Glossary

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48-hour notice

A report due within 48 hours of receiving any contribution of $1,000 or more, at any time, including candidate loans and in-kind gifts. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Running a Candidate Committee

501(h) election

A choice a charity makes on IRS Form 5768 to measure its lobbying by a dollar formula instead of the vague 'substantial part' test. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Nonprofits in Politics: Charities, Social Welfare Groups, Trade Associations and 527s

527 organization

A tax-exempt political organization formed mainly to influence elections; federal 527s that are not FEC committees report donors of $200 or more to the IRS on Form 8872. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Nonprofits in Politics: Charities, Social Welfare Groups, Trade Associations and 527s

A

Actual malice

The First Amendment standard for defamation of public officials and figures: knowing a statement was false, or reckless disregard of whether it was false. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Literature, Signs and Ads: The Rules for Every Format

Ad library

A platform's public archive of political and issue ads with sponsor names and spending ranges. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Filing and Research Tools: From a Yard Sign to the People Who Paid

Advocate (Idaho Code 74-603)

To campaign for or against a candidate or a ballot measure's outcome; it does not include neutral factual information about a measure. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Ballot Measures and Issue Campaigns

B

Ballot measure committee

A political committee formed to support or oppose a measure; in Idaho it registers and reports like a PAC and has no contribution limits. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Ballot Measures and Issue Campaigns

A committee formed only to support or oppose an initiative, referendum, bond or levy; a 501(c)(3) may give to one as lobbying, but not to a committee that also backs candidates. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Nonprofits in Politics: Charities, Social Welfare Groups, Trade Associations and 527s

Beneficial owner

The natural person who in the end owns or controls a company. Federal beneficial ownership reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act no longer applies to U.S. companies after FinCEN's 2025 and 2026 rules. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

Bulk data

Whole datasets offered for download, such as the FEC's bulk files or the IRS 527 data download, for analysis in a spreadsheet. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Filing and Research Tools: From a Yard Sign to the People Who Paid

Bundling

Collecting many separate contributions and delivering them together. Legal when each person gives their own money; federal law makes candidates disclose large bundles from registered lobbyists. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give, and How Much

C

Campaign intervention

Any direct or indirect participation by a 501(c)(3) in a campaign for or against a candidate for public office; the tax code bars it outright. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Nonprofits in Politics: Charities, Social Welfare Groups, Trade Associations and 527s

Church tax inquiry

The first stage of an IRS review of a church under 26 U.S.C. 7611, which needs a written reasonable-belief finding by a high-level official and must end within 90 days unless an examination follows. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Schools, Churches and Religious Organizations: What They Can and Cannot Do in Elections

Civil fine

A money penalty decided on a preponderance of the evidence, without a criminal conviction; under 67-6625 up to $250 for individuals and $2,500 for others. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Complaints, Enforcement and the Mistakes That Get Campaigns in Trouble

Complaint (Form L-5)

The Idaho Secretary of State's form for a registered voter alleging a Sunshine Law violation. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Complaints, Enforcement and the Mistakes That Get Campaigns in Trouble

Compliance letter

A letter from the Secretary of State asking a filer to fix a problem, such as registering, amending a report or adding a disclaimer. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Complaints, Enforcement and the Mistakes That Get Campaigns in Trouble

Conduit

A person or entity that receives money and passes it on to a candidate or committee. Lawful when the original source is reported as the rules require; illegal when it hides that source. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

Conflict of interest

Under Idaho Code 74-403, an official action that would bring financial gain to the official, a household member or an associated business, beyond what a whole class of people would get. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Lobbying, Gifts and Public Officials

Contribution in the name of another

Giving money through someone else, or letting your name be used, so the recipient reports the wrong source. Barred by 52 U.S.C. 30122 and, for Idaho races, Idaho Code 67-6614. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

Coordination

Spending planned with, requested by or consented to by a candidate or campaign. It turns would-be independent spending into an in-kind contribution. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Forming and Running a PAC

Cooperation between an outside spender and a campaign on an ad's content, timing, audience or placement; coordinated spending is treated as a contribution. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications

D

Dark money

Election spending whose original funders are not publicly disclosed, usually because it passes through a group that does not have to name its donors. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Nonprofits in Politics: Charities, Social Welfare Groups, Trade Associations and 527s

Election spending whose original funders the public cannot see, usually because it comes from a nonprofit or company that is not required to name its donors. A description of a disclosure gap, not a legal category. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

Designation

Recording which election, primary or general, a contribution counts toward, which decides which limit it uses. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give, and How Much

Disclaimer

The 'paid for by' statement on campaign material that tells the audience who paid for it. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Literature, Signs and Ads: The Rules for Every Format

E

Earmarked contribution

Money given with a designation, instruction or encumbrance, express or implied, that sends it to a particular candidate. Under 11 CFR 110.6 it counts as the original donor's gift. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

Earmarking

Directing a contribution, openly or by understanding, to a particular candidate through someone else. Federal rules count it as a gift from the original donor. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give, and How Much

Giving money to one person or group with an understanding that it will go to a particular candidate or committee. Idaho Code 67-6614 bars using it to hide the true source. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give to Whom, and When: Questions and Answers

Electioneering communication

In Idaho, a broadcast, print, billboard, mail, hand-delivered or phone message that unambiguously refers to a candidate within 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election and reaches that office's voters. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications

Encumbrance

An expense the campaign has committed to but not yet paid. Idaho reports list encumbrances of $25 or more with expenditures. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Running a Candidate Committee

Exacting scrutiny

The test courts apply to compelled disclosure: a substantial relation to a sufficiently important government interest, with narrow tailoring, though not necessarily the least restrictive means. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

Executive official

A statewide elected officer and key staff, an agency director or deputy, or a member or chief officer of a rulemaking or governing board listed in 74-702(4). PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Lobbying, Gifts and Public Officials

Express advocacy

A message that urges the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or measure, with words such as vote for, elect, defeat or reject. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications

F

Firewall

A written policy that keeps staff or vendors who worked for a campaign away from an outside group's ads; federal rules give it a safe harbor. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications

Fiscal impact statement

An unbiased estimate by the Division of Financial Management of what an initiative would cost or save state and local government, with a summary of 100 words or fewer. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Ballot Measures and Issue Campaigns

Form 990

The annual IRS information return for most tax-exempt groups, showing revenue, expenses, officers and grants. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Filing and Research Tools: From a Yard Sign to the People Who Paid

G

Gray money

Spending by a committee whose disclosed donors are other committees or entities, so the true funders are public only after a reader follows several layers of filings. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

H

Hatch Act (state and local)

Federal law, 5 U.S.C. 1501 to 1508, limiting political activity by state and local employees whose main job is in programs funded by federal loans or grants. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Lobbying, Gifts and Public Officials

Hybrid PAC

A federal PAC with two bank accounts: one taking unlimited money for independent spending, one taking limited money for candidate contributions. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Forming and Running a PAC

I

In-kind contribution

A gift of goods, services or a discount instead of money, counted at fair market value against the giver's limit and reported as both a contribution and an expenditure. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give, and How Much

Goods or services given to a campaign instead of money, valued at fair market price, such as donated printing. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Literature, Signs and Ads: The Rules for Every Format

Independent expenditure

Spending on express advocacy that is not made in cooperation with, at the request of, or with the consent of the candidate or the measure committee. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications

Indirect lobbying

Paying for communications that urge others to contact lawmakers or officials; spending of $100 or more is reported within 48 hours. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Lobbying, Gifts and Public Officials

Initiative

A law proposed by voters through petition and enacted or rejected at a general election, a power reserved by Article III, Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Ballot Measures and Issue Campaigns

Integrated auxiliary

A 501(c)(3) affiliated with a church and supported internally, such as a church youth group or mission society; like a church, it cannot elect 501(h). PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Schools, Churches and Religious Organizations: What They Can and Cannot Do in Elections

L

Leadership PAC

A PAC established or controlled by a candidate or officeholder to support other candidates. Idaho's Secretary of State says it may not fund its sponsor's own race. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Forming and Running a PAC

Limited open forum

Under the federal Equal Access Act, the situation when a public secondary school lets any noncurriculum student group meet during noninstructional time; it then may not exclude groups for political or religious content. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Schools, Churches and Religious Organizations: What They Can and Cannot Do in Elections

Lobbying

In Idaho, trying to influence the Legislature, the governor or executive officials on legislation, rules, rates, contracts, procurement or bonds, or building goodwill with or entertaining them (Idaho Code 74-702). PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Lobbying, Gifts and Public Officials

Lowest unit charge

The cheapest rate a station charges any advertiser for the same class and amount of time, which candidates get in the 45 days before a primary and 60 before a general. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Literature, Signs and Ads: The Rules for Every Format

M

Major purpose test

The rule from Buckley and FEC v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life that a group becomes a federal political committee only if its major purpose is electing or defeating candidates and it passes the $1,000 threshold. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

Matter Under Review (MUR)

The FEC's name and number for an enforcement case opened from a complaint. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Complaints, Enforcement and the Mistakes That Get Campaigns in Trouble

Measure

Any proposal put to voters, including initiatives, referendums, recalls and constitutional amendments. An initiative or referendum becomes a measure when it gets a ballot title. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: The Money Map: Every Player and What Idaho Law Calls It

Measure-only committee

A political committee that supports or opposes only ballot measures and gives nothing to and spends nothing on candidates. It is the one kind of committee a 501(c)(3) may give to, counted as lobbying. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give to Whom, and When: Questions and Answers

Mixed committee

A committee that works on both measures and candidates. For the IRS it is a candidate committee, so a charity may not give to it. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give to Whom, and When: Questions and Answers

N

Nonbusiness entity

A group not organized mainly for profit that gets more than 10 percent of its receipts from contributions, gifts or dues. Idaho Code 67-6606 makes it report donors over $500 when it spends more than $1,000 on Idaho candidates or measures. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: The Money Map: Every Player and What Idaho Law Calls It

Idaho's term for a nonprofit or other group whose receipts are more than 10 percent gifts, dues or contributions; it faces donor disclosure if it spends over $1,000 in a year on Idaho races. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications

In Idaho law, a group whose main purpose is not profit and whose contributions, gifts or dues exceeded 10 percent of its receipts; it files a 67-6606 statement once it spends more than $1,000 on Idaho candidates or measures. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Nonprofits in Politics: Charities, Social Welfare Groups, Trade Associations and 527s

Nonbusiness entity statement

The Idaho Code 67-6606 filing due within 30 days after a nonprofit, club or association that is not a PAC spends more than $1,000 in a year on Idaho candidates or measures. It names payers of more than $500. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give to Whom, and When: Questions and Answers

Nonconnected committee

A federal PAC with no corporate or union sponsor that may solicit the general public. Leadership PACs, Super PACs and Hybrid PACs are nonconnected. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Forming and Running a PAC

O

Official church function

A service, meeting or event the church sponsors, such as worship or a church dinner; partisan statements by leaders there count as the church's own speech. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Schools, Churches and Religious Organizations: What They Can and Cannot Do in Elections

Original source

Arizona's term for the person whose own money pays, in the end, for campaign media spending, traced back through any intermediaries. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

P

Pass-through

An entity, often an LLC or nonprofit, that receives money and passes it on to a committee, so the committee's report shows the entity rather than the original funders. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: The Money Map: Every Player and What Idaho Law Calls It

Pecuniary benefit

A gain in money, property or other economic advantage; the kind of benefit Idaho's gift and bribery laws regulate. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Lobbying, Gifts and Public Officials

Personal capacity

Speaking or acting as a private citizen, off the clock and without the organization's money, publications or events; leaders may name their title for identification only. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Schools, Churches and Religious Organizations: What They Can and Cannot Do in Elections

Personal use

Spending campaign money on an expense that would exist even without the campaign or the office, such as rent, tuition or a vacation. Banned by Idaho Code 67-6610C(2). PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Running a Candidate Committee

Pickering balancing

The test from Pickering v. Board of Education (1968) that weighs a public employee's interest in speaking on public matters as a citizen against the employer's interest in running its services well. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Schools, Churches and Religious Organizations: What They Can and Cannot Do in Elections

Political committee

Under Idaho Code 67-6602(14), any person specifically designated to support or oppose a candidate or measure, or any person who receives contributions and makes expenditures over $1,000 in a calendar year for that purpose. The legal name for what people call a PAC. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: The Money Map: Every Player and What Idaho Law Calls It

Political file

A broadcaster's or cable system's public record of requests to buy time by candidates and national-issue advertisers, posted at publicfiles.fcc.gov and kept two years. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Literature, Signs and Ads: The Rules for Every Format

The part of a broadcaster's or cable system's public file recording requests to buy political time; hosted online by the FCC. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Filing and Research Tools: From a Yard Sign to the People Who Paid

Political treasurer

The registered Idaho voter a candidate or committee appoints to receive and spend all money, keep the accounts and file reports. A candidate may be their own treasurer. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Running a Candidate Committee

Preemption

The rule in 52 U.S.C. 30143 that federal election law displaces state law for elections to federal office. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: The Money Map: Every Player and What Idaho Law Calls It

Public resources

In Idaho Code 74-603, goods, services, equipment, software, facilities and similar items of a public entity; using them to advocate for or against a candidate or ballot measure is barred. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Schools, Churches and Religious Organizations: What They Can and Cannot Do in Elections

Q

Qualified state or local political organization

A 527 group working only on state or local races whose contributions and expenditures are reported under state law and made public by the state and by the group itself (26 U.S.C. 527(e)(5)). Section 527(j) excuses it from the IRS Form 8872 reports. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give to Whom, and When: Questions and Answers

R

Reason to believe

The FEC finding, needing four commissioners' votes, that lets an enforcement case go forward to investigation or conciliation. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Complaints, Enforcement and the Mistakes That Get Campaigns in Trouble

Referendum

A petition-driven vote on whether to approve or reject a law the Legislature passed. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Ballot Measures and Issue Campaigns

Registered agent

The person or company named in state business filings to receive legal papers for a business; often the first name you find behind an LLC. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Filing and Research Tools: From a Yard Sign to the People Who Paid

Related entities

Businesses or groups that Idaho Code 67-6610A(6) treats as one contributor because they share most of a board, two or more officers, majority owners or a parent and subsidiary. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give, and How Much

Businesses linked by common ownership, shared officers or a parent and subsidiary relationship; Idaho counts them as one contributor for limits. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Complaints, Enforcement and the Mistakes That Get Campaigns in Trouble

Retiring debt

Raising new contributions after an election, within that election's limits, only to pay debts shown on the last report (67-6610B). PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Running a Candidate Committee

Right-of-way

The land a highway agency owns or controls under and beside a road, usually including shoulders and ditches; campaign signs are not allowed there. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Literature, Signs and Ads: The Rules for Every Format

S

Schedule B

The donor schedule of the IRS Form 990; since 2020 only 501(c)(3)s and 527s list donor names on it for the IRS. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Nonprofits in Politics: Charities, Social Welfare Groups, Trade Associations and 527s

Separate segregated fund (SSF)

A federal PAC set up by a corporation, union or membership group, which may pay its costs but may solicit only a restricted class of people. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Forming and Running a PAC

Social club

A 501(c)(7) organization formed for pleasure and recreation. Up to 35 percent of its gross receipts may come from outside sources, and substantially all of its activity must be social. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give to Whom, and When: Questions and Answers

Social welfare organization

A 501(c)(4) nonprofit operated primarily to promote the common good; it may lobby without limit and do some campaign work if that is not its primary activity. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Nonprofits in Politics: Charities, Social Welfare Groups, Trade Associations and 527s

Specifically designated committee

A political committee formed to support or oppose a particular candidate or measure. It is a political committee from its first dollar. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Forming and Running a PAC

Straw donor

Someone who gives in their own name with money that really came from another person. Barred by Idaho Code 67-6614 and 52 U.S.C. 30122. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give, and How Much

A person or entity that gives money provided or reimbursed by someone else, so the real donor stays off the report. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Dark Money in Depth: What It Is, When It Is Illegal or Unethical, and How to Track It

Sunshine portal

The Idaho Secretary of State's online system for campaign finance and lobbyist filing and public search, at sunshine.voteidaho.gov, with a legacy search site at sunshine.sos.idaho.gov. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Filing and Research Tools: From a Yard Sign to the People Who Paid

Super PAC

A federal independent-expenditure-only political committee that may accept unlimited contributions, including from corporations and unions, reports its donors to the FEC and does not give to candidates. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: The Money Map: Every Player and What Idaho Law Calls It

Supermajority

A vote threshold above a simple majority; Idaho requires two-thirds voter approval for most local debt under Article VIII, Section 3. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Ballot Measures and Issue Campaigns

Synthetic media

In Idaho law, realistic but false AI or digital audio or video of a person's speech or conduct that leaves a reasonable person with a different understanding of the event than the unaltered recording. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Literature, Signs and Ads: The Rules for Every Format

T

Termination

Closing a campaign's reporting account after a filed report shows zero cash and zero debt, by request to the Secretary of State. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Running a Candidate Committee

V

Voter guide

A publication of candidates' positions, answers or votes. It is nonpartisan voter education only when it covers every candidate and a broad range of issues with no sign of bias in content or structure. PACs, Nonprofits and Electioneering in Idaho: How the Money Works and How to Do It Right: Who Can Give to Whom, and When: Questions and Answers