Take Action! Senator Clementa Pinckney has introduced the South Carolina Clean Elections Act, legislation that would bring full public financing of elections to all statewide and legislative races.

 

We need your help to win. Here's what you can do:

 

Show your support for Clean Elections by signing our petition [2]

 

[3]Make a donation today to support Clean Elections in South Carolina and across the country. [4]

 

[5]Tell your friends and family to support Clean Elections today! [6]

About the Bill

The South Carolina Clean Elections Act is modeled on similar Clean Elections systems in place in Maine, Arizona, and North Carolina.

 

Here's how it would work:

• To qualify for public funds to run their campaigns, candidates running for the General Assembly and all statewide offices would be required to gather a set number of small $5 donations to show broad community support.

• Once qualified, candidates must agree to raise no private funds and adhere to strict spending limits.

• Once they receive public funds, candidates are freed from the money chase and are able to spend time talking with their constituents about the issues instead of dialing for dollars and attending rubber chicken fundraisers.

• If a candidate is outspent by a privately financed opponent, rescue funds are available to keep the race on a level playing field.

Learn MoreThe South Carolina Clean Elections Act is modeled on public financing systems in place in seven states and two cities. Last November, more than 200 officials were elected in Arizona, Maine, and North Carolina who ran under Clean Elections systems. Similar laws are also in place for all or some offices in Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Portland, Oregon.

On the federal level bipartisan bicameral Clean Elections-style public financing legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Congress. Sens. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) have introduced the Fair Elections Now Actthat would bring publicly financed elections to candidates running for the U.S. Senate.

 

 

To learn more about Clean Elections, click here. [7]