§100.3. Candidate (52 U.S.C. 30101(2)). — Inbound Citations

(d) An individual's principal campaign committee or authorized committee(s) becomes a political committee(s) when that individual becomes a candidate pursuant to 11 CFR 100.3.

(a) Within 15 days after becoming a candidate under 11 CFR 100.3, each candidate, other than a nominee for the office of Vice President, shall designate in writing, a principal campaign committee in accordance with 11 CFR 102.12. A candidate shall designate his or her principal campaign committee by filing a Statement of Candidacy on FEC Form 2, or, if the candidate is not required to file electronically under 11 CFR 104.18, by filing a letter with the Commission containing the same information (that is, the individual's name and address, party affiliation, and office sought, the District and State in which Federal office is sought, and the name and address of his or her principal campaign committee). Each principal campaign committee shall register, designate a depository, and report in accordance with 11 CFR parts 102, 103, and 104.

(b) An individual seeking federal office who has not attained candidate status under 11 CFR 100.3, the committee of such an individual or any other committee may voluntarily register and report in accordance with 11 CFR parts 102 and 104. An individual shall not become a candidate solely by voluntarily filing a report, nor shall such individual, the individual's committee, nor any other committee be required to file all reports under 11 CFR 104.5, unless the individual becomes a candidate under 11 CFR 100.3 or unless the committee becomes a political committee under 11 CFR 100.5.

(1) A payment by a multicandidate political committee is deemed an in-kind contribution to and an expenditure by a Presidential candidate, even though made before the individual becomes a candidate under 11 CFR 100.3, if—

(i) The expenditure is made on or after January 1 of the year immediately following the last Presidential election year;

(ii) With respect to the goods or services involved, the candidate accepted or received them, requested or suggested their provision, was materially involved in the decision to provide them, or was involved in substantial discussions about their provision; and

(A) Polling expenses for determining the favorability, name recognition, or relative support level of the candidate involved;

(B) Compensation paid to employees, consultants, or vendors for services rendered in connection with establishing and staffing offices in States where Presidential primaries, caucuses, or preference polls are to be held, other than offices in the candidate's home state and in or near the District of Columbia;

(C) Administrative expenses, including rent, utilities, office supplies and equipment, in connection with establishing and staffing offices in States where Presidential primaries, caucuses, or preference polls are to be held, other than offices in the candidate's home state and in or near the District of Columbia; or

(B) Funeral, cremation or burial expenses except those incurred for a candidate (as defined in 11 CFR 100.3) or an employee or volunteer of an authorized committee whose death arises out of, or in the course of, campaign activity.

(a) A payment by a multicandidate political committee is an in-kind contribution to, and qualified campaign expense by, a Presidential candidate, even though made before the individual becomes a candidate under 11 CFR 100.3 and 9032.2, if—

(1) The expenditure is made on or after January 1 of the year immediately following the last Presidential election year;

(2) With respect to the goods or services involved, the candidate accepted or received them, requested or suggested their provision, was materially involved in the decision to provide them, or was involved in substantial discussions about their provision; and

(i) Polling expenses for determining the favorability, name recognition, or relative support level of the candidate involved;

(ii) Compensation paid to employees, consultants, or vendors for services rendered in connection with establishing and staffing offices in States where Presidential primaries, caucuses, or preference polls are to be held, other than offices in the candidate's home state and in or near the District of Columbia;

(iii) Administrative expenses, including rent, utilities, office supplies and equipment, in connection with establishing and staffing offices in States where Presidential primaries, caucuses, or preference polls are to be held, other than offices in the candidate's home state and in or near the District of Columbia; or

(4) The aggregate of contributions received under 11 CFR 100.3(a) (1), (2), and (3), in any combination thereof, exceeds $5,000, or the aggregate of expenditures made under 11 CFR 100.3(a) (1), (2), and (3), in any combination thereof, exceeds $5,000.

(1) An authorized committee means the principal campaign committee or any other political committee authorized by a candidate under 11 CFR 102.13 to receive contributions or make expenditures on behalf of such candidate, or which has not been disavowed pursuant to 11 CFR 100.3(a)(3).

(2) If an individual fails to disavow activity pursuant to 11 CFR 100.3(a)(3) and is therefore a candidate upon notice by the Commission, he or she shall authorize the committee in writing.

(a) Notwithstanding the definition at 11 CFR 100.5, authorized committee means with respect to a candidate (as defined at 11 CFR 9002.2) of a political party for President and Vice President, any political committee that is authorized by a candidate to incur expenses on behalf of such candidate. The term “authorized committee” includes the candidate's principal campaign committee designated in accordance with 11 CFR 102.12, any political committee authorized in writing by the candidate in accordance with 11 CFR 102.13, and any political committee not disavowed by the candidate pursuant to 11 CFR 100.3(a)(3). If a party has nominated a Presidential and a Vice Presidential candidate, all political committees authorized by that party's Presidential candidate shall also be authorized committees of the Vice Presidential candidate and all political committees authorized by the Vice Presidential candidate shall also be authorized committees of the Presidential candidate.

(a) Notwithstanding the definition at 11 CFR 100.5, authorized committee means with respect to candidates (as defined at 11 CFR 9032.2) seeking the nomination of a political party for the office of President, any political committee that is authorized by a candidate to solicit or receive contributions or to incur expenditures on behalf of the candidate. The term authorized committee includes the candidate's principal campaign committee designated in accordance with 11 CFR 102.12, any political committee authorized in writing by the candidate in accordance with 11 CFR 102.13, and any political committee not disavowed by the candidate in writing pursuant to 11 CFR 100.3(a)(3).