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Code of Election Ethics

A robust and fair debate about issues is fundamental to a healthy democracy. Voluntary codes of campaign conduct—such as the Maine Code of Election Ethics—can help candidates draw meaningful and accurate distinctions between themselves and their opponents and, thus, enable them to elevate the discourse involved in seeking public office.

The purpose of the code is to encourage substantive, issue-oriented campaigns that will educate the voter and improve the quality of public dialogue. It calls on the candidates to abide by the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, responsibility and compassion in their campaigns. In doing so, the candidates pledge to avoid practices such as push polling, personal attacks, stereotyping and false advertising. They also agree to publicly repudiate such practices when they are used by third parties on behalf of their campaigns.

In a nationwide poll released by the Camden-based Institute for Global Ethics, eight in ten voters said “negative, attack-oriented campaigning is unethical and damaging our democracy.” More importantly, two-thirds of voters said “that a candidate’s willingness to sign a [campaign conduct] code would be a very important factor in their voting decision.”

With the 2006 election year upon us, we call upon all candidates to abide by the principles of the Code of Election Ethics.

Two questions always arise in such efforts: Who will monitor compliance with the Code and how will violations be publicized? We believe these activities are best addressed by the candidates themselves, by the media in its coverage of political discourse and, most importantly, by the citizens. It is our hope that through public dialogue, voters will come to recognize the link between campaign conduct, civic engagement, and a healthy democracy and, accordingly, will choose candidates who exemplify the spirit and principles of the Code of Election Ethics.

Purpose:

To encourage substantive issues-oriented electoral campaigns in the U.S. that will educate the American voter and help to improve the quality of dialogue about public policy.

Assumptions:

Electoral campaigns throughout the nation are subject to unacceptable levels of negativism, attack advertising, and other practices which demean representative democracy.

Negative campaigns are directly related to the cynicism, alienation, and decreasing participation rates among American voters. We all have a stake in positive electoral processes the centerpiece of civil society.

Each candidate is responsible for fair and ethical practices by or on behalf of his/her campaign.

Five core values are fundamental to our society and are widely shared throughout our country: honesty, respect, responsibility, fairness, and compassion.

Honesty and Fairness

I shall emphasize my views, beliefs, and experiences. I am committed to an open and public discussion of issues and to presenting my record and my opponents’ records truthfully and with sincerity and frankness.

I shall not use or agree to let third parties use subtle deceptions, half-truths, falsifications, or such practices as push polling. If such practices are used by third parties without my approval, I shall repudiate them immediately and publicly upon my knowledge of their occurrence. Factual claims made by my campaign will be supported by publicly available documents provided by my campaign office.

Respect

I shall avoid demeaning references to my opponent and demeaning visual images of my opponent.

I shall respect my opponent. I shall not use or allow to be used personal attacks, innuendo, or stereotyping.

Responsibility

I shall ensure that my campaign supporters will observe these principles of fair campaign practices. I take full responsibility and will be fully accountable for all advertising created or used on my behalf by staff and supporters.

I shall conduct my campaign openly and publicly, discussing the issues as I see them, presenting my record and policies with sincerity and frankness, and criticizing without fear and without malice the record and policies of my opponent and his or her political party that merit such criticism.

I will not condone or allow third-party advertising that does not meet the principles contained in this document. If such practices are used by third parties without my approval, I shall repudiate them immediately and publicly upon my knowledge of their occurrence.

Compassion

In the conduct of my candidacy, I shall show compassion at all times for my opponent. I shall remember that the campaign process is fundamental to representative democracy and that my behavior in the campaign affects the integrity of our society.

Principles of Fair Campaign Practices:

My campaign will be committed to the principles of honesty, fairness, respect for my opponent, responsibility, and compassion.

The Maine Code of Election Ethics was conceived of and coordinated by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine in partnership with the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine and the Institute for Global Ethics in Camden, Maine. Although an original draft was prepared by staff from these centers, its final language was shaped substantially by the candidates seeking state and federal offices in 1992.

The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, established in 1989, is a nonpartisan, independent research and public service unit of the University of Maine.

The Center is dedicated to improving and promoting the quality of public dialogue about state, regional, and national policy issues through applied policy research and projects that seek innovative solutions to practical problems.

Our research is interdisciplinary in that it cuts across departmental lines and brings together faculty and external policy experts to address issues confronting the state and nation.

For more information, please visit www.umaine.edu/mcsc/