What Are Clean Elections
The idea behind of Clean Elections (or ‘Full Public Campaign Financing’) is simple: participating candidates voluntarily reject all private campaign money. In exchange, they receive enough public funds to run effective campaigns.
- Clean Elections reduce the corrupting influence of money. Candidates are accountable to the public, not special interest campaign donors
- Campaign costs are kept in check
- Saves money by reducing inappropriate giveaways and other favors to big campaign contributors
- Reduce the frequency and influence of Independent Expenditure mailings and other committees is diminished
- Elections become more competitive because more candidates can run for office
- More women and minorities have a fair opportunity to participate in our electoral and policy processes – as volunteers, supporters, candidates and elected officials!
- Candidates and Cleanly-elected officials spend their time listening to voters and serving the public, not courting big donors
Over the last 11 years, Clean Money full publicly financed campaign systems have been established successfully in seven states and municipalities. The programs are popular with voters and candidates alike, with more women and minorities running for office. Nine out of 11 Arizona statewide offices are held by Clean candidates (those running on public financing and rejecting donations and use of their own funds), and 85% of Maine’s Legislature is Cleanly elected. In Albuquerque, NM and Portland, OR’s most recent elections, over half of candidates chose to run “Clean”. No longer beholden to big donors, elected officials can focus on the needs of their constituents and advance policies that promote sustainability and fairness.