A confession to make:
We didn't come up with this on our own. Over a century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt recommended public financing of federal elections in his State of the Union Address. The first legislation to pass at the state level was in Maine in 1996! As a nation we've come a long way since then, now nine states and municipalities have some form of full public financing of elections, and there is a vital movement supporting the Fair Elections Now act in the U.S. Congress, which would allow for public funding of federal elections.
On the State Level
Currently Implemented
| State | Which Offices | How | Approved | Implemented |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | statewide and legislative | initiative | 1998 | 2000 |
| Connecticut | statewide and legislative | legislation | 2005 | 2008 |
| Maine | statewide and legislative | initiative | 1996 | 2000 |
| New Jersey | legislative pilot project | legislation | 2004 | 2005 |
| New Mexico | Public Regulation Commission judicial elections |
legislation legislation |
2003 2007 |
2005 |
| North Carolina | judicial elections pilot project for select statewide races |
legislation legislation |
2002 2007 |
2004 |
| Vermont* | governor & lieutenant governor | legislation | 1997 | 2000 |