How Small Dollar Democracy can take on Big Money campaigns
Image by Brennan Center
Local political watchers have been surprised by the surge in the cost of political campaigns in the Bay Area, in which millions of dollars are raised (and spent) even for small, district-wide races. Concerned that these large numbers end up privileging special interests and candidates with deep pocket donors, many are looking to public financing of campaigns to provide more balance and representation. Aaron McKean writes for the Campaign Legal Center.
Wealthy special interests have increasingly dominated the financing of our elections, threatening to drown out the voices of everyday Americans. Running an electoral campaign for public office can come with an exorbitant cost, which helps explain why megadonors — or the outside groups they bankroll — routinely end up footing the bill and, in the process, discourage those without wealthy networks from running.
This cozy relationship between candidates and big spenders drives a wedge between elected officials and their constituents, making officials less accountable to the people they represent. A campaign finance system that encourages candidates for office to appeal primarily to wealthy special interests is fundamentally detached from our democratic ideals.
Public financing refers to government programs that provide limited public funds to candidates for campaign expenses.
The first comprehensive public financing programs in the United States were established in the wake of the 1972 Watergate corruption scandal, in response to public pressure for more transparent financing for presidential elections. The presidential public funding program represented a powerful tool to combat corruption and expand small-donor participation.
While the program worked well for decades, it has fallen out of favor because Congress has failed to provide needed updates to the program as the cost of presidential campaigns has skyrocketed.
By contrast, state and local governments across the country have implemented innovative public financing programs that reduce barriers to running for office, strengthen the voices of everyday Americans and reduce opportunities for corruption.
Unlike the big-money private financing system that dominates modern U.S. elections, public financing programs are intended to amplify the voices of constituents while curbing the undue influence of wealthy special interests. While the design of public financing programs varies, two commons models being implemented are:
Matching funds: The government “matches” certain small-dollar donations earned by a candidate with public funds at a set rate. For example, participating candidates for city office in Los Angeles receive $6 in public funding for each $1 in small donations the candidate raises from Los Angeles residents, up to specified amounts.
Vouchers: 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. Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program provides four $25 vouchers to every eligible resident of the city for use in city elections.
A well-designed program creates incentives for candidates to fundraise and connect with the people they seek to represent — including ordinary Americans who lack the financial means to spend large sums of money on elections.
This translates to a donor base that is broader, more diverse and more representative of the community, rather than a handful of wealthy elites. Moreover, these programs expand the pool of potential candidates by ensuring people can run for office without relying on personal wealth or connections to wealthy networks of donors.
Read the whole thing here.
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