Clean Elections

The Importance of Clean Elections

The Maine Clean Election Act is a voluntary public funding system for candidates for all state offices. The idea behind it is to sever the connection between private money and public office. It allows candidates to run for office without engaging in extensive fundraising or spending their own money, thus making a run for office accessible to the average Mainer.

The Maine Clean Election Act was passed as an initiative question in 1996. It received support from more than 56% of the Mainers who voted.

The Popularity of Clean Elections in Maine

In effect for the fourth legislative election cycle (the first being in 2000), it proved even more popular with legislative candidates in 2006. A record 313 general election candidates (81%) used the public financing option (compared to 309 in 2004). Twenty-nine of the current 35 senators (the same as in 2004) and 127 of the 151 representatives (up from 116 in 2004) in Maine's legislature were elected with the public funding option.

Maine People’s Alliance—Organizing for a Better Maine!

565 Congress St., Suite 200, Portland, Maine 04101; (207) 797-0967; mpa@mainepeoplesalliance.org
27 State Street, Suite 44, Bangor, Maine 04401; (207) 990-0672; jesse@mainepeoples alliance.org
145 Lisbon Street, Suite 200, Lewiston, Maine 04240; (207) 782-7876; kate@mainepeoplesalliance.org