How They Work
How Clean Elections Work?
Clean Elections is a straight-forward and voluntary process that levels the playing field, reduces the power of special interests and holds elected officials accountable to the voters. Incumbants and first time candidates can choose how they want to run, and if they qualify for public financing, will receive the funding to run a competitive campaign.
You’ll know who the Clean Elections candidates are and know where their money is coming from! Here’s how:
Stage 1: Seed Money
A candidate may raise a limited amount of private contributions in small amounts (usually a maximum of $100 per contributor) called seed money. Seed money is used to cover the expenses of trying to qualify for public money, such as printing up campaign literature, covering travel expenses and setting up a campaign telephone number.
Stage 2: Qualifying Contributions
To qualify for public campaign money, a candidate gathers a set number of signatures and qualifying contributions of exactly $5 each from residents or voters where the candidate is running. Qualifying contributions are forwarded to the Clean fund.
Stage 3: Agree to Spending and Fund-Raising Limits
The candidate agrees to strict spending limits and agrees not to raise any private money other than seed money and qualifying contributions, and to abide by strict administrative controls.
Stage 4: Funds Provided to Qualified Candidates
Each qualified candidate receives the same baseline amount of money. Candidates are not allowed to raise or spend additional money beyond what they receive from the fund. If Clean candidates are outspent by a traditionally funded opponent or if independent groups run ads or mailings attacking them or supporting an opponent, they receive matching funds, up to a cap.