-governor and the election writ was issued.

For example, is campaign spending prior to the issuance of the writ counted against campaign expenditure limits?

It certainly is, said Chaulk.

Chaulk said special ballot voting has been ongoing since Oct. 13, and "it's hard to say the (campaign) is not started."

Not officially candidates yet

Chaulk said it's important to make the distinction between political parties and candidates.

He said registered parties can fundraise throughout the year, and when Liberal Leader Dwight Ball kicked off his tour on Monday, it's likely the party is picking up the tab.

But, he added, those challenging for a seat in the House of Assembly are not officially candidates until they file their nominations papers with Elections NL, and this can't be done until the election writ is issued, which is likely to be Thursday.

The nomination process at the party level is only one step in the process, Chaulk added.

Fifteen per cent of popular vote

So, any money they spend at this stage must come from their own bank account, though it can be reimbursed if the campaign raises a sufficient amount of funds.

Legislation also allows for candidates who receive 15 per cent or more of the popular vote to be reimbursed by Elections NL for one-third of their eligible expenses.

The rules are also structured in such a way that candidates must pay off other costs such as rent, signage and advertising before covering their own expenses.

Any shortfall must be categorized as a donation to the campaign by the candidate, Chaulk explained.

Campaign expenditure limits

How much can individual candidates spend on their campaign?

That depends on the number of registered voters in a district. Simply put, they can spend a maximum of just under $4.40 per voter on eligible expenses.                                  

In Carbonear-Trinity-Bay de Verde, the spending limit is just under $52,000, the highest of all 40 districts, while most are in the $40,000 to $45,000 range.

There's also a minimum amount of exactly $16,879 for two districts — Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair and Torngat Mountains — with very small populations.