13-1-101. Definitions. As used in this title, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following definitions apply:
     (1) "Anything of value" means any goods that have a certain utility to the recipient that is real and that is ordinarily not given away free but is purchased.
     (2) "Candidate" means:
     (a) an individual who has filed a declaration or petition for nomination, acceptance of nomination or appointment as a candidate for public office as required by law;
     (b) for the purposes of chapters 35, 36, or 37, an individual who has solicited or received and retained contributions, made expenditures, or given consent to an individual, organization, political party, or committee to solicit or receive and retain contributions or make expenditures on the individual's behalf to secure nomination or election to any office at any time, whether or not the office for which the individual will seek nomination or election is known when the:
     (i) solicitation is made;
     (ii) contribution is received and retained; or
     (iii) expenditure is made; and
     (c) an officeholder who is the subject of a recall election.
     (3) (a) "Contribution" means:
     (i) an advance, gift, loan, conveyance, deposit, payment, or distribution of money or anything of value to influence an election;
     (ii) a transfer of funds between political committees;
     (iii) the payment by a person other than a candidate or political committee of compensation for the personal services of another person that are rendered to a candidate or political committee.
     (b) "Contribution" does not mean:
     (i) services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a candidate or political committee or meals and lodging provided by individuals in their private residence for a candidate or other individual;
     (ii) the cost of any bona fide news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication of general circulation;
     (iii) the cost of any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its members or stockholders or employees, as long as the organization is not a primary political committee; or
     (iv) filing fees paid by the candidate.
     (4) "Election" means a general, regular, special, or primary election held pursuant to the requirements of state law, regardless of the time or purpose.
     (5) "Election administrator" means the county clerk and recorder or the individual designated by a county governing body to be responsible for all election administration duties, except that with regard to school elections, the term means the school district clerk.
     (6) "Elector" means an individual qualified and registered to vote under state law.
     (7) (a) "Expenditure" means a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, promise, pledge, or gift of money or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the results of an election.
     (b) "Expenditure" does not mean:
     (i) services, food, or lodging provided in a manner that they are not contributions under subsection (3);
     (ii) payments by a candidate for a filing fee or for personal travel expenses, food, clothing, lodging, or personal necessities for the candidate and the candidate's family;
     (iii) the cost of any bona fide news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication of general circulation; or
     (iv) the cost of any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its members or stockholders or employees, as long as the organization is not a primary political committee.
     (8) "General election" or "regular election" means an election held for the election of public officers throughout the state at times specified by law, including elections for officers of political subdivisions when the time of the election is set on the same date for all similar political subdivisions in the state. For ballot issues required by Article III, section 6, or Article XIV, section 8, of the Montana constitution to be submitted by the legislature to the electors at a general election, "general election" means an election held at the time provided in 13-1-104(1). For ballot issues required by Article XIV, section 9, of the Montana constitution to be submitted as a constitutional initiative at a regular election, regular election means an election held at the time provided in 13-1-104(1).
     (9) "Individual" means a human being.
     (10) "Issue" or "ballot issue" means a proposal submitted to the people at an election for their approval or rejection, including but not limited to initiatives, referenda, proposed constitutional amendments, recall questions, school levy questions, bond issue questions, or a ballot question. For the purposes of chapters 35, 36, or 37, an issue becomes a "ballot issue" upon certification by the proper official that the legal procedure necessary for its qualification and placement upon the ballot has been completed, except that a statewide issue becomes an "issue" upon approval by the secretary of state of the form of the petition or referral.
     (11) "Person" means an individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership, cooperative, committee, club, union, or other organization or group of individuals or a candidate as defined in subsection (2) of this section.
     (12) "Political committee" means a combination of two or more individuals or a person other than an individual who makes a contribution or expenditure:
     (a) to support or oppose a candidate or a committee organized to support or oppose a candidate or a petition for nomination; or
     (b) to support or oppose a ballot issue or a committee organized to support or oppose a ballot issue; or
     (c) as an earmarked contribution.
     (13) "Political subdivision" means a county, consolidated municipal-county government, municipality, special district, or any other unit of government, except school districts, having authority to hold an election for officers or on a ballot issue.
     (14) "Primary" or "primary election" means an election held throughout the state to nominate candidates for public office at times specified by law, including nominations of candidates for offices of political subdivisions when the time for nominations is set on the same date for all similar subdivisions in the state.
     (15) "Public office" means a state, county, municipal, school, or other district office that is filled by the people at an election.
     (16) "Registrar" means the county election administrator and any regularly appointed deputy or assistant election administrator.
     (17) "Special election" means an election other than a statutorily scheduled primary or general election held at any time for any purpose provided by law. It may be held in conjunction with a statutorily scheduled election.
     (18) "Voting machine or device" means any equipment used to record, tabulate, or in any manner process the vote of an elector.

     History: Ap. p. Sec. 1, Ch. 368, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 365, L. 1977; Sec. 23-2601, R.C.M. 1947; Ap. p. Sec. 2, Ch. 480, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 365, L. 1977; Sec. 23-4777, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 23-2601, 23-4777; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 603, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 31, Ch. 370, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 339, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 390, L. 1993.