Funding
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Where does the CCEC get their Funding?
Citizens Clean Elections Commission funding comes from several different sources:
- 10% surcharge on all civil penalties and criminal fines
- Voluntary $5 check-off box on Arizona state income tax return forms.
- Voluntary dollar for dollar tax credit on donations of up to $640 or 20% state income tax amount whichever is greater.
- Civil penalties paid by candidates.
- $5 qualifying contributions collected from participating candidates.
2010 Calendar Year Funding Projections
- Court Assessments (53%)
- Tax Check-Off/Tax Credit (47%)
- $5 Qualifying Contribution (.05%)
- Other (including Commission Assessments) (.05%)
How does the CCEC decide where to get its funding?
The CCEC did not decide where funding comes from. The People of Arizona did when they voted for the Clean Elections ballot measure in 1998. The measure included all of the funding sources.
I hear people say that this program is nothing more than “tax dollars for politicians.” Is this true?
No. The candidates who qualify for clean elections funding do not receive any money from the general fund. The funding comes from individuals who voluntarily donate to the Clean Elections Fund and a 10% surcharge on civil penalties.
Who is eligible for Clean Elections funding?
All state legislative candidates as well as all statewide office candidates are eligible for funding from Clean Elections. They must meet certain requirements, among them collecting a certain number of $5 qualifying contributions and agreeing not to accept contributions from PACs and corporations.
How does the Clean Elections Commission spend their funding?
The CCEC is statutorily mandated to spend no more than 10% of its funding on administration/enforcement and at least 10% on voter education. The voter education plan includes sending a candidate statement pamphlet to every home in the State with a registered voter for both the primary and general elections, sponsoring legislative and statewide candidate debates as well as traveling around the State conducting participating candidate workshops. Lastly, the Commission distributes funds to participating candidates once in the primary election cycle and once in the general election cycle.
Has Clean Elections been successful in increasing the number of “participating” candidates?
Yes. The percentage of people running as participating candidates has increased. In 2000 only 26% of the primary candidates ran using clean elections funding. In 2010 participation was at 49%.