Summary
Regulations should establish a campaign period for the purposes of expenditure.
Obligations
Election Parts
Quotes
- Restrictions should also take into account the question of timing and establish a reasonable demarcation of when the campaigns begin. Even though the campaign for one election may really begin almost immediately after the conclusion of the last election, campaign expenditure regulations should clearly identify a formal campaign period. If this period is too short, the effectiveness of spending limits is seriously undermined.
- The law should clearly establish timeframes for which campaign finance regulations are applicable, including dates for reporting and disclosure, and statutes of limitations for violations.
- It is important that legislation does not unduly prohibit spending and political expression before the official start of the campaign, since the free exchange of ideas, especially political ideas, should always be allowed. However, it is possible to set certain specific limitations, provided that these are reasonable and proportionate to the objective of a fair electoral campaign. This may include prohibitions on leafleting or direct calls to voters that ask them to vote for a specific party before a given date.
- It is important that legislation does not unduly prohibit spending and political expression before the official start of the campaign, since the free exchange of ideas, especially political ideas, should always be allowed. However, it is possible to set certain specific limitations, provided that these are reasonable and proportionate to the objective of a fair electoral campaign. This may include prohibitions on leafleting or direct calls to voters that ask them to vote for a specific party before a given date.
- Two essential elements of the internet are its instantaneity and its interactivity, which significantly affect the time frame established for the realisation of the electoral campaign. It would be interesting to reconsider the concept of soliciting votes, a process which is divided between periods of pre-campaign (or permanent campaign) and campaign. Similarly, the expediency of distinguishing between financing of campaigns and financing of political parties appears questionable.