2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 18 - Elections
Chapter 29 - Disclosure and Limitations on Campaign Contributions
§ 902. Definitions
- As used in this chapter:
(1) “Candidate” means an individual who seeks nomination for election, or election, to any elective office of this Territory, whether or not such individual is elected and whether or not such individual has formally or publicly announced his candidacy. However, in order to be a “candidate” a person must have:
(A) filed for an elective office with the Board of Elections;
(B) received contributions;
(C) made expenditures; or
(D) authorized another to receive contributions on his behalf or make expenditures in support of his candidacy whether or not a specific office has been named for which the person is running.
(2) “Committee” or “political committee” means any committee, club, association, or other group of persons which receives contributions or makes expenditures during any calendar year in an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000.
(3) “Contribution” means:
(A) a gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election, or election, of any person to elective office in this Territory;
(B) a written contract, promise, or agreement, whether or not legally enforceable, to make a contribution as defined in paragraph (3)(A) of this section;
(C) funds received by a political committee which are transferred to such committee from another political committee or other source; or
(D) the payment, by a person other than a candidate or a political committee, of compensation for the personal services of another person which are rendered to such candidate or political committee without charge for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election, or election, of such candidate or for the purpose of assisting such political committee in the purpose for which it was organized.
The term “contribution” does not mean:(A) the value of services provided without compensation by individuals who volunteer time on behalf of a candidate or political committee;
(B) the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, foods, and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual's residential premises for political activities;
(C) the sale of any food or beverage by a vendor for use in a candidate's campaign at a charge less than the normal comparable charge, if such charge for use in a candidate's campaign is at least equal to the cost of such food or beverage to the vendor;
(D) any unreimbursed payment for travel expenses made by an individual who on his own behalf volunteers his personal services to a candidate; or
(E) the costs of any get-out-the-vote campaign, or reproduction and distribution of sample ballots.
(4) “Election” means any primary, special, run-off, or general election or any territorial committee meeting, caucus, or convention with the authority to nominate or appoint a person to an elective office.
(5) “Elective office” means every public office in the Territory to which a person can be elected by a vote of the electors under the laws of the United States Virgin Islands.
(6) “Expenditure” means:
(A) a purchase, payment, distribution, loan advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, made for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election, or election, of any person to elective office in this Territory;
(B) a contract, promise, or agreement, express or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any expenditure as defined by paragraph (6)(A) of this section;
(C) the transfer of funds by a political committee to another political committee; or
(D) any repayment made to any bank or other lending institution from which monies were borrowed to finance any aspect of a political campaign.
The term “expenditure” does not mean:(A) any news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by a political party, political committee, or candidate;
(B) any regular monthly, biweekly, weekly or more frequent broadcast by a political party, political committee or candidate which are conducted on a continuous year-round basis for public information purposes and not solely for election campaigning.
(C) nonpartisan activity designed to encourage individuals to vote or to register to vote;
(D) the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual's residential premises for political activities if the cumulative value of such activities by such individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $250 with respect to any election;
(E) any unreimbursed payment for travel expenses made by an individual who volunteers his personal services to a candidate if the cumulative amount for such individual incurred with respect to such candidate does not exceed $250 with respect to any election.
(7) “Identification” means the full name and address of any person.
(8) “Independent expenditure” means an expenditure by a person expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate which is made without cooperation or consultation with such candidate or any other candidate or any authorized committee or agent of any candidate.
(9) “Multicandidate committee” means a political committee which seeks to influence the nomination for election, or election, of more than one candidate.
(10) “Person” means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization, or any other organization or group of persons.
(11) “Principal campaign committee” means that political committee designated by a candidate pursuant to section 903(a) of this chapter.
(12) “Recording period” means the term for which information must be filed with the Supervisor as required by this chapter.
(13) “Supervisor” means the Supervisor of Elections as provided by Title 18, section 4, Virgin Islands Code.
