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Sources of Funding for Candidate-Based Public Financing

Last updated May 9, 2007

State	Sources of Funding
Arizona §16-942, 16-946 and 16-954	$5 qualifying contributions $100 annual fee charged to registered lobbyistsc [no longer operational; see footnote] any early contributions not spent during exploratory or qualifying period $5 income tax check-off voluntary donations, matched by dollar-for-dollar tax credit not to exceed 20% of tax amount on return or $610, whichever is higher 10% surcharge on all civil and criminal penaltiesd civil penalties assessed against violators of the Citizens Clean Elections Act
Connecticut §3-69a, 9-750, 9-751	revenues from sale of unclaimed property in state custody in specified amounts if unclaimed property revenues are insufficient, direct appropriation from corporate tax revenues to meet shortfall voluntary public donations surpluses from candidate and political committees that dissolve the fund's own investment earnings
Florida §106.32, 99.092, 99-093, 105.31, 106.04, 106.07, 106.29, 199.052(13)	direct appropriations candidate filing fees (3% of the annual salary for the office) voluntary $5 contributions designated on applications for motor vehicle registration, driver's license, or boat registration voluntary $5 contribution designated upon filing annual reports for corporations late filing fees for PAC, candidate and political party campaign finance reports
Hawaii §235-102(5); §11-210 and 11-217; §11-193, 11-216(f)(3) and 11-228(d)	$2 income tax check-offb appropriations from general fund fees and penalties collected for campaign finance violations
Maine Tit. 21A §1124	legislative appropriations ($2 million annually) $5 qualifying contributions $3 income tax check-offb voluntary donations to the fund civil penalties collected for violations of the Clean Elections Act penalties collected for late filing of campaign finance reports

Maryland Elec. Code §15-103(c)	income tax add-on, not to exceed $500 per year direct appropriations fines collected for violations of the act
Michigan §169.261	$3 income tax check-offb
Minnesotaa §10A.31	$5 income tax or property tax check-offb, designated either for a political party account or the general account direct appropriations ($1.5 million each election year)
Nebraska §32-1610 and 32-1611(1)(a); 77-27,119.04	taxpayers may contribute $2 of income tax refund direct appropriations civil penalties for violation of act late filing fees
New Jersey §54A:9-25.1 and 19:44A-30	$1 income tax check-offb direct appropriations as necessary
New Mexico §1-19A-10	$100,000/year appropriated from utility supervision and inspection fees $100,000/year appropriated from utility and carrier inspection fees $100,000/year appropriated from health insurance premium surtaxes qualifying contributions collected by candidates unspent fund money returned by candidates legislative appropriations
North Carolinaa §105-159, 163-278.63(b), 105-41,	$1 income tax check-offb; goes to political parties fund, divided on a pro rata basis according to party voter registrations $3 income tax check-offb may be designated to support candidate fund voluntary $50 contributions by attorneys when paying the state licensing fee taxpayer entitled to a refund may elect to contribute all or part of the refund to candidate fund
Rhode Islanda §44-30-2(d), 17-25-29	$5 income tax check-offb; first $2 goes to party designated by taxpayer; remainder goes to candidate fund general fund appropriations
Wisconsin §71.10(3)	$1 income tax check-offb

(a)   These states also provide funds to political parties.
(b)   Amount may be doubled on joint returns
(c)   In 2001, a Superior Court of Arizona found the lobbyist fee to be unconstitutional; however, the court also found the provision severable. Lavis v. Bayless, CV 2001-006078. Accordingly, the Commission refunded the lobbyist fees previously collected and no longer collects the fee.
(d)   Challenged in 2002; Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the surcharge does not burden the exercise of free speech or compel payers to associate with any group message because it is "viewpoint neutral."  In March 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition for a writ of certiorari.

For More Information

For more information on campaign finance reform, visit the NCSL Campaign Finance Reform page or contact Jennie Drage Bowser.