This issue arises where candidates for the legislature are subject to a ceiling on the amount that may be spent on their election campaign, as in Britain or Canada. In these cases, the candidate's personal expenses are not included as an election expense.
There is a valid reason for excluding personal expenses from the items that must be included within the permitted campaign budget. If candidates do not live in, or near the electoral district where they are standing for election, then they may incur considerable costs of board and lodging, as well as travel to the district, from their place of residence. The personal costs of the rival candidates will differ, especially if some are able to live at home while the campaign takes place, and others have to pay for accommodation and other personal needs. Where the limits on permitted campaign expenses are tight, it is reasonable - if only for reasons of fairness - that the allowance should be available for political outlays, and that it should not be consumed by personal items.
Nevertheless, the exclusion of personal expenses creates a possible loophole that some candidates may exploit. One British example illustrates this well. A wealthy candidate lived in a stately home near the constituency where he was a candidate for the House of Commons. During the campaign he invited a large number of friends to stay as guests in his home, and made food and drink available on a generous scale. While they were his houseguests, the friends acted as volunteer helpers for the campaign. The amounts spent on entertaining them were personal expenses of the candidate. He often entertained his friends. The fact that on this occasion they took advantage of being present in his home to carry out voluntary electioneering duties was coincidental.
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