Expand NJ Clean Elections Program
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Support Public Financing of Federal Elections
In April 2009, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), along with Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) have introduced the Fair Elections Now Act (S.752, H.R.1826) in Congress. The legislation would bring a Clean Elections-modeled program to congressional races.
Under the Fair Elections Now Act, federal candidates would run for office without relying on large contributions, big money bundlers, or donations from lobbyists, and would be freed from the constant fundraising in order to focus on what people in their communities want.
To qualify for public financing, congressional candidates would need to raise a large number of small contributions from their communities.
- Candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives would have to collect 1,500 contributions from people in their state and raise a total of $50,000.
- Since states vary widely in population, U.S. Senate candidates would have to raise 2,000 qualifying contributions plus 500 times the number of congressional districts in their state.
Qualified candidates would receive Fair Elections funding in the primary, and if they win, in their general election at a level to run a competitive campaign.
Qualified candidates would be also eligible to receive additional matching Fair Elections funds if they continued to raise small donations from their home state.
- Donations of $100 or less from in-state contributors would be matched by four dollars from the Fair Elections Fund for every dollar raised.
- The total Fair Elections Funds available is strictly limited to three times the initial allocation for the primary, and again for the general, available only to candidates who raise a significant amount.
- If a participating candidate is facing a well-financed or self-financed opponent, or is the target of an independent expenditure, they will be able to respond by utilizing this matching fund provision.
Fair Elections helps offset fundraising for and the excessive cost of media.
- Participating candidates receive a 20% reduction from the lowest broadcast rates. Participating Senate candidates who win their primaries are eligible to receive $100,000 in media vouchers per congressional district in their state.
- House candidates receive one $100,000 media voucher.
- Participating candidates may also exchange their media vouchers for cash with their national political party committee.
Participating candidates could set up leadership political action committees but would be limited to a $100 contribution limit per individual per year.
- The cost of Fair Elections for Senate races would be borne by a small fee on large government contractors and for House races would come from ten percent of revenues generated through the auction of unused broadcast spectrum.
- The largest recipients of federal government contracts would pay a small percentage of the contract into the Fair Elections Fund.
- If the system proves popular like similar laws at the state level, the new system could cost between $700 and $850 million per year.
Take Action! Click here to send an Action Email to your US Senators and member of Congress to Support the Fair Elections Now Act, that would bring a Clean Elections-modeled program to congressional races.
NJ Coalition For Clean Elections
The New Jersey Coalition for Clean Elections is a statewide coalition dedicated to reducing the corrupting influence of money in politics and establishing a permanent, state-wide system of full public campaign financing. Publicly funding campaigns reduces the influence of special interests and creates a system in which all candidates, including women, minorities and other non-traditional candidates, can better compete. Public financing lowers the overall costs of elections, which in recent years has skyrocketed.
Taking money out of politics is one of the most necessary and critical reforms for New Jersey because it makes all other reforms possible. When lawmakers are no longer beholden to special interest money, they will be freer and more able to conduct the people's business, for the benefit of the people.
Clean Elections seeks to restore the voice of citizens in our participatory democracy and is needed to restore trust and confidence in our political institutions.
In 2007, New Jersey implemented the NJ Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Program to determine the best way to establish a permanent, statewide system of full public financing. The 2007 Pilot proved successful and overwhelmingly succeeded in meeting the Legislature's thresholds for expansion.
Now is the time to move beyond pilot projects and implement a permanent full public financing program for New Jersey. The New Jersey Clean Elections Coalition supports a full public financing program that establishes:
- A Clean Elections program that permanently expands to all 40 legislative districts.
- A Clean Elections program that provides full campaign financing for primary and general elections.
- A Clean Elections program that provides equal funding to all qualified candidates.
- A Clean Elections program that provides adequate resources for program implementation and public education.
- A Clean Elections program that includes proper enforcement to protect public funds.
Coalition Member Organizations
- AARP
- AFSCME
- Bergen Grassroots
- Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
- BlueWaveNJ
- Coalition for Peace Action–Princeton
- Democracy Matters
- Garden State Equality
- League of Women Voters of New Jersey
- Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry in New Jersey
- National Organization of Women–New Jersey
- New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
- New Jersey Citizen Action
- New Jersey Policy Perspective
- New Jersey Tenants Organization
- New Jersey Working Families Alliance
- NJ Environmental Federation
- Public Campaign
- Sierra Club
- The Council of New Jersey State College Locals
- Union for Reform Judaism
Read the Media Release "NJ's Largest Citizen Watchdog Testifies on New State Clean Elections Proposal" — the Statement of Marilyn Carpinteyro, NJCA Legislative/Political Director on A100: The 2009 New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project Act.
Take Action!
Download and sign on to the New Jersey Clean Elections Coalition Principles and Join the Coalition today! Please return the completed form to Marilyn Carpinteyro by fax at 732-214-8385, or by email marilyn@njcitizenaction.org. If you have questions, please call Marilyn at 732-246-4772 ext. 21 or email marilyn@njcitizenaction.org.
Governor Corzine Signs Clean Elections Bill
On Wednesday, March 28, 2007, Governor Jon Corzine signed A100 – the 2007 NJ Fair and Clean Election Pilot Project Act. The law, which reauthorizes, improves and expands the 2005 pilot program, establishes a voluntary full public campaign financing program for candidates seeking election to the State Senate or General Assembly in three districts for the 2007 General Election.
Under this voluntary program, qualified candidates who collect 400 to 800 $10 contributions from voters in their district and who agree to forgo private campaign cash, receive public funding grants to run for office. As has been demonstrated in other states that operate clean campaign systems, full public campaign financing opens the door to more non-traditional candidates, including women and people of color, and increases voter participation.
Participating districts will be selected by April 9, 2007. The NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission will implement and monitor the program.
2007 NJ Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project Act
A100 / S2438 — Fact Sheet
The 2007 Clean Elections Act establishes a voluntary public financing pilot program for candidates seeking election to the State Senate or General Assembly in three legislative districts for the 2007 General Election. Under this voluntary system, qualified candidates who collect small contributions from voters in their district, to demonstrate the viability of their candidacy, and forgo private campaign cash, receive limited public funding grants to run for office. Here are the full texts of A100 and S2438.
1. What is Full Public Campaign Financing (Clean Elections)?
- Clean Elections is a practical, proven reform that puts voters in control of elections. Rather than being forced to rely on special interest donors to pay for their campaigns, candidates have the opportunity to qualify for full public campaign funding, ending the reliance on special interest campaign cash. Being freed from the money chase means candidates and elected representatives have more time to spend with constituents, working on issues that matter to them. Clean Elections also increases opportunities for non traditional candidates who don’t have access to special interest dollars and wealthy donors.
2. How does a Candidate Qualify for Full Public Campaign Financing?
- Clean Elections candidates must forego all private financing for their campaigns and sign affidavits that they will not coordinate with party committees. Existing campaign funds are frozen.
- Clean Elections candidates must collect 800 $10 contributions from registered voters in their districts in order to qualify for public funds. Candidates who collect 400 contributions are eligible for 1/2 of the grant. Contributions above 400 and less then 800 receive proportional funding.
- Candidates will have from April 10, 2007 to September 30, 2007 to collect contributions.
- Both Assembly candidates on a party ticket must participate in order to qualify.
- Senate candidates can qualify independently.
- The program is voluntary. No candidate is required to participate.
3. How Much Campaign Financing Will be Available to Qualified Candidates?
- Qualified, Clean Elections major party candidates who collect 800 contributions receive a $100,000 campaign grant.
- Minor party candidates, or candidates nominated by petition, who collect 800 voter contributions are eligible for $50,000 public campaign grants. These candidates who collect 400 contributions are eligible for 1/2 of the grant award.
- Clean Elections candidates who are running against privately financed candidates are eligible for up to $100,000, (in $1,000 increments) in additional funding if they are being outspent by the privately financed candidate. Third Party/Petition candidates are eligible for up to $50,000 in $500 increments if they are being outspent by privately financed opponents.
- Clean Elections major party candidates who are targeted by independent expenditures (i.e., 527 groups) are also eligible for up to an additional $100,000 in $1,000 increments. Third Party/Petition candidates eligible up to $50,000 in $500 increments.
- Candidates can withdraw from the program.
4. How Will Voters be Educated About the Program?
- Clean Elections candidates will be identified as a "Clean Elections Candidate" on sample ballots, and be permitted to submit a personal statement to be included on the sample ballot.
- Clean Elections candidates are required to participate in two district debates.
- Pilot appropriates $600,000 for voter education and will be administered by NJ’s Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).
5. Who Can Run in the Program?
- Three districts will be selected in 2007. President of the Senate and Speaker of the General Assembly will together select one district. Minority Leader of the Senate and Minority Leader in the Assembly will together select one. The third district will be selected by all four Leaders in which no more than two members from the Legislature are from the same party.
- In 2007 the program will be available for general election candidates for the Assembly and Senate.
- In 2009, the program is slated to be available for primary as well as general election candidates.