Wednesday, May 17, 2006


Clean Elections - What is it? How does it work?
This post corresponds to a Podcast that I participated with called Citizens Against Lies. The Podcast is titled Spygasm -- Podcast #52 ; to listen click HERE.


The Clean Money, Clean Elections (CMCE) approach is designed to provide a clear alternative to the current system of raising and spending largely special-interest money to finance election campaigns. It allows qualified candidates to run for public office without compromising their independence since they won't have to ask for money from those with a vested interest in public policy.
The system is completely voluntary and candidates who do not wish to participate are able to raise and spend private money for their campaigns, as they do today.

Qualification -- Candidates first must meet ballot access requirements, and then must meet the eligibility threshold for Clean Money funding. Most CMCE proposals require candidates to collect, during a pre-defined qualifying period, a prescribed number of signatures and $5 qualifying contributions from registered voters in their state or district. To cover minor costs during the qualifying period, candidates are permitted to raise a limited amount of seed money from private sources in amounts not exceeding $100 per contributor.

Primary funding -- Candidates who meet CMCE requirements and agree not to raise or spend private money during the primary and general election campaign periods receive a set amount of money from the Clean Money fund.

General election funding -- Candidates who win their party primaries and qualifying independent candidates who agree to the voluntary restrictions receive a set amount of general election funding from the Clean Elections, Clean Money fund.

Non-participating candidates and independent expenditures -- In order to maintain a financially level playing field, Clean Money, Clean Elections candidates who are outspent by privately financed opponents, or targeted by independent expenditures, are entitled to a limited amount of matching funds.



To Learn More About Clean Elections Click HERE.

Thanks Shelly! You're the best!!

2 Comments:

Blogger Citizen S said...

Thanks for the link Van. This is a great subject that I hope to cover in more depth later on, thanks to you. Stay tuned.

5:15 PM  
Blogger Van said...

Update: Another state gets Clean Elections!!

Connecticut's campaign finance law fixed!

In December 2005, Connecticut passed a new campaign finance reform law. Known as Clean Elections, it is the strongest set of campaign finance reforms in the nation.

However, as strong as it is, there were several problems that could have jeopardized this vital reform. In the closing minutes of the 2006 legilsative session, after hundreds of phone calls and emails from constituents, the General Assembly passed a bill to fix the flaws.


7 states down, 43 to go!

7:25 AM  

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