Delaware Regulations § 100-3.0 Contributions

3.1.1 A contribution as defined by 15 Del.C. § 8002 (6) may not exceed the maximum allowed for any election period regardless of whether that contribution is designated by the donor to retire a previous campaign debt or for a present campaign.

3.1.2 Regardless of how it is characterized, the total amount given by any contributor to any candidate for any election period may not exceed the limits permitted for contributions under Subchapter II of Chapter 80.

3.1.3 Incumbents not seeking reelection or other elective office may accept contributions to repay debt after the close of the election. However, the total contributions by any person given to any office holder in this circumstance may not exceed the amount permitted to be received by such office holder in the last election in which such office holder stood for election.

3.2.1 Cash or reportable in-kind services. The date of receipt of a contribution in cash or in kind services required to be reported under 15 Del.C. Ch. 80 is the date that it is physically received by the candidate, treasurer or other representative of the committee which is registered with the State Election Commissioner Office. This date of receipt and not the date of deposit or otherwise shall be the date for reporting purposes.

3.2.2 Checks. The date of receipt of a contribution paid by check is the date the candidate, treasurer or other representative of the committee physically receives it. If the check is received by mail, the date of receipt and date for reporting purposes is the date it is received by the candidate, treasurer or representative of the registered committee. The person first receiving the check on behalf of the candidate or committee shall note on its face the date of physical receipt of the check. The person marking the date of receipt shall also accurately and legibly initial the notation of the date of actual receipt of the check.

3.3.1 An office holder intending to seek a different office must establish a campaign committee for the new campaign no later than 24 hours after it receives any contribution or makes any expenditure that causes the aggregate amount of contributions to or expenditures by such committee to exceed $500 during an election period.

3.3.2 If such candidate has not closed out the candidate's existing campaign committee, the existing committee shall become a subcommittee of the new campaign committee. No candidate may have more than one committee, although a committee may have subcommittees however they are designated. The new committee must be established as outlined above even if established for exploratory purposes only. For example, if a candidate is currently in office, is maintaining a candidate committee to settle past debt and is seeking a different office, there shall be one committee and a subcommittee.

3.3.3 A single report shall be filed with the Commissioner on behalf of the committee showing the required information for both the committee and subcommittee(s). A candidate and treasurer are jointly responsible for filing reports on behalf of a candidate committee. The designation by a candidate of a treasurer does not relieve the candidate of the requirement to file reports.

3.3.4 A candidate committee may accept contributions for the new campaign or to pay off debts of the subcommittee. However, the total contributed by any person to any candidate may not exceed the limits permitted under Subchapter II of Chapter 80 for the "election period" whether such contributions are for the new campaign or for its subcommittees to pay off prior debts.