Last updated: July 10, 2026
This EU Cookie Policy explains how marileavitt.com uses cookies and similar technologies for visitors in the European Union, European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and other regions where the ePrivacy Directive and GDPR-style rules apply. It complements our Privacy Policy and USA Cookie Policy.
1. Legal Framework We Follow
Under Article 5(3) of the ePrivacy Directive (as implemented in Member State law) and the GDPR, storing or accessing information on a user’s device generally requires prior informed consent, unless the technology is strictly necessary to provide a service you request. The European Data Protection Board has clarified that this “cookie rule” can also cover pixels, certain URL-based tracking, device fingerprinting, and similar techniques—not only traditional cookies.
Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous, based on a clear affirmative action. Pre-ticked boxes and “continued browsing” are not valid consent. Rejecting non-essential cookies must be as easy as accepting them. Legitimate interest is not a substitute for ePrivacy consent when setting analytics or advertising cookies on your device.
2. What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your browser. Similar technologies include localStorage, pixels, tags, and software development kits that read or store identifiers. On this political campaign Site, we use these tools to keep the Site secure, remember your cookie choices, understand which legislative and campaign articles are useful, and—only with consent—support advertising such as Google AdSense.
3. Categories of Cookies We Use
3.1 Strictly necessary / essential
These cookies are needed for basic operation: security, load balancing, storing your cookie consent decision, and enabling core navigation. They do not require consent under the narrow ePrivacy exemptions, but we still disclose them here. Examples include a consent preference key in localStorage/cookies (such as ml_cookie_consent) and session integrity controls provided by our host.
3.2 Analytics
Analytics cookies help us measure visits to pages about veterans’ legislation, education bills, housing, election-worker protections, and other 28th LD topics. They are not strictly necessary. Where EU rules apply, analytics cookies load only after you opt in via the banner or preference center. Tools may include first-party or third-party analytics configured for this Site.
3.3 Advertising
Advertising cookies, including those used by Google AdSense and Google’s advertising partners, support ad serving, frequency capping, and—when allowed—personalized ads. These are non-essential and require prior consent in the EU/EEA/UK. If you reject advertising cookies, we will not load AdSense personalized advertising tags for your browser session under our consent script.
3.4 Functional / social embeds (if used)
Embedded Facebook or X/Twitter feeds and share tools may set their own cookies when loaded. Where possible, we treat such embeds as non-essential and load them only after consent, or we provide links instead of auto-loading trackers.
4. Legal Bases
For essential cookies: processing is necessary to provide the Site you request and/or for our legitimate interest in secure operation, balanced against your rights. For analytics and advertising cookies: consent is the primary basis under ePrivacy Article 5(3), with GDPR Article 6(1)(a) supporting related personal-data processing. You may withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.
5. Who Receives Cookie Data?
Depending on your choices, cookie data may be processed by our hosting provider, analytics vendors, and advertising vendors (including Google and its ad partners listed in Google’s advertising documentation). Third parties may process data as independent controllers when they serve ads or measure campaigns across sites.
6. Retention
Consent records and essential preference cookies are typically retained up to 12 months (or until you clear site data), after which we may ask again. Analytics and advertising cookie lifetimes vary by vendor—often from a single session to 13–24 months. See vendor documentation for exact durations.
7. Your Rights (GDPR)
Where GDPR applies, you may have rights to access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection, and the right to withdraw consent. You may lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority (for example, your EU Member State DPA or the UK ICO). To exercise rights related to data we control, contact ElectMariLeavitt@gmail.com.
8. How to Manage Cookie Preferences
- Use the first-visit cookie banner: Accept, Reject, or Manage preferences (categories default off for non-essential).
- Re-open preferences anytime via the Cookie settings link in the Site footer.
- Clear cookies/localStorage in your browser settings.
- Use browser controls and industry opt-outs described in the Privacy Policy for Google ads.
Withdrawing consent is as easy as opening Cookie settings and selecting Reject or turning off analytics/advertising toggles.
9. International Transfers
Vendors may process data in the United States or other countries. Where required, we rely on appropriate transfer mechanisms offered by those vendors (such as Standard Contractual Clauses) as described in their privacy documentation.
10. Updates
We will update this Policy when our cookie stack changes (for example, when an AdSense publisher ID is activated) or when legal guidance evolves. The date above shows the latest revision.
11. Contact
Friends of Mari Leavitt, PO Box 65195, Tacoma, WA 98466
ElectMariLeavitt@gmail.com · 253-651-5583 · Contact