QUESTION:
"Are candidates never allowed to have notes in a debate or was it just for this debate?"
ANSWER: I believe both candidates agreed to the no notes idea for this particular series of debates. I am not positive though.
Yes, there were to be no notes or anything at all. If you wanted to take notes during the debate paper and pen would be provided, but you were not allowed to even place your own pen on the podium, they would do it for you.