Alaska Regulations § 2 AAC 50.274 Early campaigning

(a) An individual intending to campaign for office shall file for nomination for the office as required under AS 15.13.100 either by submitting a letter of intent to the commission, or by filing a declaration of candidacy

(b) An individual intending to seek state or municipal office may file a letter of intent, in the format prescribed by the commission, no earlier than 18 months before the general election when the office is to be filled at a general election or 18 months before the date of the election when the office is to be filled at a special election or municipal election. A letter of intent must state whether the individual will seek state or municipal office, but need not identify the specific seat for which the individual may file. A letter of intent must include a statement certifying that the individual will comply with the requirements of AS 15.13. A letter of intent is valid until the election identified on that filing, unless the individual filing the letter of intent withdraws it before the election.

(c) An individual may not accept a campaign contribution before filing a letter of intent or declaration of candidacy, and may not make a campaign expenditure except for personal travel expenses, opinion surveys, or polls. A person, group, or nongroup entity may not make an expenditure on behalf of an individual who is a prospective candidate before that individual files a letter of intent.

(d) An individual who has submitted a letter of intent must also file a declaration of candidacy as provided in (a) of this section before the applicable state or municipal filing deadline.