Vermont § 2901 - Definitions As used in this chapter:

§ 2901. Definitions As used in this chapter:

• (1) “Candidate” means an individual who has taken affirmative action to become a candidate
  for State, county, local, or legislative office in a primary, special, general, or
  local election. An affirmative action shall include one or more of the following: (A) accepting contributions or making expenditures totaling $500.00 or more; (B) filing the requisite petition for nomination under this title or being nominated by
  primary or caucus; or (C) announcing that the individual seeks an elected position as a State, county, or local
  officer or a position as Representative or Senator in the General Assembly. (2) “Candidate’s committee” means the candidate’s campaign staff, whether paid or unpaid. (3) “Clearly identified,” with respect to a candidate, means: (A) the name of the candidate appears; (B) a photograph or drawing of the candidate appears; or (C) the identity of the candidate is apparent by unambiguous reference. (4) “Contribution” means a payment, distribution, advance, deposit, loan, or gift of money
  or anything of value, paid or promised to be paid for the purpose of influencing an
  election, advocating a position on a public question, or supporting or opposing one
  or more candidates in any election. As used in this chapter, “contribution” shall
  not include any of the following: (A) a personal loan of money to a candidate from a lending institution made in the ordinary
  course of business; (B) services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering their time on behalf
  of a candidate, political committee, or political party; (C) unreimbursed travel expenses paid for by an individual for himself or herself who
  volunteers personal services to a candidate; (D) unreimbursed campaign-related travel expenses paid for by the candidate or the candidate’s
  spouse; (E) the use by a candidate or volunteer of his or her own personal property, including
  offices, telephones, computers, and similar equipment; (F) the use of a political party’s offices, telephones, computers, and similar equipment; (G) the payment by a political party of the costs of preparation, display, or mailing
  or other distribution of a party candidate listing; (H) documents, in printed or electronic form, including party platforms, single copies
  of issue papers, information pertaining to the requirements of this title, lists of
  registered voters, and voter identification information created, obtained, or maintained
  by a political party for the general purpose of party building and provided to a candidate
  who is a member of that party or to another political party; (I) compensation paid by a political party to its employees whose job responsibilities
  are not for the specific and exclusive benefit of a single candidate in any election; (J) compensation paid by a political party to its employees or consultants for the purpose
  of providing assistance to another political party; (K) campaign training sessions provided to three or more candidates; (L) costs paid for by a political party in connection with a campaign event at which three
  or more candidates are present; or (M) activity or communication designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or
  to vote if that activity or communication does not mention or depict a clearly identified
  candidate. (5) “Election” means the procedure whereby the voters of this State or any of its political
  subdivisions select a person to be a candidate for public office or to fill a public
  office or to act on public questions, including voting on constitutional amendments.
  Each primary, general, special, or local election shall constitute a separate election. (6) “Electioneering communication” means any communication that refers to a clearly identified
  candidate for office and that promotes or supports a candidate for that office or
  attacks or opposes a candidate for that office, regardless of whether the communication
  expressly advocates a vote for or against a candidate, including communications published
  in any newspaper or periodical or broadcast on radio or television or over the internet
  or any public address system; placed on any billboards, outdoor facilities, buttons,
  or printed material attached to motor vehicles, window displays, posters, cards, pamphlets,
  leaflets, flyers, or other circulars; or contained in any direct mailing, robotic
  phone calls, or mass electronic or digital communications. (7) “Expenditure” means a payment, disbursement, distribution, advance, deposit, loan,
  or gift of money or anything of value, paid or promised to be paid, for the purpose
  of influencing an election, advocating a position on a public question, or supporting
  or opposing one or more candidates. (A) Expenditures may include those expenses that are necessary to allow a candidate to
  campaign, such as expenses for the care of a dependent family member that are incurred
  as a direct result of campaign activity. (B) As used in this chapter, “expenditure” shall not include any of the following: