What the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices took up at its meetings since 2019: late-filing penalties and requests to waive them, complaints and requests to investigate, audits, and what it decided, as its meeting pages record them. A complaint is an allegation; the decision is the Commission's. Items naming someone on this site are also on their page.
On June 9, 2026, the Commission held a special meeting to consider a request by the Nirav Shah campaign to investigate text messages sent by the federal VoteRise PAC supporting three other Democratic candidates for Governor. The request asserted that the texts did not state the person that paid for the texts. At the June 9 meeting, the Commission directed staff to obtain documentation of VoteRise’s spending which would be relevant to whether VoteRise was required to register with the Commission as a PAC and file campaign finance reports. The Commission will consider whether to take further action on the complaint.
Decided: To continue the matter until the next meeting and receive additional information from Mr. Berkon. (vote 4-0)
Robert Benoit and Mary Ann Lynch filed a complaint asking the Commission to investigate whether the Cape Elizabeth school department was required to register and file campaign finance reports as a ballot question committee. They believe the school department made expenditures of more than $5,000 for newspaper advertisements and related costs for the purpose of influencing November 5, 2024 and June 10, 2025 school construction referenda. The school department responds that these costs were undertaken to engage and educate members of the public, consistent with direction given by the School Board and Town Council to a School Building Advisory Committee. Staff recommendation: the Commission sta…
Decided: To move that the Commission would take testimony today which will close the evidence and defer the decision on the complaint until the Commission has had a chance to analyze the law further. (vote 4-0)
Rep. Ann Higgins Matlack submitted a request for investigation concerning an anonymous postcard mailing to some residents of St. George, Maine urging a “no” vote on a May 2024 municipal referendum. She asks the Commission to investigate whether the card should have stated who paid for the mailing and whether the persons responsible should have filed information with the Commission. Additional Material
Decided: To postpone this item for one month. (vote 1-3)
Genuine Parts Company contributed $500,000 to promote Question 4, the right to repair initiative. A contributor that has donated more than $100,000 and received a major contributor notice is required to file a major contributor report with the Commission by the next filing deadline applicable to ballot question committees and PACs. Genuine Parts Company should have filed a major contributor report with the Commission by October 5, 2023, but it filed the report one day late on October 6. The preliminary penalty against Genuine Parts Company for filing the report late is $50,000, which is 10% of its $500,000 contribution to promote the initiative. Genuine Parts Company has requested a waiver o…
Decided: To postpone this agenda item until the next Commission meeting. (vote 5-0)
The Aroostook County Republican Committee was required to file the 11-Day Pre-General campaign finance report by Friday, October 28th, but it was not filed until Sunday, November 6th, making the report nine days late. The committee was also required to file a 24-Hour Report by Saturday, November 5th, but it was not filed until Monday, November 7th, making the report two days late. The combined penalty for the two late reports is $620. The committee is requesting a waiver of these penalties because the treasurer had Covid at the time the reports were due. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommend reducing the total penalties to $220.
Decided: To postpone this matter until the next meeting. (vote 5-0)
Sara Salley and others have requested an investigation whether the Maine Families First PAC filed a complete quarterly PAC report of financial activity through September 30, 2022. Ms. Salley questions why the report did not disclose contributions that paid for a $999,245 advertising expenditure reportedly made on October 5, 2022.
Decided: To direct staff to gather more information on this issue and present it at the next Commission meeting for further consideration. (vote 5-0)