Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1122, sub-§8, ķA, as amended by PL 2001, c. 465, §3, is further amended to read:

A. For a gubernatorial participating candidate, the qualifying period begins November June 1st immediately preceding the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on April 15th of the election year unless the candidate is unenrolled, in which case the period ends at 5:00 p.m. on June 2nd of the election year.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§3, ķA, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

A. For a gubernatorial candidate, at least 2,500 3,500 verified registered voters of this State must support the candidacy by providing a qualifying contribution to that candidate;

Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2001, c. 465, §5, is further amended to read:

8. Amount of fund distribution. By July 1, 1999 of the effective date of this Act, and at least every 4 years after that date, the commission shall determine the amount of funds to be distributed to participating candidates based on the type of election and office as follows.

A. For contested legislative primary elections, the amount of revenues to be distributed is the average amount of campaign expenditures made by each candidate during all contested primary election races for the immediately preceding 2 primary elections, as reported in the initial filing period subsequent to the primary election, for the respective offices of Governor, State Senate and State House of Representatives.

B. For uncontested legislative primary elections, the amount of revenues distributed is the average amount of campaign expenditures made by each candidate during all uncontested primary election races, or for contested races if that amount is lower, for the immediately preceding 2 primary elections, as reported in the initial filing period subsequent to the primary election, for the respective offices of Governor, State Senate and State House of Representatives.

C. For contested legislative general elections, the amount of revenues distributed is the average amount of campaign