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Public financing of campaigns
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Federal campaign finance laws and regulations |
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| Campaign finance reform |
| History of campaign finance reform |
| State by state comparison of campaign finance reporting requirements |
| Election policy |
| State information |
Public financing of campaigns is when the government provides funds to candidates running for political office.[1][2] Three models of public financing are popular: 1) matching funds, where the "government 'matches' certain small-dollar donations earned by a candidate with public funds at a set rate;" 2) vouchers, where the "government distributes 'vouchers' representing a small amount of public funds to each eligible resident, who may donate the funds to a participating candidate of their choice;" and 3) grants, where "participating candidates receive lump-sum grants of public funds."[1][3]
Some states allow candidates to use public funds while campaigning for state offices. In order to receive public funds for their campaigns, candidates must meet state requirements and agree to adhere to certain restrictions and spending limits. Candidates can, therefore, opt out of receiving public funds. The methods of collecting and distributing funds for these public financing programs vary widely.[2]
| As of May 2025, 14 states provided for some method of public campaign financing for state offices. Presidential candidates were also eligible to receive public funds for their primary and general election campaigns. This program was funded by voluntary donations made on federal income tax returns.[4][5] |
The United States Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which stated that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts constitutes an exercise of free speech and thus cannot be limited, sparked a movement in some states to enact "clean elections" laws to replace private special interest contributions with a public campaign financing option. In June 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Arizona Freedom Enterprise v. Bennett that the matching funds portion of Arizona's public financing program was unconstitutional. In response, some states re-examined their campaign finance laws and repealed "triggering" provisions, which granted an equal sum of money to candidates using public funds whenever non-participating candidates raised funds in excess of the spending limit.[6][7]
States with public financing of campaigns
Recent news
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See also
- Federal Election Commission
- Federal campaign finance laws and regulations
- State campaign finance information
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Campaign Legal Center, "What Is Public Financing? How Small-Dollar Democracy Combats Big-Money Elections," October 11, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 NCSL, "Public Financing of Campaigns: Overview," February 6, 2023
- ↑ U.S. Government Accountability Office, "Campaign Finance: Observations on Public Financing Programs in Selected States and Localities," December 19, 2024
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Public funding of presidential elections," accessed May 19, 2025
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Proposals to Eliminate Public Financing of Presidential Campaigns," March 4, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times: "Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Spending Limit," January 21, 2010
- ↑ New York Times: "Justices Strike Down Arizona Campaign Finance Law," June 27, 2011
