Clean Money, Clean Elections

A new paradigm in campaign finance

Part 3: How Clean Money, Clean Elections Works

Clean Money, Clean Elections (CMCE) is an optional program in which candidates forgo large fundraising and have their campaigns fully funded with public money, in exchange for limiting campaign spending.

For a candidate who opts in to the CMCE program, the first step is still fundraising, but only to a very limited extent. In order to qualify for public funding (and, in many cases, to get on the ballot), a candidate must get registered voters in the district (and only registered voters in the district) to write a check for $5-100. The amount of money that can be raised this way is strictly limited, and will only end up being a very small percentage of total spending.

Once a candidate collects enough small contributions and submits the paperwork, he or she qualifies for full public campaign funding. The money is directly deposited into the candidate's bank account, and that is all the money the candidate is allowed to spend, with one exception. The exception is when an opponent, or a third party, spends more than the limit, either because of overspending, or because the opponent opts out of public funding.

Since every candidate must report expenditures -- or, more precisely, commitments to spend money -- early and often, the overseeing campaign finance agency keeps updated totals of each candidate's expenses. Once a candidate exceeds the limit, all of that candidate's opponents who opt in to CMCE get matching funds, up to a "stop limit" of three times the original amount in extra funding. Additionally, candidates who opted in and still exceed their limits by spending money they weren't allowed to spend are fined.

The CMCE system also tracks money spent by "third parties" in "issue ads" that clearly support (or oppose) one particular candidate. The money spent by these groups is counted toward a candidate's spending limit for the purposes of providing extra funds for the supported candidate's CMCE opponents.

Everyone who qualifies for public funding during the primary season, will get some money, but candidates who are unopposed in a primary will get far less than the full amount. Also, once an election is over, any unspent funds must be returned. There is no rollover.

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