Campaign Finance Reform
We believe that the methods of financing political campaigns should:- Ensure the public’s right to know
- Combat corruption and undue influence
- Enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office, and
- Allow maximum citizen participation in the political process.
The California Fair Elections Act
Get involved! As cochair of the campaign, we ask you to support passage of the California Fair Elections Act on the June 8, 2010 ballot.
The CFEA will establish a pilot project to make voluntary public financing available to candidates for Secretary of State in the elections of 2014 and 2018. Visit the California Fair Elections Act Web site for more information about the proposition and how you can join in the campaign.
The January 21, 2010 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Citizens United case opened the door to unlimited election spending by big-money interests. The League of Women Voters of the U.S. called the decision “constitutionally irresponsible” and a “tragic mistake.”
Since one defense against that ruling is public funding of candidates’ campaigns, the need to pass the California Fair Elections Act is more urgent than ever. Read about what Citizens United means, and doesn’t mean, for California.
History of Actions on Campaign Finance Issues
We have been actively working for real campaign finance reform for many years. The effort to place AB 583 (Hancock) of 2007-2008 on the June 8, 2010 ballot succeeded because of the strong support of League members and many others across the state.
See Local Campaign Finance Regulation Threatened by AB 1430.
See "Clean Money, Fair Elections" about our support of Proposition 89 and AB 583 in 2006.