Preti's Government Affairs Practice Group contains several of northern New England's most experienced Election Law attorneys. For decades, our team has been a leader in solving legal issues surrounding political campaigns and the election process. We have served as counsel to numerous high-profile presidential congressional, gubernatorial and legislative campaigns in addition to having represented political parties and political action committees (PACs) across the ideological spectrum.
Daniel Walker and our team of Election Law attorneys have represented political parties such as the Maine Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee on election and political law issues ranging from constitutional rights to state ethics violations.
We are actively involved in the following areas during the legislative cycle:
Campaign Committee and PAC Formation
Our election attorneys form campaign committees and political action committees (PACs) to ensure that early steps in our clients' campaigns are managed quickly and accurately to provide a solid basis for their political venture. Getting these processes right avoids potential controversies later.
Ballot Access
When political campaigns face uncertainty or strategic challenges caused by ballot access laws, our Election Law attorneys are ready to step in. We have represented national and state-level political parties with legal disputes pertaining to candidacy registration, signature gathering, petition rules and ballot access appeals. In 2010, Preti Flaherty successfully defended The Democratic National Committee and the Maine Democratic Party against former presidential candidate Ralph Nader by challenging his right to be on the ballot after inspecting his 2004 campaign petitions.
Campaign Finance and Compliance
Federal and state campaign fundraising reporting requirements have grown increasingly complicated over the last two decades. Preti Flaherty's Election Law attorneys understand the intricacies of complying with these regulations and work with clients to ensure that these procedures are completed accurately and on time throughout the campaign process.
Violation of Election Regulations
Campaign violations can be detrimental to a candidate or political party – both during and after the campaign process. When a campaign violates an election regulation, ethics law or disclosure law, it is critical to respond quickly. Our Election Law attorneys represent clients before state ethics commissions, elections law enforcement agencies, and if necessary, the court system, to defend our political clients' interests or keep the campaign on track.
Recount Law
Campaign victories are often contested when a losing candidate requests a recount. Preti Flaherty's Election attorneys have overseen dozens of recounts and have represented clients whose business initiatives have been challenged by opponents who demanded a referendum recount. On either side of the issue, we assertively protect our client's interests during these long, detail-oriented proceedings.
Choosing a campaign's counsel, whether for a discrete matter or for the entire campaign process, is a decisive factor in achieving success at the polls. Preti Flaherty's Election Law attorneys are skilled at guiding candidates, committees, political parties or PACs through the complex legal issues involved in an election season.
