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1 Guide: New York State's New Small Donor Public Financing Program 1 (December 18, 2020)

handle is hein.brennan/bcjgny0001 and id is 1 raw text is: BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE GUIDE: NEW YORK STATE'S NEW SMALL DONOR PUBLIC FINANCING PROGRAM December 18, 2020 On April 3, 2020, New York enacted a groundbreaking campaign finance reform: a voluntary program of small donor public financing for state elections. This program will provide a multiple match on small contributions from New York residents to candidates who opt in. Its innovative design gives candidates the chance to raise competitive amounts based on modest contributions from constituents. It is the most powerful legislative response enacted anywhere in the country to the 2010 Supreme Court decision Citizens United, which supercharged big money in politics. The new public financing program will help more New Yorkers to be heard in the political process at a time when the need has never been greater. This overview explains how the program will work.* The Basics Summary: The new public financing program will allow candidates for state legislature and statewide offices who opt in to receive a multiple match on small contributions they raise from constituents, if they first prove their eligibility and abide by the program's rules. The size of the match and maximum amount of public matching funds a candidate can receive vary by office. If they reach their public financing maximum, candidates may continue to raise unmatched private contributions. The new law reduces contribution limits for all candidates, whether or not they participate in public financing. The new Public Campaign Finance Board (PCFB) oversees the program. When does the program start? Candidates may begin raising matchable contributions starting November 9, 2022 for the 2024 legislative and 2026 statewide elections. (Creation of rules, technology, and candidate-support services needs to start now, to enable a smooth start on the statutory timeframe.) Which offices are eligible? Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Senate, Assembly. Which contributions can be matched? Only contributions of $5-$250 by people who live in New York are matchable with public funds - and for legislative candidates, a matchable contribution must come from in-district. To be matched for use in a particular election, a contribution would need to be made in that same election cycle but not later than the relevant primary or general election day. For the 2024 * The legislation creating the public financing program included restrictions on ballot access for parties and candidates. Those restrictions are not necessary for the public financing program to operate and are not summarized in this memo. Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law 120 Broadway, Suite 1750 New York, NY 10271

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